Power Conditioner

[George Hincapie]

When I first bought all those AudioLabs components years ago now (which led me here), I also bought one of these: https://www.richersounds.com/product/ma ... -6way-main

My main system components have been plugged into it ever since and I've never stopped to consider whether it has any positive/adverse impact on the sound.

What is the view of the forum on this item? Should I keep using it? Or replace it with a normal power board?

TIA.

[savvypaul]

My listening experience is that filtering /conditioning does remove some of the immediacy of the music. I used a RA ultra purifier for several years with their Powerblock distribution board (with more filtering / clamp built in). Preferable to raw mains...but I got the feeling that it was masking a problem rather than removing it. The more 'hifi' it sounded, the less i wanted to pogo! A very subtle version of what dolby noise reduction used to do is the best way I can describe the musical effect.

I then got a NVA BMU (which I use with a unfiltered Mark Grant block). Night and day better for the music. To the extent that if were considering spending £1k on a NVA amp I would say to try the BMU and the '20' pre power combo first and save the change for later.

[Classicrock]

I use a similar strip for my computer equipment. I don't think they are suitable for hi-fi. Remove it and report back what you hear. I don't believe surge protectors and filters help fidelity. If you have specific local mains problem I would suggest spending a lot more on regeneration and/or balanced mains.

[alfer]

I tried one and it now is used for all my IT stuff. It sat on the sound. HiFi now uses a regenerator which is probably not necessary.

[George Hincapie]

I have had a look on the Mark Grant web site. Is that a joke? How can someone charge so much for a power cable? There seems to be one from Wonfor Audio; is that Colin from this forum? If so, I'd be interested to know how a power cable is worth £315. What exactly does it do over and above normal kettle leads to justify that price?

[savvypaul]

I bought a MG 6 way block with a standard cable. The block has 6 'proper' sockets and the cable is hard wired rather than IEC connector.

Currently around £200 depending on length of cable required. Very solid build quality and tight grip on plug pins.

I think that's bearable. Have a look at the russ andrews site

[George Hincapie]

But what difference did it make? I have always assumed a power cable is a power cable. Am I wrong?

[savvypaul]

I do hear a worthwhile difference over a standard B&Q block. Mainly deeper but tighter bass. I can't say whether that's the cable or the sockets, though. I took Doc's advice on avoiding IEC connectors...and sold the russ andrews block.

[savvypaul]

I should mention that the RA block had in built filtering- not suitable to use with balanced mains, so I couldn't make direct comparison with the MG

[savvypaul]

PPS. The Balanced Mains Unit is by far and away the biggest improvement. The BMU and a £10 block sound vastly superior to the £1k RA power cable and mains block that I owned.