I’m very happy with my setup of Atom HE and active PMC Twenty5 23i’s and have no desire to upgrade either source or speakers. However, I’m wondering if there are any other options for SQ improvement such as tinkering with the power supply for example. At this time I am not interested in room treatments.
I know the issue of power supply has been discussed numerous times and often without any definitive conclusions but I’m looking for advice specific to my setup.
At the moment I use a four-way Russ Andrews Powerbar S distribution block (no filters etc) connected to a double switched mains socket with a basic Russ Andrew’s yellOPower™ mains lead. The Atom HE and the speakers are all connected to the distribution block with their stock power cables.
It may be that given my modest setup, any possible SQ improvements would not be cost effective. I’d certainly prefer to spend as little as possible but I would be prepared to budget up to around £1.5k if the cost warranted it in terms of increased SQ. I’m thinking about dedicated mains, changing power block, cables, wall socket etc.
Whatever I do, if indeed I do anything, I will listen to any proposed changes where possible before spending but, in the first instance, I’d like to gather some thoughts about the different options relative to my particular case.
As I said I’m happy with my setup as it is but I’m curious to discover if it could be even better. I’m not interested in the NSC222 as an upgrade — it’s out of my reach financially anyway.
You could look at Naim PowerLine mains cables to replace the stock mains cables. These often come up on eBay, around £300-400, so worth looking out for.
Alternately, make your own mains block and mains cable as many of us have done so.
As you may be aware, I now have a similar setup to your good self: Atom HE with PMC twenty5.21i. It’s a lovely setup that performs much better than its small size and relatively modest price might suggest. As you are very much aware of, of course.
I have my Atom on dedicated mains, using 10mm2 cable running from its own consumer unit to an unswitched Crabtree socket. I have a Naim powerline on the Atom. XLR cables are Mogami 2549, with Neutrik plugs. The speakers are wired with Naim Powerline Lites. They are connected to the ring main, not the dedicated mains, in order to keep the speakers’ SMPS power supplies away from the Naim.
The Atom sits on a coffee table, though I must confess to liking the look of your Atacama box.
Thanks @robert_h, changing the switched double socket for an unswitched one is something I will do.
There’s a double Russ Andrew’s Supersocket II for £32 or others such as Russ Andrew’s Signature socket or Quantum Science or Furutech ones for example for around £250. I know nothing about electrics so I’ll have to look into which would be most suitable for my setup. Nothings straightforward with this hobby is it:thinking:
Hi @DiggyGun, thanks for your suggestion. I think I’ll get a powerline for the Atom HE. I could use the powerline lite I’ve currently got attached for one of the speakers and get another one for the other speaker like @HungryHalibut. Cheers
I’ve generally stuck to regular unswitched sockets from Crabtree, MK, etc. although the quality of MK in particular seems to have nosedived since production was moved to Malaysia so I now avoid them.
Furutech double sockets are in fact two single sockets in a double enclosure, so bear this in mind when installing them as you need to make two sets of connections.
Yeah, I’m really happy with all of the components of my setup - Atom HE, speakers and headphones. So pleased I went the active route with the speakers.
The advice I received on here was so helpful when I was choosing what to get
Odd desire to tinker if you’re happy, however if you do want gain more benefit then it is extremely likely that reversing your interest as expressed
would bring noticeable benefits for not necessarily large sums of money. It is the elephant in many people’s rooms, even people with extremely expensive systems. A surprisingly small proportion of people seem to take the idea seriously, despite the fact that you may get more benefit for less outlay, though of course what may actually be both practicable and domestically acceptable can be quite limited.
If your interest is piqued then there are a number of threads discussing, of which this is probably a good one to start with: The Listening Room Reality
@HungryHalibut, I’ll bookmark this thread as I’ll quite probably model my electrics around your setup. I appreciate yours and everyone else’s input with this. I probably won’t do anything just yet but sometime in the new year. When it’s all done I think that will be the end game for me and then all I’ll have to do is listen to the music😀
@ChrisSU, thanks, I didn’t know that double furutech sockets are effectively two singles. I won’t be doing most, or even any of the work myself but I probably don’t need to spend that much on sockets anyway.
Hi @Innocent_Bystander, if I lived alone I would certainly be interested in room treatments but the boss won’t want odd bits of stuff positioned around our living room unfortunately.
However, I didn’t think she’d give the OK for floor standing speakers even, but she did, so you never know.
My interest is piqued though so I’ll give the thread a view. Thanks
I have no desire to replace the source or speakers with upgraded models, either now or in the foreseeable future, but I do want to ensure that I’ve optimised what I have and that my setup is as good as it can be with all appropriate optimisations in place at a reasonable expense. As ever, I appreciate your take on things.
The Super Socket II is pretty decent without spending silly money on a socket. Earlier in the year, I swapped out the socket the electrician had fitted when he installed my dedicated mains supply a few years back with one.
I’d definitely recommend the dedicated mains route - it’s a good foundation for any system and should help you get the best from yours. I really liked Nigel’s setup with the active PMCs, so I can understand why you don’t want to make any big changes here.
