Bluray/skyhd/tv Mains cable upgrades
Posted by: Finkfan on 09 January 2017
I'm curious to find out what mains cables people are using on their AV boxes. When I set up my "office" next month I'll have space to install my own TV, Sky and Blu-ray . These will be powered by their own 6mm ring main. In the rest of the house I currently only use the supplied cables. I did spend an evening a few months ago trying my TQ mains cables on my Sky box and TV and I felt there was an improvement in Colour, contrast and image sharpness. However I'm not sure I want to spent that kind of money and I feel they are probably an overkill here.
What cables do you use? What improvements were there? Do you use the same manufacturers HDMI cables, if they make them?
I put a black rhodium power cable that I had lying around on my projector and noticed an immediate improvement, but putting a spare power line on my AV amp made no difference.
unfortunately me blu ray has a captive lead so no tweaking there.
Which BR cable is it [@mention:1566878603979181]?
Supermains 25 if I remember correctly. It noticeably changed the way the projector handled reds, all for the better. Skin tones looked like people were embarrassed or flushed, now they look much more natural.
Thanks for the info.
I use predominantly two types of power cables on non-Naim boxes:
MIT Magnum on sources like Oppo.
Enerr Violet on Yamaha pre-power for AV.
HDMI cables - a mixture of MIT and Wireworld.
Those MIT cables look impressive Adam. Not sure we have them in the UK though.
Finkfan posted:Those MIT cables look impressive Adam. Not sure we have them in the UK though.
They seem to be reducing their presence recently. My deale has worked with them for many years and is not really continuing anymore.
Magnum is a good cable. I think I still use it on my SuperUniti.
Enerr is a Polish company - very good wires too, competitively priced.
I use Monster MV2A aerial cable, Monster Black Platinum HDMI cables and Furtech G320 Ag mains cable. All very good quality, make perfect solid long term connection and subtle difference to the picture/sound quality. It's the combination of using all these cables that makes a difference i.e. they're not interring with each other, nor picking up interference.
The mains cable from my LG old has a wired in mains cable, which I haven't got round to cutting the plug off and fitting a MK or Crabtree plug.
I like the Furutech cables. They look well made and seem to work well. Their plugs are superb quality. I did wonder if that level of cable would be an overkill for a tv and skyhd box, but maybe this is the price point I need to look at to get a good result.
I use Nordost where I can. Purple flare fig 8 on the skybox and blue heaven digital 75 ohm and adapter to NDac with the new Heimdall 2 uhd hdmi. Our new Sony 4K screen has a captive mains cable but plasma before I used the excellent Van Den Hul The Mainstream.
What improvements did u notice with the Purple flare on the sky box [@mention:31133010812284286] ?
Quite a bit. Example when scrolling through Tv Guide, when last watched channel was non hd the resolution was ropey compared to when last watched channel was hd - this not so noticeable with the Purple flare. Also some content with heavy contrast between light and dark - take the average scene from Game of Thrones. With stock cable there was some flutter in the shadows, which again with the Flare is less noticeable with more resolution. Also of course the audio sounds more of a piece.
cheers.
Great result [@mention:31133010812284286]. I'll have to try one on my sky box and maybe on my Tv too.
Finkfan posted:on my Tv too.
Forgot to mention - upgrading a TV power supply lead is definitely a good idea. Been doing this for years.
Contrary to Naim, AV equipment seems to benefit from using filtered power distribution blocks - I currently use one of Enerr products.
Thanks Adam. I have tried a filtered mains block before with little effect. Maybe I need to try a better one and a better Tv power cable at the same time.
Anyone tried a dc blocker on sky box or Tv?
Finkfan posted:Anyone tried a dc blocker on sky box or Tv?
I doubt a DC filter will do much if anything because Sky boxes & TV's are all powered by SMPS's & these are not so affected by asymmetric wave forms as are transformers.
Thanks [@mention:1566878603907884]
Finkfan posted:I like the Furutech cables. They look well made and seem to work well. Their plugs are superb quality. I did wonder if that level of cable would be an overkill for a tv and skyhd box, but maybe this is the price point I need to look at to get a good result.
You've probably seen it but MCRU have a reasonably priced cable for a Sky box , I've often wondered myself ...
I'm sure a chap called Russ (based in Kendal) will happily take your money for these sort of 'tweaks' - i think he even does upgraded sky boxes.
pete T15 posted:Finkfan posted:I like the Furutech cables. They look well made and seem to work well. Their plugs are superb quality. I did wonder if that level of cable would be an overkill for a tv and skyhd box, but maybe this is the price point I need to look at to get a good result.
You've probably seen it but MCRU have a reasonably priced cable for a Sky box , I've often wondered myself ...
Yeah there are a few figure 8 cables available from MCRU. Also alternatives from RA and Mark Grant. It's a shame it's so hard to find any reviews on this subject.
james n posted:I'm sure a chap called Russ (based in Kendal) will happily take your money for these sort of 'tweaks' - i think he even does upgraded sky boxes.
Yeah I've seen that box 'upgrade' offer. Not sure about that.