Got a mains cable, don't judge me before you hear what I have to say

I suspect the problem is based on coming onto a UK-based board speaking a foreign language, but yes, I agree, there are better things to talk about

What's annoying is that the hifi forum in which we're in gets conversations about the cross-fertislisatoin of American terms into UK English.  It's marginally more annoying than the "please show me one scientific fact" against the "I use my judgement" rants.  

Still, the OP got a mains cable he likes, that's nice then.  

To be honest I am rather disappointed about how this thread has turned out, I haven't bothered reading much after my last comment because its all turned argumentative. I was not looking for an argument, most of us have been around here to know what the cynics think. I personally find it all very narrow minded. There are people on this forum who would try new things and tell us about them, Cno, PP, Acalex to name a few and I'd always read intently about their experiences. Sometimes I would get to try some of what they are talking about and get back saying "Hey it really works or it didn't work for me" instead of "Pah, that could never work because here is what the scientists think about it". Its all getting to be a giant pain in the behind, can't we just have people who say nah it didn't work for me instead of just blindly disputing it? Well you are welcome to have your petty debates here, I'm off.

P.S if my experience ever gets you to try a mains cable, it would all be worth it so please do let me know.

What a shame this interesting post was turned into a childish slanging match.

Power cables are definitely a route I would like to try next as I have heard substantial differences in speaker cable and interconnect upgrades.

If a modest outlay of 60 quid can make noticeable improvements on exotic gear then surely it's worth a try for rest of us, right?

If you're prepared to believe that the makers of a £1500 amp would ship it with a plug that could be bettered by third party item costing £60, that's fine.  Personally, I'm with Chebby on this one.

Amp manufacturers specialise in producing amps, not cabling. Cable manufacturers specialise in producing cables and must spend substantial amounts of cash on R&D. Think what you like, but the aftermarket cable business would not be a commercially viable industry if the products they make do not produce sonic gains!

Who else has had sonic improvements and with what cables? I am even more interested in this now...

It is "commercially viable" if sufficient gullible people are around.  And it seems that they are!

Chris

With Atlas Eement Integras between CD & amp.  Nothing mind blowing but to my ears definitivelly an improvement in terms of detail & tonality.

Ummm, yes, quite.. I'd guess that most amp designers with half a City and Guilds qualification could work out what the properties and purpose of a cable is for.  

I think those designers know precisely how a mains cable works and the properties or external influences that impact it.   Pardon my cynicism, but if you're trying to tell me the guys that work at Sony, Meridian, Boulder, Marantz, Red Wine Audio, Audio Analogue and a whole pile of others don't know what that thing does that goes into the wall then you're kidding yourself.  

the correct response to this was of course - Edradour 14-year old

I have a Furman PL8 power conditioner that I use for my guitar rack (basically I use it as a convenient rack-mounted 4-bar (or 10-bar actually)) - I'm wondering whether using such an item off which to power all my hifi gear should improve the sound? I know the obvious answer is WELL TRY IT AND SEE, DUDE, but that's a little tricky to do so - what's your opinion? If it does improve things, it seems to me to be quite a cost effective method - mine was 60 quid off ebay, for 10 conditioned sockets that doesn't seem too bad a price. 

I have tried a third party mains cable on my Supernait for an experiment  and heard no difference whatsoever, so it was promptly returned for a refund........

So you really think makers of upmarket kettle leads have huge R&D budgets? I mean, think about that for a moment. Surely a huge R&D budget would result in masses of research and data? But where is it? Because when I look at a lot of the companies selling 'audiophile' kettle leads I see back of fag packet operations often run from a garage or bedroom.

Put it this way, when I needed my Sugden amp repaired and serviced (very cheaply) recently they ran all sorts of electronic tests on the componants and made sure the EQ was where it should be (and it came back from them sounding great). But are you seriously telling me that Sugden (and far bigger companies who make expensive quality amps) haven't got the necessary equipment or time to test a few different kettle leads? Nah, of course they have, but they still ship a standard lead even on their top of the range masterclass amps. Like I said, just think about it...

It's a shame Shafesk that you asked in good faith for people not to judge but that's exactly what happened. No matter, I always believe that ultimately we all vote with our wallets - if you hear a difference from any bit of equipment, like what you hear and can afford it, then go for it and ignore what the doubters say.

Enjoy the new cable!

Have any amp manufacturers recommended replacing their standard mains leads? Those with no links with cable manufacturers.