New Dedicated Listening Room

[Kingrex]

I was trying it for the first time. I needed to get an outlet behind my monoblocks. I put it there to my amps. I am getting 2 more. 1 will feed my Torus and the other will be in my Torus feeding my power strip.

If I were stepping into spending $$$ on outlets, I would start with amp and preamp. Then sources. Last would be switches and routers. I'm sure someone is going to say the outlet to the digital backbone is the most important. That is only my off the cuff thoughts on where the quickest gains may be. I am really a novice at outlets. The Furutech was pushed on me by a friend. Some friend. Hes going to cost me $1000 in outlets when its all done.

 

[Chrisl]

To my ears buying more (copper contact) R1's would give you better sonic results than the (brass contact) Hubbel/Shunyata. The Furutech GTX-D and ETI Legato (also direct plated copper) are the other two I would recommend. I had two GTX-D Gold and two ETI Legato Gold outlets installed in my Bybee Wire Stealth power conditioner (I loathe the cool, clinical sound of Rhodium plating). The gold plated ETI Legato is more neutral sounding than the slightly warm Furutech, and is my favorite of the three. My dedicated 20A line terminates in an R1. I would replace it with a Legato if it would work with the Oyaide WPC-Z cast aluminum frame and carbon fiber cover (highly recommended) but according to the dealer it won't fit without "modifications". Note that Furutech makes a similar alluminum/carbon fiber base/cover for their GTX-D outlets.

FYI: https://eti-research.com/connector/legato-ac-receptacle/

To my ears buying more (copper contact) R1's would give you better sonic results than the (brass contact) Hubbel/Shunyata. The Furutech GTX-D and ETI Legato (also direct plated copper) are the other two I would recommend. I had two GTX-D Gold and two ETI Legato Gold outlets installed in my Bybee Wire Stealth power conditioner (I loathe the cool, clinical sound of Rhodium plating). The gold plated ETI Legato is more neutral sounding than the slightly warm Furutech, and is my favorite of the three. My dedicated 20A line terminates in an R1. I would replace it with a Legato if it would work with the Oyaide WPC-Z cast aluminum frame and carbon fiber cover (highly recommended) but according to the dealer it won't fit without "modifications". Note that Furutech makes a similar alluminum/carbon fiber base/cover for their GTX-D outlets.

FYI: https://eti-research.com/connector/legato-ac-receptacle/

Pricewise,

To my ears buying more (copper contact) R1's would give you better sonic results than the (brass contact) Hubbel/Shunyata. The Furutech GTX-D and ETI Legato (also direct plated copper) are the other two I would recommend. I had two GTX-D Gold and two ETI Legato Gold outlets installed in my Bybee Wire Stealth power conditioner (I loathe the cool, clinical sound of Rhodium plating). The gold plated ETI Legato is more neutral sounding than the slightly warm Furutech, and is my favorite of the three. My dedicated 20A line terminates in an R1. I would replace it with a Legato if it would work with the Oyaide WPC-Z cast aluminum frame and carbon fiber cover (highly recommended) but according to the dealer it won't fit without "modifications". Note that Furutech makes a similar alluminum/carbon fiber base/cover for their GTX-D outlets.

FYI: https://eti-research.com/connector/legato-ac-receptacle/

The R1, legato, GTX-D are all similar in price.

To my ears buying more (copper contact) R1's would give you better sonic results than the (brass contact) Hubbel/Shunyata. The Furutech GTX-D and ETI Legato (also direct plated copper) are the other two I would recommend. I had two GTX-D Gold and two ETI Legato Gold outlets installed in my Bybee Wire Stealth power conditioner (I loathe the cool, clinical sound of Rhodium plating). The gold plated ETI Legato is more neutral sounding than the slightly warm Furutech, and is my favorite of the three. My dedicated 20A line terminates in an R1. I would replace it with a Legato if it would work with the Oyaide WPC-Z cast aluminum frame and carbon fiber cover (highly recommended) but according to the dealer it won't fit without "modifications". Note that Furutech makes a similar alluminum/carbon fiber base/cover for their GTX-D outlets.

FYI: https://eti-research.com/connector/legato-ac-receptacle/

The R1, legato, GTX-D are all similar in price. The Legato and GtxD looks best. The NCF R is getting up there. Though I will have the budget of four R1’s ($700) for audio outlets. One for the stereo amp I have right now (I can do mono later if I upgrade). and one for the preamp. Plus, I also have to get outlets for my two subwoofers, analog (TT and phonostage), digital server LPS, and Paul Hynes Sr-4 LPS
Total of 8 devices, including the amp and pre. I’ll have to work out a strip later to accommodate things like switches and routers.

For HT 2 amps and HT processor I’ll need two outlets (separate budget). Maybe even one for the TV

 

[Chrisl]

Sorry about the multiple quotes. I didn’t know how to fix it.

Rex, i’m glad on the same page about component ranking and these outlets

 

[Cellcbern]

Did I miss? Is the Legato plated, or just copper. Seems to be the same copper as Furutech. Different case. Does not have any treatment?? Surprises me that Tedd (Can we say his name!!!) Wouldn't brag about quantum treatments and the plating.

It is available with either gold or rhodium plating.

 

[Kingrex]

It is available with either gold or rhodium plating.

Choices choices. I hate having to decide.

