JUST WONDERED WHAT THE BEST EXTENSION BLOCK AND MAINS LEADS WERE FOR USE IN AN ALL NAIM SYSTEM ?

HAS ANYONE TRIED THE NEW KIMBER POWER BLOCK AND LEADS ? IF SO HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO THE MUSICWORKS EQUIPMENT ?. I ASKED THE AUDIO COUNSEL ABOUT THE KIMBER STUFF AS I KNOW THEY SELL THE MUSICWORKS AND THEY TOLD ME IT KILLED THE MUSIC !! IS THIS TRUE OR A BIASED VIEW ? I`M NOT SURE WHICH MAKE TO GO FOR.

ALL REPLYS WELCOME

CHEERS

EDDIE (SYS/ CDS/52/SC/250)

I have a CD3.5/Hicap and some non-Naim stuff as amps and 'speakers (see profile.)

I have never tried the musicworks thing.

I have got Kimber power cables (hi-current) and the old-style distribution block, and also the ever-so modestly titled "super-purifier" in my system. I currently rent a house - so have been unable to set up a separate mains spur - hence the testing of much mains cables et al.

I found all the Kimber/Russ Andrews stuff improved the noise level and removed imterference. Each piece gave substancial improvement with no loss of dynamics, IMHO.

HOWEVER - some words of caution:-

1) I do not yet have a full-on flat earth Naim based system and the amplifier/'speaker combination may be killing some of the PRaT already - and so the edge the cables could take off may already be missing.

2) I have (compared to you) fairly a humble entry level Naim source. It has been suggested that as you go up the heiracy of Naim systems, they become more and more sensitive to the quality of the input - and so although I suffer no loss of dynamics, your system might.

The Russ Andrews / Kimber people off a 30-day money back scheme - so if you wanted to try you only have to pay a bit of postage, and suffer all that post office pain thing,if you want to try.

Jonathan

I use a Music works 6 way block & also their mains cables on my CD player, LP12, 01, & pre amp.

I tried their mains cables on my cross over & power amps, but did not feel that the improvement was worth the cost on these yet. YMMV.

Bob.

I believe the main advantage of using one is that all the grounds get tied into a single plug. NB, when using it, the equipment that draws the most current should be plugged into the outlets nearest the powerstrip's powercord, and those that draw the least, farthest away (I think that would be amp>preamp>turntable> CD.)

Regards
Chris

Beware--Vuk may put you in the "boyband" for using a pseudonym !

More seriously--the strip you refer to is actually a Wiremold--don't have the part # here. It sells for $45 pretty much no matter where you buy it--you probably could go direct and save a couple bucks if that is critically important. I find it both exhilirating and depressing that a $45 power strip sounds better than any of the "power conditioners" or the like I have heard, at least on Naim gear.

Cheers,

Bob @ Qwest

Ride the Light !

I don't know the Wiremold block, but I figure it's a pretty safe bet. But you appear to be in the UK and that's a US product, so it might be a nuisance to get hold of.

Opinions are divided on Musicworks. They're certainly good, and one of The Contenders. It's obvious in moments that they remove a load of hash and give a cleaner sound, but some people (me included) think that they prettify things somewhat. I'm also suspicious about their handling of rhythm -- everything seems to have exactly the same swing on Musicworks.

Another approach is to get as close as possible to having n Naim mains cables on one plug, since the amplifiers were after all designed to work with this cable, whist maintaining an approximation to star earthing.

Maplin make a mains plug which takes four cables, the forum's search engine should find the details or El Scouse will be along in the morning when he gets back to work.

I use the "Hydra" cable made by Grahams, which is fairly similar in principle. This cost about 75 pounds for a six way (seven mains cables plus an hour's labour). Make sure they build it out of actual Naim mains cables, not RS, and that includes the tail.

Joel

Born to groove

The model # is 10320 and they are custom made so a wait is to be expected. They're worth it - I bought two just on NANA's recommendation and the desire to have a solidly built wire strip without a buzzy light and such. They actually were an improvement on my Radio Shack (light-free at least) power strips.

Cheers

Keith.

ex-audiophile

quote:

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Maplin make a mains plug which takes four cables, the forum's search engine should find the details or El Scouse will be along in the morning when he gets back to work.

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I took a few days off work.

The Maplin thing is reviewed on the TNT Audio site here http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/hydra_e.html I personally have used the standard Naim cables. It works fine and is very cheap.

quote:

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Opinions are divided on Musicworks. They're certainly good, and one of The Contenders. It's obvious in moments that they remove a load of hash and give a cleaner sound, but some people (me included) think that they prettify things somewhat. I'm also suspicious about their handling of rhythm -- everything seems to have exactly the same swing on Musicworks.

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Joel's description matches pretty much with my previous experience with MW, the spanner in the works is that in a recent listen in my own system I actually liked what it did a lot. The hash removal is as Joel states very obvious, and to my ears beneficial. What it does to the groove will take me much longer to form an opinion about.

My impression of the thoroughly decent chaps from the Cheadle non-ferrous cult (where MW originates from) is that they tend to seek a quite mellow, flowing groove, and seem to choose stuff that enhances this aspect of the music, occasionally to my mind at the expense of other factors. The Music Works kit does seem to smooth / flow the groove a little, almost in the way that an LP12 does, it may sound great (i.e. easier to follow), but my worry is that it might sound great in exactly the same way with everything - i.e. possibly impose a certain character onto the rhythm of all music played.

The Audio Counsel crowd strangely seem to place a very big emphasis on very short A/B dems, unfortunately this is not how I like to assess gear at all, I usually find it counterproductive or misleading as you tend to be forced to concentrate on a certain aspect of the music rather than the whole. I would definitely need to try Music Works kit at home for a far longer period before forming a conclusive opinion.

I have tried Kimber, and I'm with Joel, it sucks big time - a real groove hoover.

Tony.