Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Audio Grade Electrical Outlets 15amp

There are probably benefits to both ring and star - the advantage of a ring main is you half the impedance for the same gauge of wire, the audible benefits of which, in my experience, are better bass and improved dynamics.

Mine is essentially both ring and star, since I have the ring main to one unswitched socket, then an 8-way Russ Andrews Mains Block (which I believe is star wired/earthed inside and uses very heavy gauge, low impedance cable). Each individual component plugs into the block. The block has filtering too, which mitigates component separation to a degree. I plug in network switches, and the TV, to a different socket on a different ring anyway...

When I tried all these things back in the day, the benefits of moving from a switched to un-switched MK socket were significant, as was the step up to using schucko sockets, simply because you then lose the UK plug fuse, again, better bass, improved dynamics, smoother. Similar improvements with the dedicated ring, along with better isolation from the rest of the house mains, I suppose.

I also use a dedicated earth, with a very low impedance cable.

The great thing with these is they're easy to try and relatively cheap too, just make sure you have someone electrically competent to do, or check, your work for anything you're not happy doing yourself

One thing to keep in mind, unswitched sockets at ~300mm AFL are a big turnoff for prospective buyers if you decide to sell your home. Even though if they're MKs you normally have to jam something in the earth hole to get a voltage on the live side.

The greatest advantage of switched sockets to me is that to configure DSP's I don't have to perform body contortions to use the speaker on/off switch and a button on the remote at the same time. This is difficult for a less than agile "grumpy old git". In my case it is easier to use the switched wall socket and the remote in harmony.
Hector

+1 on the use of a separated and dedicated earth!

A friend of mine runs a 25mm earth tail to a ground spike outside and it does work.

Kind regards
David

Can I just clarify that I understand you correctly? You are using a 6mm ring main with a 32A MCB to connect up a single unfused 'schucko' European socket?

Thanks,
Peter

No, looking in the consumer unit this morning, it's a 16A breaker feeding the ring main to a double Schucko. All installs by a fully qualified electrician.

Do you run the speakers off the Russ Andrews block. Did you compare with straight to the wall socket? I have a nagging doubt about whether the RA blocks constrain the amps (amperes and amplifiers) and only use them for source components.

Not much protection for your equipment.

Gianni, yes and they sound much better through the block to my ears. No reason the block should constrain anything as the wire used internally is heavier gauge than I have in the wall. Plus the block has filtering which I've found benefits amps/DACs as much as anything else.

I don't understand what you're referring to? If you mean spikes/surges, I have RA 'superclamps' and a 'megaclamp ultra' plugged into the spare sockets on the ring/block. If you're referring to the lack of a fuse in the mains plugs, those aren't designed to protect equipment, the fuse inside the equipment does that, they're designed to protect you in case you ever cut through, or somehow compromise the insulation on the mains lead. In a dedicated upstairs listening room (unlikely to ever feed portable outdoor equipment/DIY gear) with no children, no pets, and cables double insulated with heavy gauge plastic armouring (the same used when running mains cables through walls) I'm satisfied this is not a likely scenario.

I was thinking of spikes and surges but you seem to have that covered.

There should be no problem at all with the 16A MCB. I suspect you will find it is a B16Amp. They do B, C and D. That is what determines how quickly the MCB trips. The B is most sensitive to surges, C is in the middle (we use C on our air con systems to allow the compressor start up current) and D is used for things like arc welders etc.

You may also find it is protected by an RCD as well (this has a test or T button on it) the RCD (residual current device) will monitor the cable for earth leakage as make the supply very safe.

Kind regards
David