Hi,

I have a Graham's Hifi Hydra for my Naim setup. I have a spare head and was thinking of using it with the Avondale TPX1 that I also use. Would it benefit, make no difference or be detrimental? I know Graham's themselves say Naim only and I am not sure if Avondale are based on the Star earth principle?

Thanks in advance

Waz

http://avondaleaudio.com/high-end-audio/power-supply-tpx1/
See for your self

Waz,
Avondale gear does not use the star earth principle.

You don't mention where you're using the TPX1, but if it's powering a CD player then I don't think it affects things too much. If it's powering your pre-amp then you can't do the Naim star earth thing, which iirc means connecting the pre to power supply to power amp.

I've been cheerfully using a Hydra with Naim and Avondale gear for years, all of it powered from the same Hydra so there are no problems - it will work.

It's impossible to assess the impact of not being star earthed by itself as you've also got the impact of using the TPX.

I've found that a dash of Avondale in a Naim system helps to calm things down a bit in the treble without losing that speed and boogie factor that are one of the main selling points for Naim gear.

If in doubt give Les a ring - the number is on his website. He'll be more than happy to have a chat and he knows a damn sight more about electrical stuff than I do :)

[...] I've found that a dash of Avondale in a Naim system helps to calm things down a bit in the treble without losing that speed and boogie factor that are one of the main selling points for Naim gear. [...]

Since January I have moved from an all Naim to a nearly all Avondale amp system (72 chassis with 821 boards, TPX2, NCC200 based stereo amp in Naim box) and have definitely not lost any of the "speed and boogie factor" and gained a huge amount of subtly, precision and music that the Naim set was not giving me :D

Earthing wise, all my system is driven from the one hi-fi only spur - only the projector and screen are on a different spur.

Nigel,
I too have everything driven from the one plug with the exception of the NAPSC which only powers the lights and stuff on the 82 so it isn't part of the main circuit.

Whether that means that my system actually is star-earthed I don't know.

I would not know but mine sounds a little better that way than with sources on one spur and amps on the other.