Which mains distribution block?

Posted by: Steve C 01 on 18 July 2001

I've been making do with a cheapie 6way block (with lots of LEDs) and have seen a review in HFC for Maplin (ASC431) & Olson (Sound Fantastic) blocks. Anyone have any experience/opinions on these?

I'm looking for alternatives to Music Works (good but expensive) and Russ Andrews (expensive and expensive and split opinion)...

Cheers in advance...

Steve C 01

Posted on: 18 July 2001 by Andrew L. Weekes
I wonder how long before that title appears at the newsagent?

The Olson block uses filtering, so most Naim users would not recommend them, RA unit is the same.

Personally I took a trip to the local electrical wholesaler, and ordered some 15A plugs and sockets. The contact area isn't much better than 13A, but they are unfused, removing two contacts and a fuse from each plug.

Attach the above to a suitable backing board, and wire them up with chunky cable. I managed to star-wire the 4 sockets I have, which means there's little difference which socket I use for each component.

Attach some chunky 15A flex, along with a suitable mains plug to suit the wall socket (Crabtree / MK) and enjoy. If it's a single socket on the wall, changing that for a 15A type will improve matters too, although you'll lose the fuse, which means you need to be very sure of the constructional quality in your block.

My one is a massive improvement on any of the cheap multi-way blocks, you can still save for a Musicworks block in the meantime, I've yet to compare one to my own setup, as I'm more than happy with it.

You could also try the 4 into 1 plug that is available from some DIY outlets and Maplin etc. This allows hard wiring of 4 cables into a single 13A plug - it's not bad for the money.

Andy.

Andrew L. Weekes

Posted on: 18 July 2001 by woodface
Campaign Audio Design offer a good range of mains blocks and leads. They are a pleasure to deal with and they do not over hype their products. I have a 6-way block powering my Lp12/CDi/82/hi/250/sbl system and it does genuinely improve the sound.
Posted on: 18 July 2001 by Steve Toy
Get the Music Works - it's the business. Some folks wouldn't think twice about forking out for an upgrade to a better preamp, or adding, say a Flatcap2 or Hi-cap costing 500 quid +.
Spend 225 quid on a mains block which will make an equally significant improvement?
Oh, no! Too expensive!!
Some people! roll eyes roll eyes roll eyes

It's always a nice day for it, have a good one wink
Steve

Posted on: 18 July 2001 by Jonathan Gorse
Personally I use a Naim Hydra made up by Grahams in London using the same Naim mains cable as is used for Naim components. Around £60 and I don't see how you could improve on it in a Naim system.

It also takes up less room than a 4 way adapter.

Jonathan

Posted on: 18 July 2001 by Andrew L. Weekes
quote:
There's no point in skimpin' and savin'

Unless that is one can get more 80% of the performance for less than 20% of the cost wink

Andy.

Andrew L. Weekes

Posted on: 18 July 2001 by Steve Toy
...IF one can.... cool

It's always a nice day for it, have a good one wink
Steve

Posted on: 19 July 2001 by Malcolm Davey
I think like everything else you pays your money.......I've tried home made, cheap, Maplin and ended up buying the Music Works plus the mains cables and yes I felt the improvement was worth it. I was lucky in that Phonography let me trial this at home. Now I have a seperate spur with a number of sockets and when I can set my system up again I am expecting great things.

Looking forward to meeting a number of youi at the Barbie!!