What is your take on AC outlets

[Jazzhead]

Am using the Fututech GTX Rhodium plated outlets, has any compared them the Gold and Copper versions ?

 

[garylkoh]

For those of you living outside the US - Furutech is one of the few companies that make UK versions of the wall outlet. I know that many audiophiles use US cords in other countries, but this may be dangerous. With the US plugs, the ground pin is normally down, and the live pin is on the right in this orientation. Using UK outlets, the ground pin is on top, and the live pin is also on the right. If you use an adapter and a US cord, the live and neutral pins are reversed. With some products, this could mean that the power switch is on the neutral leg, and the fuse is also on the neutral leg. Turning the switch off and poking a finger in could result in a dangerous shock.

http://www.furutech.com/products/power-inlets-receptacles/uk-wall-outlets/

 

[Enoch Root]

Up late last night contemplating the inevitable Old Spice and ugly neckties coming my way this holiday season, I came upon this thread and many like it, strewn hither and yon through cyberspace like wanton temptresses beckoning for my attention.

I'm easy; my expensive ac cords and dedicated line have long since convinced me of the benefits of quality power. I'm not sure at what point I became suspicious that my lowly Hubble may be inadequate but I slowly came to see that, in the grand scheme of things, the cost of a Furutech GTX-D (g) was modest compared to the potentially beneficial effects it held for my entire system.

So, after a large swig of Koolaid, I placed the order. Wish me luck.

 

[MrAcoustat]

Up late last night contemplating the inevitable Old Spice and ugly neckties coming my way this holiday season, I came upon this thread and many like it, strewn hither and yon through cyberspace like wanton temptresses beckoning for my attention.

I'm easy; my expensive ac cords and dedicated line have long since convinced me of the benefits of quality power. I'm not sure at what point I became suspicious that my lowly Hubble may be inadequate but I slowly came to see that, in the grand scheme of things, the cost of a Furutech GTX-D (g) was modest compared to the potentially beneficial effects it held for my entire system.

So, after a large swig of Koolaid, I placed the order. Wish me luck.

For you sir, when only the best will do.

 

[Enoch Root]

Visions of sugarplums, indeed!

 

[es347]

Make mine Hubbell hospital grade. Money spent above and beyond is....let's just say questionable..

http://www.grainger.com/product/HUBBELL-WIRING-DEVICE-KELLEMS-Hospital-WP141555/_/N-1z0dsr7?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/5A084_AS01?$smthumb$

 

[MrAcoustat]

Make mine Hubbell hospital grade. Money spent above and beyond is....let's just say questionable..

http://www.grainger.com/product/HUBBELL-WIRING-DEVICE-KELLEMS-Hospital-WP141555/_/N-1z0dsr7?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/5A084_AS01?$smthumb$

I have had these in my systems since 1984 and believe it or not the grip is the same as 30 years ago and i have always used heavy duty plugs.

 

[GaryProtein]

Make mine Hubbell hospital grade. Money spent above and beyond is....let's just say questionable..

http://www.grainger.com/product/HUB...m/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/5A084_AS01?$smthumb$

No question about it.

 

[DaveC]

Hospital grade or heavy duty receptacles are better than $.99 std units, but the Furutech GTX are far better and make an easily audible difference imo. For AC power the connectors are critically important.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

It's all cumulative. Just sticking some AC outlet in the wall with no forthought, the only advantage you'll have is maybe those audiophile powercables won't fall out. If you did what I did:

1. Have a custom made cable run from the street to an Equi=tech wall cabinet with separate runs for L/R channels and keeping analog and digital equipment off the same line.
2. Separate grounding rods into the earth and all cables behind the wall no closer than 1' running parallel
3. 10/3 audiophile UL approved in-wall cable
4. Connecting the in-wall cable to the outlet by crimping/soldering with gold spades
5. Making sure you pay attention to details

And if you need to improve all the way to the street to get a noticeable improvement from an upgraded outlet, wouldn't it logically follow that you need to keep going? At what point do audiophile-quality components in your power source get better performance? The outlet? The circuit? The house? The hydroelectric damn 100 miles away?

