Tacima CS947 review

As good an upgrade to your system as £45 can buy

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

About the most startling upgrade £45 can make

Pros

  • +

    Allows greater detail, greater attack and greater dynamics

  • +

    Pretty affordable

Cons

  • -

    Squeezes the soundstage somewhat

  • -

    Can impact on treble adversely

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

The latest iteration of a mains block we’ve liked for years, the CS947 is an unusual combination of the exotic and the prosaic.

The plastic it’s made from feels hard and smooth, and of no greater perceived value than a simple £5 mains extender.

Performance

Down at one end, though, where the captive mains cable emerges from the body of the block, there’s a window to show off the circuitry that your money is buying, which makes the CS947 an altogether showier proposition.

When it’s introduced into the chain between your mains supply and your electronics, perceived tactile value ceases to be an issue.

The CS947 releases the stranglehold the mains supply can exert over electronics, releasing the attack and timing our reference equipment is cable of.

Playing a FLAC file of Underworld’s Push Upstairs there’s an entirely more assertive performance from our system, greater positivity in transient sounds and a more convincing sense of integration.

Treble sounds are slightly thinned out, with a little less body than before the Tacima is introduced. The soundstage loses a little of its expansiveness, but the overall gains in midrange dynamics, detail preservation and overall timing more than make up for it.

Verdict

At £45, the CS947 is an excellent upgrade for any entry-level system.

MORE: Best accessories - Awards 2014

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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