AC mains plugging in ,best order? or does it make a difference?.

There is a logical argument for 'power-amp first'; it being the most power-hungry device. My dedicated mains spur terminates in a double unswitched socket. Everything was fed from one socket into a MusicWorks ReFlex 'Lite' - then onward with Powerlines.

My dealer 'Signals' suggested I try feeding the power-amp directly from the spare socket on the end of the spur. This has the additional benefit of removing a power lead from the power-amp feed chain. I liked it and the configuration has stayed.

Try it if you have the facility.

John.

Thanks John, for your reply.

I will give it a try. 

Regards

Pieman.

Chris West at AVOptions has shared his advice on AC set up with a power strip, plugging order, etc. The pages are embedded in the website. Open this link: http://www.avoptions.com/store

then click on the "Order AVO AC Products" and follow the pdf to pages 5-10.

order:

CD5, Napsc, Hicap2, Flatcap2, Nap 200

I used to think ordering was important, but I found the results inconsistent. I have found powering up in any order can produce initial differeing (albeit subtle) differences that seem to normalise after a while.

I've never found ordering changes audible, maybe due to the fact that I don't have the gear or ears for such discernment. Still, I follow the generally consistent advice of power hog first and so on down the strip.

Worth experimenting to find what works for you. My own experience is Naim kit sounds best with a Hydra type arrangement. I'd pick up a second hand 5 head grahams hydra for about £100 and if you don't like, you can easily move it on with no loss. 

A touch of OCD makes me order connections with items that draw stable current first and items with servos and motors last. Can't honestly say I've heard a difference though.

I used a hydra all the time I had a multibox setup, and it takes away any decisions about plug order. Life is simply too short, and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. So you could try for yourself, or simply not worry about it. John's suggestion of power amp first would make sense.

CD5 first, FC, HC, 200 and psc interchangeable,

this is an axtrapolation based on CDX2,282.HC,psc,250 with a superline off the 282 and is counter to what some others have found.

I tried the approach suggested by J.N. (I have a similar electrical spur arrangement) and can agree that plugging the power amp PL directly into a spare socket and feeding the rest of the system from a (suitably configured) block results in a cleaner sound.

Trying to follow the MusicWorks advice on socket order is intriguing though as the order depends on whether CD or LP is your primary choice. That makes no sense to me. Perhaps I should drag out the block and rearrange the PLs every time I decide to change the source?

Nick, I have the following arrangement if it helps. My dedicated spur has a double unswitched socket. I feed the 500DR directly from one socket and a Musicworks Reflex Lite with a Powerline from the second. Observing the Musicworks plugging order diagram I have my 552PS in socket one, socket two empty, 555PS analogue in socket three socket four empty, 555PS digital in socket five and NDX in socket six... all connected with Powerlines. My LP12 is powered by a Radikal and I have found it best to connect this directly to the house ring main rather than with all the Naim gear on the block again this is connected with a Powerline.  Thanks to DB for his advice on this following his experiments which are documented elsewhere on this forum.