Tim

 

[MtnHam]

And if you need to improve all the way to the street to get a noticeable improvement from an upgraded outlet, wouldn't it logically follow that you need to keep going? At what point do audiophile-quality components in your power source get better performance? The outlet? The circuit? The house? The hydroelectric damn 100 miles away?

Tim

You will never get your utility company to make changes to their infrastructure for the benefit of the audiophile. Thus, the best you can do is make everything 1st class from your meter panel on. Odd coincidence: my power is out today due to a storm, but I am enjoying great sound from my system because I have a 9Kw standby diesel generator, and optimized power delivery to my system, from my meter panel. I installed the generator years ago because I live in the boonies where we have frequent outages, and are the last to be restored.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

You will never get your utility company to make changes to their infrastructure for the benefit of the audiophile. Thus, the best you can do is make everything 1st class from your meter panel on. Odd coincidence: my power is out today due to a storm, but I am enjoying great sound from my system because I have a 9Kw standby diesel generator, and optimized power delivery to my system, from my meter panel. I installed the generator years ago because I live in the boonies where we have frequent outages, and are the last to be restored.

Of course not. That's the point.

Tim

 

[MtnHam]

Of course not. That's the point. At what point do audiophile-quality components in your power source get better performance? The outlet? The circuit? The house? The hydroelectric damn 100 miles away?Tim

And my point is, maximize the quality of everything you can, back to the panel. It matters.

 

[microstrip]

Mains power systems are still in a "magic zone". First there is no established scientific correlation between mains products and stereo sound quality. We just know of a few things that should be avoided because they can cause introduce noise and interference, unfortunately our equipment also generates electrical noise - the job of the mains cabling is not just supplying energy. Second, systems and even preferences are too variable to are allow some systematization of power systems. The only think I am sure is that most power systems and cables have a characteristic sound signature and it seems that the AC outlets are part of it. And third, some systems seem much more sensitive to mains power accessories than others.

So it is natural to have very different opinions - each of us tells about his own experience. All IMHO and YMMV.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

And my point is, maximize the quality of everything you can, back to the panel. It matters.

It only matters to the extent that it prevents additional noise from getting into the circuit once it enters your house, which is pretty simple and inexpensive to achieve. It does nothing to change the quality of power coming into the house...unless we're talking about filtering...it only moves that power, whatever quality it might be, to your components with greater efficiency. Enjoy.

Tim

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Mains power systems are still in a "magic zone". First there is no established scientific correlation between mains products and stereo sound quality. We just know of a few things that should be avoided because they can cause introduce noise and interference, unfortunately our equipment also generates electrical noise - the job of the mains cabling is not just supplying energy. Second, systems and even preferences are too variable to are allow some systematization of power systems. The only think I am sure is that most power systems and cables have a characteristic sound signature and it seems that the AC outlets are part of it. And third, some systems seem much more sensitive to mains power accessories than others.

So it is natural to have very different opinions - each of us tells about his own experience. All IMHO and YMMV.

Yes. They are.

Tim

 

[microstrip]

It only matters to the extent that it prevents additional noise from getting into the circuit once it enters your house, which is pretty simple and inexpensive to achieve. It does nothing to change the quality of power coming into the house...unless we're talking about filtering...it only moves that power, whatever quality it might be, to your components with greater efficiency. Enjoy.

Tim

Unfortunately it is not pretty simple, as you pretend. Besides noise is also an electromagnetic wave and will not ask your permission to enter your house - the wiring system acts like a giant antenna. And I would love if people could define the "quality" of the power in technical terms.

 

[mauidan]

The Absolute Sound Buyer’s Guide to Cables, Power Products, Accessories, and Music 2014



http://www.theabsolutesound.com/buyers_guides/26/

 

[Kingsrule]

Furutech on sale at the Cable Company....

 

[Orb]

Unfortunately it is not pretty simple, as you pretend. Besides noise is also an electromagnetic wave and will not ask your permission to enter your house - the wiring system acts like a giant antenna. And I would love if people could define the "quality" of the power in technical terms.

Yeah people would be surprised how much house mains circuits act as antenna's, especially with greater wireless transmissions in this day and age.
The BBC did a research study into this and did find the house mains act as both an antenna and surprisingly a transmitter (bit more complex than this but the crux).

Cheers
Orb