 

[Cellcbern]

H

How much for the Legato?
I would not say Rhodium is cool and clinical. I find the one I put in to be full bodied with more bass and body than the brass based cryo treated hubbell.
I don't know that gold may not color the sound more than rhodium. Plating will color the sound. Its a old debate over what is the best coating.

Note that a search reveals that a number of forum members have posted over the years about their dislike of the sound of rhodium plating and their attempts to rid their system of it. Note also that many top tier cable makers (e.g., Allnic, Ansuz, Argento, Audioquest, Bocchino, Espirit, Goebel, Hemingway Audio, Ikigai, Lessloss, Nordost, Shunyata, Stage III Concepts, Vertere, Westminster Lab....etc. don't offer rhodium plated connectors.

 

[Kingrex]

Note that a search reveals that a number of forum members have posted over the years about their dislike of the sound of rhodium plating and their attempts to rid their system of it. Note also that many top tier cable makers (e.g., Allnic, Ansuz, Argento, Audioquest, Bocchino, Espirit, Goebel, Ikigai, Lessloss, Nordost, Shunyata, Vertere, Westminster Lab....etc. don't offer rhodium plated connectors.

I don't disagree. But I would add, as many people have said they don't like the sound of gold either. So its a catch 22. I wish they would make just copper and not plate at all. But they worry about oxidation. Although they will put silver on many connection ends such as speaker and interconnect. That seems to oxidize faster and with a more apparent sonic signature than copper alone. And Deoxit G100 on fresh metal does a very good job at retarding oxidation for many years.

I sort of wonder why no one is plating with Nickel. Maybe they are. I don't read about cables very often. I don't know of any duplex that are pure copper with a nickel plate. Nickel is more conductive than rhodium and tin. I believe it does not react with copper. It oxidizes very slow.

 

[Cellcbern]

I don't disagree. But I would add, as many people have said they don't like the sound of gold either. So its a catch 22. I wish they would make just copper and not plate at all. But they worry about oxidation. Although they will put silver on many connection ends such as speaker and interconnect. That seems to oxidize faster and with a more apparent sonic signature than copper alone. And Deoxit G100 on fresh metal does a very good job at retarding oxidation for many years.

I sort of wonder why no one is plating with Nickel. Maybe they are. I don't read about cables very often. I don't know of any duplex that are pure copper with a nickel plate. Nickel is more conductive than rhodium and tin. I believe it does not react with copper. It oxidizes very slow.

Allnic and AAI use nickel plated conductors.

 

[Kingrex]

So 2 use Nickel. Not like its widely adopted. Plating copper has been contentious for a long time as pertains to its sonic impacts. I don't see the argument rhodium is inferior becauee as many people post they don't like it as those that post they don't like gold. They both get the bad end of a stick. And then there are the silver enthusiasts that only have its high conductiveity to hang a hat on. Ignoring how fast it can oxidize. I hate to admit it. But less negative chatter is heard about longstanding Tin plating.

 

[Cellcbern]

So 2 use Nickel. Not like its widely adopted. Plating copper has been contentious for a long time as pertains to its sonic impacts. I don't see the argument rhodium is inferior becauee as many people post they don't like it as those that post they don't like gold. They both get the bad end of a stick. And then there are the silver enthusiasts that only have its high conductiveity to hang a hat on. Ignoring how fast it can oxidize. I hate to admit it. But less negative chatter is heard about longstanding Tin plating.

I've seen no evidence that plating copper is "contentious" - it has been commonplace for the better part of a century. You don't see articles about it in the audio press and it isn't a big issue on this (or any) forum. A handful of manufacturers offer bare copper connectors along with their range of plated ones, but most don't. The list of top tier cable makers I provided (which is most of them) use a mix of gold (about half), silver, and exotic combinations (e.g., palladium and platinum) plating - no rhodium. If you look at the eight brands of cables that world leading dealer Audio Exotics offers only two offer rhodium connectors. Note that since silver oxide is conductive (unlike copper oxide) a little tarnish until you have time to polish it is not a big problem. I've been an audiophile for almost 60 years and based on all the listening I've done I prefer the sound of gold plated connectors over everything else, and with the cables I use at least there is no loss of detail or unnatural warmth. To my ears gold, some of the combinations like Hemingway's palladium and platinum over copper, and tinned copper are best at conveying timbre and tonality and the natural warmth of music. Haven't seen tin plated AC connectors but Western Electric's tin plated copper signal wires were legendary which is why Duelund produced a modern version of them. The late Bill Thalman used Duelund DCA tin plated hookup wire in modifying my Pathos TT, and Bache founder/designer Greg Balman used it in his upgrade of my speakers. It is incredibly resolving and natural sounding in both applications. Note also that Pink Faun developed their own tin plated copper conductors for use in their highly regarded digital cables, link to a review below:

FYI:

Digital Cables compared – USB and Ethernet

In order to assess a high-end digital cable, one needs to refer to a standard. But what defines the baseline? And how do USB and Ethernet cables compare to the traditional S/PDIF and AES/EBU cables?

www.hifi-advice.com

Excerpt: "....For me and my aforementioned system, the Pink Faun Digital Interlink LAN achieves what I previously thought impossible for an ethernet cable to do: a smoother, richer sound with more fully-developed textures and tonality while retaining 100% of the standard CAT6 cable’s resolution and 95% of its transient speed and attack. Yes, the standard cable remains slightly tighter and slightly more immediate but it is also rather dry and comparatively musically much less involving....".