Do you have your system on its own dedicated ring on the house electrical supply?

Maybe it depends on screen size, that’s how my iPhone 6 behaves. 

I thought it would be the IOS not the screen size - however having checked my phone and iPad that are running the same version (11.2.2) that is not the case and coearly something different. Mine is also an iPhone 5, and on that if you rotate to landscape vie you get an enlarged image, not more options. Anif you scroll up a bit  you simply do not get the menu bar at the top of the post entry box that you do on the iPad - you just see the preceeding post above it. I suspect HhopLa has different view versions, detecting the type of device, phones deemed to be more limiting in space and so getting the phone version. I wonder if the iPhone 6m with its larger screen, is detected as a tablet rather than a phone. (Need to find some other software with different phone and tablet versions to confirm this).

Either was, the menu bar with the mountain is not visible on the iPhone 5, though whether there is a way to make it pop up I don’t know.

By the way, the post process described (using iPhone or computer with the mountain button visible) does not work every time: last time I tried it took about half a dozen attempts before it worked. It is so frustrating that I don’t bother with pictures unless essential to convey what I want.

ChrisSU,INNOCENT BYSTANDER,

thanks for the help and explanation.

Matty

Chris, Dave, Nigel - thanks on the 10mm. I'll see what he comes back with 

S3 posted:

That’s exactly what I’m having done. 10mm SY cable to a Henly box and then three double MK unswitched sockets from there. I’m told it is exactly the same as having 10mm cable straight to the socket.

Would there be any advantage to soldering the joints within the henly block prior to screwing  down on to the cables.

Matty

My electrician came this morning to do the work. All went to plan and I’m now settling down to listen. With three new unswitched MK sockets in position I took the opportunity to rebuild the system further down the wall towards the speakers and away from in front of the radiator. 

First impressions are positive. Everything seems more natural and coherent. Interestingly I’m getting more detail at lower volumes that I was used to previously. 

I’ll report more once the system has warmed up properly and I’ll post some pics of the work and the SY cable that was used.

Regards

David

Good stuff David - still waiting for a few more quotes as the first one was rather high for a reasonably simple job 

The SY 10mm cable (cross-section)

The new set up - taking advantage of the new dedicated socket positioning and enabling me to locate the racks away from the radiator:

James,

I too was surprised at the cost. However, having seen the work involved - 3 men for 4 hours including high ladder work and routing cable under the house and through tight eves spaces plus the materials all of which were top quality - I'm comfortable that it was appropriate and reasonable especially now I'm enjoying the uplift in performance which I think will continue to improve as the cable burns in. When you think of how much one spends on black boxes or cables to get, sometimes negligible, performance uplifts it's really a no brainer and I'm pleased I did it.

Of course, your scenario may be much more straightforward but if you want to compare prices (if only for peace of mind) then let me know.

Regards

David 

That's a very neat job they've done, David. Glad you are pleased with both the quality of the work and more importantly, the final result. My installation is going to be simpler. The cable run is long (25m) but the route is straight forward so costs should be a lot more reasonable. I've got another chap coming in the next few days so i'll see what he comes up with 

James

S3 posted:

James,

I too was surprised at the cost. However, having seen the work involved - 3 men for 4 hours including high ladder work and routing cable under the house and through tight eves spaces plus the materials all of which were top quality - I'm comfortable that it was appropriate and reasonable especially now I'm enjoying the uplift in performance which I think will continue to improve as the cable burns in. When you think of how much one spends on black boxes or cables to get, sometimes negligible, performance uplifts it's really a no brainer and I'm pleased I did it.

Of course, your scenario may be much more straightforward but if you want to compare prices (if only for peace of mind) then let me know.

Regards

David 

Great to hear that you’re pleased with the results, David. The cable itself looks top-notch and I totally agree that it’s a must do upgrade, whatever the system.

Just to “warn” you, the burn-in process can be a bit of a pig, with ups and downs over a period of weeks. Best to leave some sounds running on loop 24/7. 

burning in mains cables, hmmm. I suspect any variances are down to actual supply variations in your neighborhood from the local transformer and/or on the grid. If there really is a burn period then why not plug in a 2kw heater for a few days! 

Popeye posted:

S3 posted:

Popeye - does it sound any different?

Marginally better, as if the noise floor is slightly less but it's not much.

 

Popeye - how’s it sounding now; any improvement?

S3 posted:

Popeye posted:

S3 posted:

Popeye - does it sound any different?

Marginally better, as if the noise floor is slightly less but it's not much.

 

Popeye - how’s it sounding now; any improvement?

Yes definitely an improvement and an improved noise floor. One thing I am finding tho is a rather metallic sound from some tracks in vioces. I certainly didn't notice this before. Any thoughts?

Had another Electrician in today. This one understood exactly what i wanted and how i wanted it done and why i was doing it. He's happy using 10mm T&E and having the radial non RCD protected (with labelled socket - all to the regs) and came out with the right price. He's booked in for the 22nd so i'm looking forward to finally getting this done.

Thanks again for all the help. Very useful indeed. 

James

james n posted:

Had another Electrician in today. This one understood exactly what i wanted and how i wanted it done and why i was doing it. He's happy using 10mm T&E and having the radial non RCD protected (with labelled socket - all to the regs) and came out with the right price. He's booked in for the 22nd so i'm looking forward to finally getting this done.

