Before joining Audio T I wasn’t entirely convinced of the importance of cables in a low or even mid level hi-fi system. Interconnects and speaker cable…. sure. But mains cables? No way! power is power, surely?

So how did it start?

Things first started to change for me when I heard what a difference upgrading an interconnect made to my turntable, so I looked at the mess of mains cables behind my home cinema system and decided I could do better.

£45 and a few mouse clicks later, I had bought some used, short audiophile shielded mains cables (I thoroughly checked the connections before using them). I plugged them in, sat back and listened to some music and…. not much had changed. Maybe it sounded better? Or was it just wishful thinking? Eventually I came the conclusion it possibly sounded very slightly clearer but probably not worth the money in terms of sound quality. It did however tidy up the back of my system considerably, that alone may be reason it sounded slightly better? The jury was out on that one.

I gave up, switched on the telly to look at the TV guide and was astonished at the picture quality. There had always been a slight shimmer which I had put down to the limitations of plasma screens, but from my viewing position the picture was now flawless, it was only when I got right up close to the screen that I could see any shimmering at all. So, money well spent then!

Now, a few years later, I’m working at Audio T where we have a selection of audiophile mains cables to choose from, plugging a £250 mains cable into an expensive system doesn’t seem such an extravagance and sounds infinitely better, but would they make a difference to my humble Denon AVR at home?

The Test

To put it to the test, I took home three different models of mains cables to compare with my existing shielded cable. The first two made only a slight improvement on my current setup, but the third, a Chord Shawline immediately increased detail and clarity, and also improved soundstage. It was a clear change to older, well mastered music, but particularly noticeable with some of the less well produced music that has been released in more recent years. A lot of my favourite music from the 90s and 00s came alive and no longer sounded muddled or dull, very surprising!

So what’s going on here?

The Chord Shawline mains cable uses high purity, thicker stranded conductor and double shielding - a foil wrap to catch the high frequency interference and a wire braid to catch the lower frequency stuff. The cable also has a tough outer jacket that helps to damp any vibrations. All a significant upgrade over my existing foil shielded cable.

But the rest of my house isn’t wired with this stuff, so why does replacing the final couple of metres make such a difference?

It’s the last bit next to the AV equipment that is the noisiest part, with every unit and its cables putting out some kind of interference, so shielding in this area is very important.

Where to use shielded mains cables?

Basically everywhere if you can, some recommend you start with CD, Blu Ray, Network streamers and other sources first as these are more likely to be affected by noise.

All Chord power cables are available with a selection of connectors including IEC and figure 8 to suit most equipment. Standard lengths are: 1m, 1.5m and 2m although other lengths can be ordered to suit.

In conclusion, although you would probably think twice about spending £250 on a mains cable for a £300 AVR, I just couldn’t go back to the old sound and give up the extra detail and depth. I’ve spent the last few weeks enjoying music that previously I couldn’t listen to, so for me it was money well spent!

Don’t believe me? Why not try it for yourself. Give your local Audio T store a call to find out more information about the products listed, and if you’re just passing by, why not pop in and take a look at them too?!

Thanks for reading!

Richard, Elena & John – Audio T Enfield

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.

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