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Clean AC connections

LotusFool

LotusFool

Well-Known Member
Because I bought a used pair of Khorns, I needed to move my system from one wall to another. The first thing I noticed was the Khorns didn't sound as nice as my old LaScala's. I was pretty sure is was because I hadn't yet set up a dedicated line for the system. It was just plugged into the nearest wall plug. I ordered 25' of Cryo-Romex for the new DL, and while I was waiting for that to come in, I removed the old Porter Cryo wall plug, and installed it for the system. That alone made a big difference! Most if not all the "punchy-ness" came back.

When the Cryo Romex came in and I installed it to make a new DL, I can't say that I heard a improvement.

The next thing I did was to do a little wire management. Between getting the new Khorns and moving the whole system, installing a DL, and wall plug, I hadn't got around to that until this last weekend. I got the IC's and speaker wire away from power chords (as best I could) and the improvement was obvious. One of the things I did was to take the power chord for the CDP and plug it into an AC outlet on the back of my MR77. This made sense to me as it kept that power chord away from one the IC's.

Two nights ago, after a very hard day at work, I came home and powered up, got some beers and hoped some great music would cure my blues. Nothing sound good to me. One CD after another. I went to bed depressed.

Last night I knew I had to try something. Something was wrong. I had a hunch it was the AC, unless a tube had gotten bad on the Mac. I got my dremmel tool out with the polishing wheel, and I buffed and polished each AC plug until they became shinny. I also returned the plug for the CDP to the back of the C33.

WOW WOW WOW! Better sound than ever before! Punch, sparkle, each and every note was very special. I have now proven to myself the critical issue of good clean AC connections. BTW I forgot to mention that the AC plug on the CDP was petty dull looking.

On the back of my C33 there are power outlets for TT, CDP's what ever. What I would like to do is to clean and polish them too. The male parts of a power chord are easy to get at, but how could I clean the female parts of the power plugs? I know it would make a huge improvement. Cleaning and polishing the male plugs is only half the job and I'd like to finish it up right.

Any ideas welcomed.

Gary

PS. If you haven't looked at the cleanliness of your AC connections in many years (wall plugs included) do your self a big favor. It won't even sound like the same system to you!
 
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You've just described my favorite "tweak" to better performance. It also happens to be free ;)!

This should be the 1st step in "installing a system" properly. Cleaning up "oxydized" copper conductors takes little time and effort and makes for better contact. I do clean everything before I install a kit.

It just amazes me how the same gear can sound so much better.
 
"PS. If you haven't looked at the cleanliness of your AC connections in many years (wall plugs included) do your self a big favor. It won't even sound like the same system to you!"

My theory(opinion) is that loose and/or dirty plugs and sockets produce noise and modulation of the AC voltage. Tightness of the plug into the wall socket matters also. I changed from el cheapo duplex sockets where by the plug would actually fall out over time to some nice Pass and Seymor spec grade outlets and the change was noticible. Just more smoother.

I also remove and reinsert all the plugs about every two months or so. Keeps the mating surfaces clean by friction. Have'nt tried any Deoxit type cleaners but they could not hurt.
 
Makes perfect sense to me. Clean AC is important because it's the same AC that the CD player turns into music and that the amplifiers use to amplify. Less noise is better.
 
I'm sure he is serious. Power connections DO matter!

I've experienced horribly noisy systems on occasion in the past, when some plug/socket connection got oxidized to the point where micro-arcing started to occur. The arcing can sound like a buzz saw, if it gets bad.

Sometimes I test gear in the audio market, and often the only electrical sources in the warehouses are low-grade extension cords and cobbled-together connections made from old, cut-off cables. The audible noise --or visual disturbances on TV screens-- that these poor connections can introduce are marked. Sometimes they can make a working unit seem as if it is not working properly!

At least once a year, I clean all connections in my system(s), and pay special attention to the electrical connections. It definitely can help, although if your connections are good and clean to begin with, then naturally you won't hear much/any difference. The first time that I did this --after several years of no cleaning-- the difference was quite noticable.

As for cleaning the female connectors, turn the power off at the fuse box first, for safety. Then you can unscrew the socket and remove it for easier cleaning, OR take the lazier route (which I usually do :D) and just use mascara brushes damped with DeOxit to "scrub" the contacts clean. Follow-up with ProGold. Voila! Clean contacts.

If you haven't done this, try it, with all your gear. It's a good tweak, even if you have good plugs and sockets to begin with. Its a critical tweak, if you have the typical "standard" ones that can and do get noisy over time.
 
Another thing I didn't point out in my post itself, is my gear is all Vintage. Old stuff. I might get greater results than you guys with your new stuff.
 
LotusFool said:
Another thing I didn't point out in my post itself, is my gear is all Vintage. Old stuff. I might get greater results than you guys with your new stuff.
Click to expand...

New stuff??? Jeez, the newest thing in my setup is a 10 year old Sony 200 disk carousel. My 2 2270's that are only used for the amps is run by a 1981 vintage Hafler DH-101 preamp and these drive 4 Large Advents.

And yes, even on all this old crap I heard a difference when I changed out the crappy duplex outlet to the P&S with tight connections.
 
wilkes85 said:
Are you SERIOUS?!
Click to expand...

Serious as a heart attack my friend. I don't offer opinions unless stated in the post and I only offer my expieriences as I have expierienced them. Damn, I wish AK forums had a spill chucker. I know I misspelled expierince wrong but I can't correct it, sorry.

Note: If I misspelled a word wrong did I spell it right?
 
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If you found cleaning connections made that much of a difference, you really should look into getting a dedicated supply line installed for your system!

Personally, I keep connections clean as a matter of course - I dislike standard UK plugs & sockets (the old ones were better!) and feel they need quite high maintainence. My understanding is that US mains plug/socket connections are generally even more flimsy than... Well, any others really, let alone dirty UK ones.
I also just happen to have a dedicated 16A supply for my Hi-Fi with a relatively expensive MK double socket and a massive home-made noise filter stuck on the end of it... Cleanest power in the entire house!

Okay, that paragraph made a lot more sense in my head :scratch2:
Basically, a dedicated supply will do far more favours than cleaning plugs, but clean connections are always a good place to start :D
 
Install a 20 KVA battery backup that includes a power conditioner (surge/sag). All power coming off the pole is dirty. Should be able to have one installed for for say $20-30K. Guaranteed protection. YUP
 
Hi Gary,

Glad to see you have it up and running. You have your dedicated line installed,so now you need to find a NBS black box or a Shunyata junction that enables you to run a aftermarket power cord. The PC from the DL into the black box and then you can run your preamp,CDP,and whatever else from that junction. Also running your amp from the Porter port should make a improvement. You could also run the amp out of that junction....but most don't recommend that.

Edit: If you want you could experiment and run the preamp from the junction and then some componets from the preamp. On one of my systems I run a pre into the black box and then a tuner from a unswitched outlet on the preamp. Sometimes logistics are such,that is the only option.

You can purchase a black box or shunyata hydra 2 junction with power cord used for about 400.00
Check Audiogon

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