Hydra

The Hydra should work fine in your system. Any reason for prefering Chord Signature to NACA5 though? My Hydra came with MK plug as standard and it works well enough - I've never thought of changing the plug. So if you use the Hydra with your SC you'll be terminating on a MK plug. I would be surprised if there was a noticable difference between MK and Crabtree plugs.

Rotf

Look for links to the Maplins 4-way plug which will connect your equipment up in the same fashion as a Hydra for a fraction of the price - then spend the saving on music ! There's nothing wrong with ensuring good quality plugs are used, but I've yet to hear a sonic difference between any. Don't get too carried away!

Yeap...agreed!

Blueoyster

Check out this thread.

I think it is important to use genuine naim mains cables - the Maplin plug is fine, but I prefer the Graham's Hydra probably because I could just plug it in rather than use something called a screwdriver (which I'm none to clever with - according to Mrs Rotf).

You may find the TNT Hydra interesting - it uses a Maplin Multiway plug.

quote:

I think it is important to use genuine naim mains cables - the Maplin plug is fine, but I prefer the Graham's Hydra probably because I could just plug it in rather than use something called a screwdriver (which I'm none to clever with - according to Mrs Rotf).

I used Maplins own IEC mains cable for my Maplins Hydra.



Are they the same mains cable that Naim use? (Didn't fancy cutting up the Naim cables for some reason)

B.C

That looks very neat.

I understand that naim uses inexpensive (well compared with some), but carefully selected mains cables. I remember Adam Meredith posting

I would say that we have found our cables to be best for our equipment and that alternatives, while sounding different, usually change overall balance and move away from music. All substitutions should be auditioned on long term loan from a confident vendor - then removed from the system and the original Naim items replaced and lived with for a while. If you consider there is an advantage to you in the change - go for it. The two alternatives will almost certainly sound different - it is in the form of words. I would have said - "no advantage" not "no difference".

There is a thread called Mains cables - upgrade or degrade?? that discusses this.

Personally, I think your set-up looks great and if you're happy with the sound then that's all that matters. I think if the Maplins cables were not a good match you'd have heard a problem - assuming you haven't then I'd say keep 'em as they are.

I've stuck with naim mains cables as they work well and came free. When I ditched the idea of a mains block, I went to Grahams and bought a Hydra, which also works well.

The biggest benefit to me of a Graham’s Hydra is that it saves me finding a home for six plugs. If there is any auditory benefit to using a hydra, I see it as a bonus.

Brad

It's deja vu all over again. This topic seems to come up every six weeks or so.

G

It does come up a lot - I fitted the Graham's Hydra and that was that - never had any desire to fiddle with it or change it. Perhaps there should be something in the FAQ that we can refer people too.

That said, I really like B.C's photo of the Maplin plugs.

Rotf

rotf, regarding the maplins plug, i noticed it has a led light and a surge filter built into it this cant be good can it?
i went into maplins couple adays ago and had a look at one.
regards,

Rotf

I'm a huge fan of the Hydra and have suggested a Hydra FAQ in the past. But now that Naim are selling the Powerigel, I don't suppose that this will happen.

G

M

It's available from Naim's Store on this very site. As you say, very much more expensive than a Grahams Hydra and it's yet to be explained to me what it does better. I shan't be changing anything soon.

G

Stephen

I found a whole thread on Maplin MultiWay Plugs - I don't think they have Surge Protectors.

Here's the diagram



Rotf

rotf, the diagram you show is exactly the same on the packaging on the ones i saw, but these definitely had led lights and surge filter, made by micromark £6.99 is there two types?

regards,

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Tate:
rotf, the diagram you show is exactly the same on the packaging on the ones i saw, but these definitely had led lights and surge filter, made by micromark £6.99 is there two types?

regards,

You can get a multiway surge protected plug, which I agree would be no good for the hifi, but I'm sure the one my father is using doesn't have a light on it and we got it from Maplin years ago. I'll check next time I'm there.

I use a Maplin surge protected three way for my computer stuff = but I have to plug other plugs into it (a must with some Apple plugs) - it doesn't look like the plug in the diagram.

Thanks rotf, That looks like the fellow, i really hope they do the other type still.
I will be popping down to maplin tomorrow (only a mile away from me) to be sure, will let you know my findings.
many thanks,
regards,
steve.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ROTF:
The Hydra should work fine in your system. Any reason for prefering Chord Signature to NACA5 though?

Good point, I had on loan a a pair of Chord Signature speaker cables and found them to work very well with the B&W's and the sound was more open and detailed, my NACA5 cables were quite old and I was looking to change them and as I had upgraded the CD player I felt that an improvement in the cables was the next step. I was offered the speaker cables at a reduced price (ex dem) but here's the catch, I have on loan the Hydra and although it has given the sistem more pace, rhythm etc the overall sound is quite cold and the mid-range is bright. I am happy with a pacier more rhymic sistem but I can't cope with a cold, bright sounding sistem, I am now not sure if the Chord speaker cable is OK within my sistem, I am going to grab a pair of NACA5 (a friend has them) to see how they fare, I am also checking out the cost of a dedicated spur. It seems then that the Hydra has identified flaws in the sistem which is surprising, I don't want to start changing too many components (racks for instance)as I am happy with the set up but I think the speaker cables may have to be changed back to the NACA5 if I use the Hydra but I may be wrong on this.

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Tate:
rotf, regarding the maplins plug, i noticed it has a led light and a surge filter built into it this cant be good can it?
i went into maplins couple adays ago and had a look at one.
regards,

Maplins also sell a multi-way plug without those features.