this one might be over the top for you, but there are other ones available
Not enough outlets
I always plug my Ayre amp and Cambridge Audio streamer/DAC directly into the wall outlets. I have a single duplex outlet behind my equipment rack and since I have just two components, that is enough. However, recently I decide to try better power cables (Audio Envy) than the OEM cables that I was using. Unfortunately those plugs are large enough that if I use the AE power cable for one component, the plug for the second AE cable doesn't fit (there is just not enough room).
So I am contemplating two options:
1. Use the AE cord for my amplifier and just use OEM for my streamer
2. Get some kind of a strip and plug both my amplifier and streamer into it...I understand that many strips can interfere with power delivery so I'm concerned this may affect the dynamics of my system
Thoughts and advice?
@deone Audio Envy makes a OKTA Power Pro and a Quad Power Box that should fix your concerns. I attempted to copy and past the address however I got blocked by a new device that Audiogon has implemented. |
Alternatively, replace one or both with a Leviton Hospital Grade 90 degree plug. Very well made, very tight, and you can turn the exit around to any angle. Setting it to be 45 degrees will allow for two. Now that I think about it you don’t have to get the 90 degree versions, but I find them very convenient for space saving. Compared to other high end plugs I find this model really improves the outlet grip strength. If your outlets have any play in them consider adding an appropriate spacer or wall plate like this one to give you maximum rigidity and support for heavy cables. |
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This might be outta your price range, but it’d solve your issue and also add power conditioning and surge protection… https://www.thecableco.com/ar2p-adept-response-power-conditioner.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7vub_srvhAMVjHBHAR1B4wrlEAQYAiABEgKY-fD_BwE https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/p/Wiremold-Ul100Bc-Lc-9-25In-Gray-W-4-5-15R-Recepts/5623441 Best of luck. |
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Why not buy a Puritan audio line conditioner then you can plug what you want into it ,I don’t recommend plugging a streamer into the wall unless you have very good surge protection at your breaker box which I do as well as a dedicated 20 amp 4 wire common ground and a insulated isolated ground ,and your outlet absolutely needs to be a quality gold or rhodium over copper outlet ,not the Huge bottleneck j$1 outlet that comes with the house which is a Huge bottleneck !! |
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Thanks a lot for all the advice. I'm going with a high quality powerstrip as suggested by several; I'm picking one without any conditioning or surge protection: just something that minimally interferes with the power going through it, specifically Pangea Audio Quattro Premier - 4 Outlet Power Center 20 Amp or Quad Power Box as suggested by @lak.
@tattooedtrackman: the nicer power cables also tend to have nicer hardware: plugs that fit tightly and make a good connection and plating that resists oxidation over time. |
@deone U are actually very right about that. I also use Furutech GTX-D (R) and Oyaide WPC Z2 and Z1 covers. Outlets and covers. Very tight fit also. |
The problem with some of the strips is that they use the same OEM low quality cables as you probably already have. Cullen Cables makes very nice power boxes with an upgraded cable, and nice receptacles.....hand made in the USA and a great bargain. They are $199 with their "Gold" series cables, and $259 with their "Crossover" series cables. IMO the $259 version would be a very nice upgrade and solve your problem. |
Just a note about hospital grade outlets. At AXPONA several years ago I met Caelin Gabriel from Shunyata and we had an interesting discussion about various power issues. The subject of outlets came up and he told me that it is not a good idea to use hospital grade outlets because they are made to resist corrosion from the cleaning and disinfecting chemicals that hospitals use. They use stainless steel for the electrical contacts instead of copper and Gabriel said that this does not provide as good a connection. He noted that Shunyata sells high quality copper outlets but he told me that the most cost effective solution is to use good quality Hubbel outlets. Just because I'm OCD I replaced my audio outlets with Hubbels for a nominal expense. And, no, they didn't "blow away" the old outlets - I couldn't hear any difference. But everytime I play my rig I'm secure in the knowledge that my system is not restricted by the cheap contractor grade outlets that were originally in my house. A good quality power strip will work just fine for your application. Spend a little more money and buy a name brand that is rated for 15 amps. It will have no effect on the voltage or current that your components receive. |
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@artemus_5 Issue is that the plug needs to go behind a shelf and a straight plug would require me to move the shelf an additional couple of inches into the room which I prefer not to do.
I'm going with a high quality power strip and will report back if that results in a drop in sound quality. |
Well, all well and good....but since we've a 'live/work' situation, the fire marshal (who visits every 2 yrs.) pointed out that best practice is to have hvydty plug strips with an onboard breaker that plugs directly to a wall socket.... Therefore: The nice part is the routine has 'neatened' and makes cable distribution exhibit sense v, 'done enough'. (Nice to have 4x4 boxes on the wall, so I could add a 2nd dbl plug... ;) ..) |
If you go with a strip take a look at the Wiremold L10320. It is/was the only power strip recommended by Naim. It has no power filtering, no on/off switch and no breaker. It’s just a well made extension with nothing in the way which is what you want for amplifiers. If you want, you can opt for the fancier SuperWiremold version sold through AV Options. From what I can tell it’s a L10320 that has been cryo treated , a wood base added and what looks like a Wattgate connector. I own 2 of the regular ones, one plugged into a Bryston Bit-20 and the other into a PS Audio HC something or other (can’t remember the name). Anyway, I hear absolutely zero difference with them in or out of the loop |
My humble suggestion is the Parts Connexion extension kit. I like it for two reasons:
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