Main conditioners

quote:

Originally posted by Graham Russell:
Does anyone use mains conditioners such as the Russ Andrews ones?

Not any more

quote:

Do they work?

No.

quote:

What improvements do they have on the sound?

Actually, they make the sound noticeably worse.

quote:

Any recommended models?

I've tried both the Russ Andrews Silencer and the isol-8 isoplug. Both had a negative impact on my system. Both were a total waste of money. Fortunately, I was able to sell them on for about 75% of their original price on ebay.

Save your money.


For what it's worth, I'm told that that the benefits of a separate spur are much more positive and not that expensive, but since I live in rented accommodation it isn't an option.

regards,

Tam

Tam,

Did you use any of the RA stuff near the source of the problems.

I was thinking of buying some 'silencers' but after reading on here how conditioners affect Naim kit I thought against it!

I was going to install a spur and use them elsewhere in the house, i.e in office and kitchen.

Regards

Guy

Don't bother with silencers - they are a waste of money. All they do is make it harder for power to get to your equipment.

By contrast, a spur gives cleaner power and makes a big improvement for little money.

Nigel

Spur is on its way.

Down to the electrical wholesalers tomorrow!

Guy

Guy,

Sticking the silencer in different places made no difference.

What particular problems are you trying to solve with this (I was after notorious mains hum).


regards,

Tam

Make sure you get a separate Mem consumer unit with 45amp breakers, and 10mm wire, straight into the back of an unswitched Crabtree socket with no joins along the way.

Nigel

Good call Nigel about separate unit, I have a spare on the existing, was going to use that! Have the socket and conduit, just need cable. Not a big job as garage is directly below living room.

Tam, sometimes I get transformer hum, albeit unintrusive, it's only there when I change a CD, so to speak.

Cheers

Guy

To put in a new consumer unit you need to split the leads from the meter to the existing consumer unit. Current regulations (excuse the pun) require that to be done by an appropriately qualified electrician. If you do it yourself (not advisable as you have to cut the live feed!!) you need approval from building control.

As obsessive discussion is not allowed here, please mail me on street.family@btinternet.com if you need to know more.

Nigel

Thankyou Nigel, great help!

Guy

Graham

I can't be doing with separate mains spurs (have to draw the line at that!) and use a Music Works block. Basically it is a whopping big gang plug that cost £300+ (Xmas present from the wife - the family watched me open it on Christmas day and really didn't get it at all. 'Why did she buy him a big plug?'? What a lovely wife I have).

I didn't think it would make much difference but it does, much richer sound and more precise. My dealer lent it to me and it never went back. I would borrow one and see.

Do you know Kram? If so I think I know you. If I do, you can borrow mine!

Howard

I used to have a Russ Andrews silencer then mains conditioner with my old Arcam kit and there is no doubt that it made a considerable improvement. With my Naim system I think that it actually degraded the sound. I now have a dedicated mains spur which is a significant upgrade - and much cheaper than a mains conditioner. David

I tried a RA Superconditioner with no improvement to sound quality, my brother tried the same unit and it tripped his whole house! Its been in a cupboard for months now and will be on EBay before very long.

David

quote:

I can't be doing with separate mains spurs (have to draw the line at that!) and use a Music Works block

LOL,
You'll never know what you are missing!

andy c!

well Andy you may well be right but for the time being at least I can't face the prospect of finding a competent sparky (for I am not he) and digging big channels out of the walls to run loads of cables through. For the moment plug and play is far more appealing...!