Updated: 12-Jan-03 15:54
Doede's Audio Tweaks...

Tweak of the week: Setting up a special Mains sections for my Audio and the making of Mains Cables...

This was one of the most DIFFICULT tweaks in my audio life....... believe it or not. Why?? is so technically advanced?? Is this far beyond Rocket Science?? No... I just did not believe this would do ANY GOOD !!! Mains cables? come on, what is next?? Silver windings on the generator in the power plant ?? You can guess already, that I was very, very skeptical. So, when Audiofriend Dick more or less challenged me, I decided to take up the glove....... In one rainy Sunday afternoon every thing was ready, so now real waste of time, eh? OK, read one how it works.

First I started to remake all my power cables with a high capacity, low induction version. Did I use expensive connectors and esoteric wire??? Of course not, just standard cheap stuff from the local supplies shop..... The twisted cable is very simple to make, take 10 meter cable, take the 2 ends (so now you have 5 meter) and tie then to a fixed point. The other end goes in the drilling machine. Just wind and wind till you get a nice looking twisted cable. Now you do the same an other time and you have nicely double twisted cable......... It stays this way, so you can just cut into any desired length......

Now came the next step. I found out, that my house has 3 phase mains power coming in and one was actually not used and was labeled "reserve". MMHHH am I lucky or what ?? So I drilled some holes in the floor to the cellar, where the main power connection board is...... Of course I also decided to lay a thick 6mm2 Wire for the grounding. This wire is connected to the Phone input ground.... My system has never been so silent..... You can see the details in the 2 images here. The 230 Volt cables were now drawn into the living room, where I laid a half ring of cable and connected mains sockets to it (also cheap stuff)  

Isn't it nice if you find the 3 mains switches like that ------------------>

Please take ENORMOUS CARE when working here. You are working under full power and this can easily KILL you !!!! If you are in doubt, disconnect your whole house from the mains with the MASTER-mains-switch. OK, you need to start up some applications and make sure some equipment is not running as you switch off, but is definitively saver !!!!

How does it SOUND ????
Interesting, no need to get played in or so, Immediately I heard that the sound stage was more quiet, bit smoother. The whole sound is just cleaner. I must admit it works.... You are never too old to learn, nice lesson !!!! Is this a big thing ??? No. Is it worth the crazy prices you have to pay at your local high end audio  dealer, NO, NO, NO !! Was it worthwhile to do this tweak?? Sure it was. It was a very small investment, I had some fun doing it and the last but not least, I got rest in my stereo image which I never would have know where to get this rest from with other tweaks. So, in one way, it is a NECESSARY & MANDATORY tweak ! So quickly to your supplies shop and get your own mains supply ring.......

Do I have any real explanation why this tweak actually made a difference?? No real technical, other than something like, less HF junk on the line, only audio load etc etc. Well, this time, just forget about the real backgrounds and just spend the lousy 20 Euro or so and tweak your self further forward to a smoother sound....

Would it be even better to use expensive cables and connectors??? I don't know and I don't intend to find out; I think it will not become any better as it is now, specially not at all cost.... Unless some one else is willing to do the work ( 2 times !!!) and invest the money and let me know ?????? "Some one else", thanks in advance !

Happy Listening and Building !!!!

Doede Douma

IMPORTANT: The information provided on this page is intended as guide for DIY activities and therefore free to copy and or publish. If any one wishes to use any of the information from my WEB site, please make sure to refer and footnote to my URL Link as source! Doede Douma