New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Cleanliness next to godliness?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Welcome to the Graham Slee Audio Products Owners Forum

 

Open to all owners plus those contemplating the purchase of a Graham Slee HiFi System Components audio product and wishing to use this forum's loaner program: join here (Rules on posting can be found here)

This website along with trade marks Graham Slee and HiFi System Components are owned by Cadman Enterprises Ltd


Cleanliness next to godliness?

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345 7>
Author
RichW View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 21 Jan 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 1471
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RichW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2016 at 9:55am
I well remember the ruinous effect on my system's sound caused by a worn old 2 way mains
adaptor years ago & have had a thing about good clean connections since!

I also remember the trouble we had at work with some production test equipment from solder
plated card edge connectors & the cheap non-gold plated backplane connectors they plugged
into.
The equipment would frequently 'go down' with erratic measurements & the solution was usually
just a reseat of a couple of cards in their edge connectors to 'clean' the connections.



Edited by RichW - 10 Aug 2016 at 9:57am
Majestic/Enigma, Accession MM & MC.
Back to Top
Richardl60 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Yorkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1468
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richardl60 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 2016 at 6:59am
Installed the second parallel run of cable last night after a little bit of drilling to my brickwork to enlarge the hole through my wall. The socket proved a little tricky to screw the cables in (even though larger receptacles than normal) but got there. Subject to any other limitations the cable current capacity from my consumer unit to back of my wall socket should now be over 50A.

End result? First impressions on a couple of hours listening (Turn of a friendly card APP and Angel Clare art garfunkel) positive, mainly in soundstage and depth although generally seemed a little cleaner and easier sounding overall.

Whilst installing got me thinking whether the basic external junction box I have is the best I can do? For those who do have a dedicated mains feed does anyone have any particular junction boxes they have used?

Cheers
Back to Top
Richardl60 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Yorkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1468
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richardl60 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 10:34pm
Hi managed to find a high current junction box and after drilling, cleaning and reconnecting finally completed the exercise box should be as moistureproof as I can reasonably make it.

From the rod clean, connection cleans, upgraded through the wall cable and now 60A connector block the overall sound has now kept forward considerably.

Which change made biggest difference I wouldn't like to say but overall much bigger, tighter, more open and spacious sound with far bigger soundstage. Sounds very pure now (not in a cold way) with bass tighter, more controlled and seemingly drops down further when there is indeed ultra low bass.

Job well done!
Back to Top
Richardl60 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Yorkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1468
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richardl60 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 2016 at 9:24pm
Now the winter appears to be starting to set in I have had another play but internally this time with my mains supply.
 
I have replaced/upgraded to a 100A connector block (and cleaned the cable ends) in a small distribution block near my consumer unit - brief listening suggested a little cleaner and more open sounding, but not huge.
 
I then replaced my mains socket with a Furutech Gold socket, unusually fiddly to fit.  This has been in place for around 22 hours now and sure will take a little longer to bed in fully but for the relative cost per improvement this does rank highly.  The internal clamps I believe are substantial gold plated devices and the mains plug is a very tight fit - providing very good contact, not that it will be coming out anytime soon.
 
Differences are relatively different to a lot of other installation, cable and hardware changes.  A good deal of extra openness, delicacy and ease to the sound has arrived, with further fine detail.  Sound has moved further out of the speakers with greater naturalness and solidity/focus.  On a number of well known tracks (CD at present only), there have been quite a few with changes of tempo/speed within bass lines I have never noticed before.  On the first one it sounded initially like a bit of wow from an old turntable but became apparent this was the performance rather than a flaw.  Other than maybe taming an upper vocal area forwardness there has been minimal change in balance so far nor has there been any significant change in the bass tightness, punch or attack which I had perhaps anticipated.
 
I suspect that the benefits are enhanced by removing other weaker links in the mains chain and will not simply reflect a simple socket change.
 
It does sound increasingly like vinyl which is great and the subjective noise floor does appear lower too as with good vinyl.  Very enjoyable and difficult to switch off!
 
I have also plugged in an upgraded DC mains lead to my Accession so once that cable has burned in in 2-3 weeks I will have a switch back to some serious vinyl listening.
 
 
Back to Top
Suggs View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 07 Oct 2011
Location: France
Status: Offline
Points: 513
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suggs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 6:46am
All very interesting stuff, It's incredible that changing something such as a mains socket, plug or cable can change the sound to any noticable degree, well done Richard Clap

Out of interest what upgraded DC cable are you trying now to power the Accession? It will be very interesting to see what you think of that change when you have evaluated it
Derek
Back to Top
Richardl60 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Yorkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1468
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richardl60 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 7:13am
The DC is custom built, it is using an Oyaide gold DC plug and pure Silver cabling. Won't be trying for a couple to three weeks to allow for burn in- I have noticed significant changes over long periods in the past. There may be no differences but won't know until tried.
Back to Top
Richardl60 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Yorkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1468
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Richardl60 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Nov 2016 at 7:15am
Ps where I started this thread I am sure that cleaning/new contacts are also a very good starting point and sure will contribute here also when terminations are cleaned.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345 7>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.094 seconds.