Some "electrical" tips if interested...

These are some tips from the power/electricity viewpoint based on several years of research and trials in building a decent music system (minimum: a source, typically CD player, amplifier, integrated or pre/power, speakers, may be subwoofers):
*Though stock power cord vs expensive power cord is still a subject of several debates, my personal experience is that there is substantial benefit from well made power cords compared to stock cords supplied with equipment. I find shielded power cords the best for digital equipment like CD players and non-shielded for amplifiers. There are excellent power cords built at reasonable prices by Chris ven Haus (vhaudio), Tel wire power cords etc.
*Equally important as power cords are the connectors used, including IEC and power plugs and wall sockets. An excellent connector from companies like Furutech, Oyaide etc makes a huge improvement in performance.
*Before attempting a review and plan for power cords and connectors, it is always best to understand certain basics. The NEMA type plugs and sockets used in USA are the most common but I tend to keep away from them as they are basically designed for 120 volt power and not 230 volt we have in India. Wattgate, Hubbell etc make excellent connectors but unfortunately not to 230 volt application.
*So it is better to standardise all your wall sockets and plugs to 230 volt application, the most common being European Schuko and UK types to ensure maximum safety. I use exclusively European Schuko connectors (wall sockets, IEC and male plugs).
*Even if you have a power conditioner, don't plug in your high current equipment like amplifiers into them, whatever the manufacturer says.
*I do not believe in using a voltage stabiliser in a hifi system as it restricts power.
*I have made a multiple wall socket box star-wired inside to plug in my amplifiers and preamplifier. A Richard Gray conditioner is plugged in parallel and digital equipment like CD and DVD players, surround processor etc are plugged into the conditioner.
*A polarity check helps a lot, ie. ensure hot and neutral are connected correctly. A cheap van den Hul polarity checker is useful for this or the local electrician can check this.
*A summary of my power cords: VH Audio Flavor-4 with Furutech plugs in pre and power amplifiers, Tel Wire power cord with Oyaide beryllium plugs in CD player, XLO Reference 2 Type 10 power cord in DVD player, van den Hul Mainstream power cords in subwoofers.
Believe me, these small things make a big difference in performance of whatever system you have.

> murali

Hi Murali,
Some interesting observations. Most of which i would readily agree to.
Few questions as i am a bit confused
Why Non Shielded power cords for amps? Do u mean NON SCREENED?
Wattgate i thought was made in UK so voltage is not an issue. Maybe am wrong.
I too prefer plugging amps directly but in some parts of our country thats just not possible.
I have a polarity checker but u can check live/neutral with a local tester too. When u face the wall outlets live is on the RIGHT>
Lastly what is "star wired"? I ask because i make my own extension strips if needed and basically loop the Wires inside.
Thanks
Regards

As far as I know, Wattgate, Hubbell etc are US makes.
A digital player requires protection from RF and hence shielded cables are recommended. Not for amplifiers.
It depends on how the wall socket is wired inside and I have seen several installations where even adjacent sockets are wired reverse.
By star wiring, I mean the live wire enters inside the extension strip and then connected from one point to all the live terminals of the sockets (in parallel), the same with neutral. The other way is to loop the wire from one socket to another (series).
Hope this is clear.
> murali

Those were helpful tips Murali.
To add to your note, one can also make good braided power cord with Finolex wire. I found them to sound better than stock cords.
Thanks
Vasu

Well i bought some wattgate from london (IEC and UK flat 3 pin tops) and hence assumed.
Yes i 'loop' the wire from socket to socket when making a power strip.
Yes Murli all is clear!!!!!!!!!

Yes myriad u can make good power cords with finolex cables too. Just use decent connectors or the purpose is defeated. Have made some using finolex 4sq.mm three core cable and supra connectors and my friends seem to love them.