I have an NDX2/XPSdr, a double HiCapDR-ed 282 and a 250DR. All have powerline lites. If I got one Powerline a) which component should I put it on, and b) would I be wasting my time/money with just 1 of them?
I would expect that using the PL on your NDX2 would get you best results. But Iām only basing that on āsource firstā philosophy. Itāll be interesting for you find out. Iād put it on your source, and after a month put on your pre or poweramp and see if it sounds better or worse
1 Like
That worked when I had a CD5x with a FC2x. Tried it everywhere but the digital circuits gave the most return.
1 Like
Do you already have dedicated mains? If not, and if itās possible, Iād do that before thinking about PowerLines.
5 Likes
Powerline in my system is currently on the HiCap dr.
2 Likes
In all but the most difficult old buildings, dedicated mains and earth certainly costs less than a bunch of PowerLines too.
1 Like
When auditioning the NAIT 50 I tried different power cords on it. One of them was the Powerline of course (N.A. configuration) . I have other power cords that I use with miscellaneous non-Naim components, mostly power supplies .
I had a pleasant surprise when I switched cords with a DIY Furutech (about the same cost as the Powerline) which was attached to a boutique power supply I had on the non-Naim DAC. With the Furutech on the NAIT 50 and the Poweline on the DACās power supply, the system sounded a lot more ānaturalā and PRAT cleaned up nicely! The Powerline has stayed on that DACās power supply since then!
2 Likes
Thereās a thread beginning to come through that it may be best with digital stuff. So maybe my XPSdr that powers the NDX2?
Yes.
I would plug it into the Napsc.
1 Like
Interesting. That would have been low on my list, I suppose.
There were whole threads on the old forum dedicated to discussing the benefits of a PL on the NAPSC. A lot of members swear by it so I certainly recommend you experiment for yourself. A certain segment felt it was the single most cost effective place to put a PL in the whole of a 282 based system.
Personally, I found it made absolutely no difference on the NAPSC at all, but there is no reason not to judge for yourself.
2 Likes
I bought, tried and sold my PL. Could not see, or hear what the fuss is about. Tried it in 2 systems, same conclusion. I get the need for clean, noise free mains, but i struggle to see how PL contributes to that.
3 Likes
It doesnāt. Thatās not the purpose of the PL. If someone has made that claim, youāve been misinformed. The PL provides a combination of mechanical decoupling for the non conductive parts, and high contact pressure conductive connections. The wire itself isnāt special though it is thick enough to provide the low resistance path required.
The effect does need evaluating without expectation bias. I found that in the context of the main system, itās not the massive upgrade claimed and absolutely the very last thing to do after taking care of interconnects and speaker cables. Adding three PLs had a subtle effect on the top end clarity.
On a Uniti one box system, it had a more significant impact than on the main system.
Is it cost performant? That I donāt know. Better plugs fitted to the ends of the old bog standard Well Shin 001 getās you pretty far at a third of the cost.
2 Likes
The rest of my system is pretty well sorted, ICs,decent mains cables etc. Next would be a dedicated mains supply, likely for less that a PL. Maybe i was expecting too much.
Hmm, 350 year old house, listed, solid stone wallsā¦ mains electricity enters in a completely different area of the houseā¦
Indeed may be not so easy to install to current regs.
(We donāt think weād get listed buildings consent for it either, theyād not understand the reason for it!)
Well you might want to at least make sure it is safe then in that case.
Iāve been in several cottages where the mains wires behind the walls were wrapped in paper, not PVC and the plug sockets still had round holes and yet they were not allowed to change them. The listed building restrictions preventing them from rewiring, the paper wrapped mains behind the wall prevented an electrician from legally fitting a modern plug socket because they have to confirm that they fitted a socket to current BS compliant PVC coated solid core cable āin good conditionā.
It is, the mains supply was fitted before the building was listed. Itās PVC insulation.
In the case of paper or rubber insulation listed buildings consent for replacement āshould notā be refused within the terms of the act, but listed building consent IS required for the work as itās not a like-for-like replacement. If listed buildings consent is refused then an appeal is in order (and this cannot be refused).
1 Like
Thatās all too complex for the old farmerās who lived in these three cottages for X generations. They literally couldnāt even read. I want to say the 21st century left them behind but expect actually the 20th century left them behind first.
Theyāve passed on now. I didnāt make it back to village on my last trip home to see who was living in them now.
I was always nervous the one I went to most would burn down, but the sodden damp poorly maintained thatched roof probably couldnāt catch fire. 
1 Like
