Aesthetics v sound quality.
My mains block is underneath my rack. This gives a neat look (imho) but does it affect sound quality? It is a pain to lift everything off and do an A/B comparison, so I wondered what people thought. The bottom shelf is the XS3 so that may have an impact as it is directly on top of the power block although it is pushed up against the left side as you look at the picture.
My sockets are beside my rack for access in case of needing to be unplugged without having to strip the whole rack down.
Makes sense to have access in case of emergency too. 
Can’t imagine a SQ issue either way. 
Yes. I agree. When I first put it together it seemed like a neat solution but these are the practical issues that I’m now facing. It would be very noticeable off to one side which because I sit directly in front to listen might bug me. I guess it is one of the advantages of having the rack off to the side.
I designed and made my power block and rack. The power block fits inside the rack on the bottom level behind a drop-down door. (see pic)
My design objectives included ease of access and domestically acceptable cable management. OK I realise very few can do this, but I fully understand the concerns and questions of MarkL3w.
As for its positioning affecting sound quality, I personally don’t believe you will find much if anything of benefit in that area.
I agree about the neatness - the last thing I want to look at is a load of cheap plastic and some cables snaking out of it. So behind the rack makes sense for neatness unless there’s something else you can use to hide it. I can’t see why it would be a safety issue as long as you can access the wall socket if you need to disconnect rapidly, which I doubt you will.
Your rack looks quite close to the floor, so that the amp on the bottom shelf will be close to the mains block. Quite possibly not a real problem, and you could easily test this by temporarily siting the mains block off to one side. It’s good practice to keep interconnect and speaker cables away from mains cables - in this respect, effective cable dressing is often not the same as neat cable dressing.
Maybe you could get a four headed Grahams Hydra. The thick part could fit under the rack out of the way. I used one for years with a 552 and 300 and it was excellent.
My rather large Olson block runs at the back of the rack along the skirting board
Seems fine to me
It used to be said many years ago in the magazines that for best performance power blocks should not be postioned either under or behind equipment racks. I guess there is some logic to this as in such postions they will usually be very close to equipment and various cables which is undesirable.
Our Chord M6 block is postioned on the carpet immediately to the right of our rack - mainly because there’s nowhere else to put it! If we had more space available then I would place it on a single level Quadraspire SVT rack resting on Titanium Chord Silent Mount spike shoes all on its own. Yes I would go that far because I know (hear) that these things make a difference and are worth doing if you can.
For many of us there are probably domestic compromises to endure. As with all aspects of system installation. It looks like there is plenty of room at the sides of your rack. You’ve already expressed your displeasure in positioning it off to the side but that’s exactly what I would do - and on it’s own isolation platform as there’s plenty of room there. What improvement you’ll hear, and whether you’ll appreciate it, I can’t say. But if you really can’t stomach it then I guess just leave it where it is unless you’re noticing any specific issues.
PS. I would also try replacing the quite thin glass shelves on your rack with plywood or bamboo ones cut to size. Or else apply some sort of damping strips to the glass. Such simple metal/glass racks can all too easily sound forward thin and shouty IME. But again, just what I would do and if you’re happy already then just leave well alone.
Real food for thought there. Thanks. Not sure my system justifies your amazing looking mains block. One of the reasons for me asking is I am going to have to change things around anyway. After joining the forum and benefiting from many members knowledge and experience, I thought I would try a different block. Currently the one underneath the rack is a Tacima which I know Naim and others suggest to avoid. I think it improved mine a bit but it replaced a £3.99 one so not really fair.
I’ve ordered one from MCRU and will get the Tacima out from under the rack to make a comparison easier. I’ll then have to decide if the winner goes back or ends up somewhere else.
Thanks all.
M
Not sure I trust myself to make my own. 
I tried one of those many years ago on a much simpler second system and it really was a disaster. You have made a great move in disposing of it. Don’t know which one you’ve ordered from MCRU and I guess this advice comes too late now as you’ve already ordered but unless you’re going really upmarket then would make your own from either Crabtree or MK sockets. If you’re not comfortable with doing that then I would go for a Russ Andrews Powerbar (specify no mains filtering when ordering - it’s optional) which are relatively cheap and very good.
I went for the no filter gold plated one. About £120 I think. Not arrived yet.
I can’t see which one that is, only silver plated ones. But their cheaper blocks are basically just mass market blocks with the internal bus bars plated. The Russ Andrews Powerbar blocks are purpose built rather than just modified mass market cheap and nasty ones so much superior IMO.
I’m struggling to understand why the mains block placement will affect sound quality in this scenario.
Proximity to equipment boxes and speaker cables etc. is undesirable. Mechanical isolation is desirable also if you can provide it. Really you should treat a mains block just like an equipment box for best performance.
What evidence supports this ?
As others have said, try a grahams hydra. You can specify number of heads and cable lengths. Works well powering my supercap, 555psu, psu for TT.
Probably won’t. Just that it’s currently directly below the amp with leads running out the back. I was just wondering if that might affect SQ as we are told to keep these things separate.
What I hear.
