hi seems like an age ago i started this!
have changed mains cables and yes it does make a difference. it changed things, some good, some not so good.iam lucky to have a lot of freinds with a lot of very different kit. so i guess auditioning is cruicial to find the right ballance.
i finally setled (no such thing with a hifi) on krystal kables (search ebay)
they work for me,and thats the trick

Yeah, I bought a Krystal as well (a mains block). I think it's a bit of a sleeper hit in the hifi community. The reviews were only OK-ish but there are a lot of people buying them on recommendation.

I preferred it to the Russ Andrews alternative.

I'm still sceptical over the effects of a mains lead on sound quality. It just seems like another way to have your pockets picked..

Have you actually tried one Euler? There are many sceptics like you, the other contributors to this thread and at one time me too if I'm honest, that have thought "Pah! How can a mains lead improve the sound?" but you might be pleasantly surprised. It's not going to be a "night and day" jump for joy sort of difference but as part of the package of buying the best cabling your pocket will allow, then that is a different matter entirely. Yes there are plenty of rogues out there that will empty your pockets without batting an eyelid, but please do not tar all cable vendors with the same brush. Your job is to sort the wheat from the chaff and by ignoring the glossy adverts, giving the magazine reviews a wide berth, treating as ignorant fools all the naysayers and actually paying heed to those folks that have found an excellent product at a sensible price, voiced through their personal endorsements.

No I haven't actually used one and it's due to an incredulity toward the idea that a plug will make that much difference.

I suppose 'don't knock it until you've tried it' but still, it is just a plug.

Euler, please look at my posting (no.9) on page 1 of this thread. This should clue you up on mains supplies. It's not the plug that makes the difference

Euler, you are right that in some ways it seems like a case of the Emperor's New Clothes but let's be honest, it takes a lot for me to come clean and confess to however many people visit AVreview, that I splashed out money for a mains lead (and with my own name as well!!) It makes no difference to you or anybody else (well apart from Russ Andrew's pockets!) if I buy another lead, but for whatever reason they work and make my listening even more pleasant than before. Buy one and try it. If you hate it get your money back and be very smug knowing you were right or keep it and be happier with your listening

I agree that the theory sounds dubious. In practice, I've found differences.

It's one of those things that is unarguable - it's simply down to plugging one in and trying it. If you can't hear it, then that will have proven your point.

The Missing Link will let you try before you buy. That would be a good first step.

www.the-missing-link.net

Also, as mentioned, Krystal are good. Both good value UK manufacturers.

There's a lot we don't know about hifi. Some things work and we still don't really know why. There have been a lot of suggestions as to what mains leads do but there's comparatively little solid evidence.

I'd put the importance of mains cables third behind Interconnects and speaker cable (In that order) in terms of the overall hierarchy of cables.

having worked in the tv service industry in the 80s and 90s, when not a lot attention was given to the quality of domestic mains as far as video/audio gear was concerned, I can remember that certain makes of tv and vcr had their performance and reliability effected by 'dirty' or 'spikey' mains. In the workshop we had isolation transformers and mains filters to try and give us a 'clean' supply.
Little was mentioned about rf interference on the supply. That issue is taken far more seriously now.
There is little point in buying expensive interconnects and speaker cables if your mains supply is unstable. Mains voltage can vary surprisingly during 24 hours.
Apart from the suppliers mentioned on this thread, I believe Richer Sounds will lend you a selection of cables (deposit required) although i don't know if mains cables are included. Worth a try, if there's a branch nearby.

I don't think Richers do much with mains cables. Maplins do (Tacima for £25-30) though but I haven't tried them. I think their cables are the weakest part of Richers range.

From experience I do think interconnects are more important than mains cables even though logic might suggest otherwise.

You're right about transormers - I use an APC 1250 line conditioner (which is basically a multi tapped transformer) to regulate the power before my Meridian source components. Interestingly, it costs less (£85) than most of the specialist mains cables. It costs 1/4 of the retail value of the VDH mainstream cable that supplies it (no I didn't pay retail!).

A friend of mine who was in a band used to use one because the electrical noise from slot machines in Pub power supplies was so bad.

It's unfortunate that the DIY route is a non starter because non EC approved mains cables may invalidate your insurance policies. With interconnects and speaker cables, it's often the best route as well as being safer.

Well I seem to be in a sceptical minority and perhaps I should try out a mains lead to see what, if any, effect it has on sound. Although sometimes you just have to go with your gut instinct...

just ordered a merlin tarantula mains lead gonna try it on my myryad cd will let you know if it makes a difference 1-2 days

recieved cable today listened to massive attack protection on old cable then again on merlin was amazed at the difference more presence better bass control money well spent my system myryad mc 100 naim 72/140 kef reference speakers / question can you get an upgrade for the lead that carrys the power from the pre to power ?

There are two routes you can go here; Russ Andrews does a custom cable service. They may or may not be able to do one for you. The cables that they have done for me were not that expensive.

A better solution is likely to be Avondale. 01246 200096. From memory, I think they've done some advanced things with that connection. For what they do, they aren't that expensive and they have a following amongst the flat earthers. I'd suggest it's better to actually pick up the phone to them rather than look at the website. There are a number of ways of making the connection that you mention.

See link below;

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/avondale/audioUpradesInterconn.htm

hi everyone,i am new to this malarky so please be patient if i put all this wrong. I was at the stage of mains cables,in fact i had already asked for and recieved a quote from krystal,when i came across an article by ben goldacre,who writes for the guardian as a science correspondent,who was astounded by a letter he had recieved from areader who had told him about mains leads and the amount being charged for them by russ andrews and co.To say he was shocked is truly an understatement.This was in early January 06.He says that he contacted RA but was told he was on holiday.Although he was told RA would provide proof upon his return. Anyway it bugged him that much he used the whole column again just a few weeks later to say he was setting up some real scientific tests and was sending out invitations to ANY cable people to get involved and also claimed NOBODY would be able to tell the difference between a so called quality lead and the lead from his kettle.He claimed he had invited RA and some others and would report the outcome. PLEASE, can anybody look at these articals at guardian.co.uk/bad science and tell me whats right?

Bad science is where you postulate a theory without any experimentation.

Ben Goldacre is yet another sensation seeking journalist and no more. When I read what the test criteria and methods that are intended to be used, I nearly wept.

Mains Power chords do make a difference. I've tried a few, although they may change the sound of HI-FI not all will improve it. Chord's Power Chord is definately an improvement. I have them on my CD Player and Amplifier. Expect quieter noise floor and overall more musical enjoyment with better demarcation between instruments. The Power Chord doesn't add anything to the music that isn't already there, it just removes much of the background noise that's present within a HI-FI system. Great product and really allows your system to shine through when used with Chord's Epic speaker cable!

Does anyone know if the journo Ben Goldacre
ever carried out his 'challenge' to makers
of mains cables ? I don't take the Guardian
and there is no mention of it on their web site.

As a sound enthusiast and a proffesional electronics engineer i can categoricaly state that provided a mains lead is capable of carrying the required current without significant voltage drop, it will make NO DIFFERENCE to the quality of the sound. If the lead incorperates filters and/or screening it may help if the tha mains is particularly dirty, but then you have to ask why the amp/cd player/etc doesn't have sufficient filtering built in. At the end of the day, the mains lead carries NO audio frequencies, just 50/60HZ ac mains, provided it arrives at the equipment with no significant voltage drop, it has done all it can. The supply came all the way through the didtribution network on copper/aluminium/steel, what difference is 2 meters of silver wire going to make???