Thanks again for all the help. Very useful indeed. 

James

 

Excellent James. Very pleased to hear it. 

When I had my extension built the wiring was on a ring main with its own circuit using 6mm cable. I plugged up my system expecting to hear a noticeable difference but there was none! I then realised that I should have asked for a radial circuit. So one day when my brother came to visit, I expressed my disappointment about not having the wiring done correctly and he turned around to me and said, if you unchain those two sockets you'll end up with two radial circuits. I thought this was outrageous at first but when he talked me through the logic it all made sense. So we went ahead and disconnected the chain. Low and behold there was no difference in sound quality! He asked me why I went to all the trouble of having a dedicated circuit instead of extending the ring main? I explained that for some people it improves the sound quality. He laughed. He laughed so hard I began to laugh. I was wondering why he found it so funny. He said to me, do you realise that you are sharing power with all your neighbours on this street? They are drawing from the same source and you cannot control how much electricity they are using. Having that dedicated circuit is not going to make a sodding difference. It's all in your head. He was right. I couldn't hear any difference. It's a pity because I would have loved for it to have made a difference. Lucky for some.

Minh Nguyen posted:

When I had my extension built the wiring was on a ring main with its own circuit using 6mm cable. I plugged up my system expecting to hear a noticeable difference but there was none! I then realised that I should have asked for a radial circuit. So one day when my brother came to visit, I expressed my disappointment about not having the wiring done correctly and he turned around to me and said, if you unchain those two sockets you'll end up with two radial circuits. I thought this was outrageous at first but when he talked me through the logic it all made sense. So we went ahead and disconnected the chain. Low and behold there was no difference in sound quality! He asked me why I went to all the trouble of having a dedicated circuit instead of extending the ring main? I explained that for some people it improves the sound quality. He laughed. He laughed so hard I began to laugh. I was wondering why he found it so funny. He said to me, do you realise that you are sharing power with all your neighbours on this street? They are drawing from the same source and you cannot control how much electricity they are using. Having that dedicated circuit is not going to make a sodding difference. It's all in your head. He was right. I couldn't hear any difference. It's a pity because I would have loved for it to have made a difference. Lucky for some.

Hearing how my system is improving day by day since having my dedicated mains installed I’m going to have to politely disagree with your brother!

S3 posted:

Minh Nguyen posted:

When I had my extension built the wiring was on a ring main with its own circuit using 6mm cable. I plugged up my system expecting to hear a noticeable difference but there was none! I then realised that I should have asked for a radial circuit. So one day when my brother came to visit, I expressed my disappointment about not having the wiring done correctly and he turned around to me and said, if you unchain those two sockets you'll end up with two radial circuits. I thought this was outrageous at first but when he talked me through the logic it all made sense. So we went ahead and disconnected the chain. Low and behold there was no difference in sound quality! He asked me why I went to all the trouble of having a dedicated circuit instead of extending the ring main? I explained that for some people it improves the sound quality. He laughed. He laughed so hard I began to laugh. I was wondering why he found it so funny. He said to me, do you realise that you are sharing power with all your neighbours on this street? They are drawing from the same source and you cannot control how much electricity they are using. Having that dedicated circuit is not going to make a sodding difference. It's all in your head. He was right. I couldn't hear any difference. It's a pity because I would have loved for it to have made a difference. Lucky for some.

Hearing how my system is improving day by day since having my dedicated mains installed I’m going to have to politely disagree with your brother!

My brother once said to me having something 'new' can influence our perception: wait until the honeymoon period is over and you will come to your senses. He isn't always right though. Just his humble opinion.

Minh Nguyen posted:

When I had my extension built the wiring was on a ring main with its own circuit using 6mm cable. I plugged up my system expecting to hear a noticeable difference but there was none! I then realised that I should have asked for a radial circuit. So one day when my brother came to visit, I expressed my disappointment about not having the wiring done correctly and he turned around to me and said, if you unchain those two sockets you'll end up with two radial circuits. I thought this was outrageous at first but when he talked me through the logic it all made sense. So we went ahead and disconnected the chain. Low and behold there was no difference in sound quality! He asked me why I went to all the trouble of having a dedicated circuit instead of extending the ring main? I explained that for some people it improves the sound quality. He laughed. He laughed so hard I began to laugh. I was wondering why he found it so funny. He said to me, do you realise that you are sharing power with all your neighbours on this street? They are drawing from the same source and you cannot control how much electricity they are using. Having that dedicated circuit is not going to make a sodding difference. It's all in your head. He was right. I couldn't hear any difference. It's a pity because I would have loved for it to have made a difference. Lucky for some.

Essentially it all depends on how good your mains is, and susceptible your equipment is. With the same equipment it is just down to the mains supply, in your home: what else is on it, maybe how the cables run, and possibly the layout of the consumer unit.

If you have no sources of interference then adding a separate radial circuit may have nothing to improve.

And a separate radial circuit can do nothing about interference borne on the mains supply to the house.

in my view it makes most sense to start by disconnecting everything in the house except the hifi. If it sounds the same as when everything is running then it is unlikely that a specialist supply will make much difference. And of course ithe test of temporarily splitting the ring making two radial circuits with one ending at the critical weuipment is quite easy if you know what you’re doing  (or have a tame electrician available when just the hifi is connected, as described above, would verify whether the ring itself is causing any problem.