Wall outlets - what are you using?

[Mike]

I'm looking at a few options for wall outlets for the store: AudioQuest, Shunyata, PS Audio, etc.

Anyone have any favorites?

[Shadowfax]

This is something that puzzles the heck out of me.

You buy an HE after market power cord, plug it into a HE Outlet after some other surge or filter, then it runs hundreds of feet and connects to a $6.99 Breaker in the box. Why does that picture look odd? I do realize one can spend hundreds more on a chryo Breaker too.

I just use the best Hospital Grade Outlets from hardware store in a gang box into a dedicated run back to the breaker box.

[Everest Audio]

Best I've ever used are the new Furutech GTX NCF. Incredible!

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[Mike]

This is something that puzzles the heck out of me.

You buy an HE after market power cord, plug it into a HE Outlet after some other surge or filter, then it runs hundreds of feet and connects to a $6.99 Breaker in the box. Why does that picture look odd? I do realize one can spend hundreds more on a chryo Breaker too.

I just use the best Hospital Grade Outlets from hardware store in a gang box into a dedicated run back to the breaker box.

I used upgraded wire in the store, and 10 gauge. As for what runs to the breaker box from outside? Who knows? What I'm finding is that the hospital grade outlets are sh!t. They don't hold a tight connection with the big ass heavy Shunyata Sigma Power Cords. They were installed properly, but they just suck. They don't form a tight fit.

[Mikado463]

'hospital grade' one purchased from Lowes / Home Depot. IMO spending $100 for an outlet is audiofool nonsense. A strong elctro/mechanical 'clamp' is priority number one.

[Jack]

Oyaide if you want to spend that much are an alternative to Furutech. Slightly lower priced.

[the professor]

I've used hospital grade plugs before - there are definitely different versions of them. I had some that gripped really well and some that like Mike said didn't grip very well at all. Seems like the orange ones did better than others. No clue on brand etc.

Currently I'm using the Shunyata ones because a dealer gave me some after buying some cables a few years back. And when I moved, I took the plugs with me. No complaints, They do grip great. But didn't really compare sonically with anything tho.

[Everest Audio]

While expensive, every customer that has gone with the Furutech NCF series has raved at the difference. I won't claim to technically understand why, but in my opinion, it is a substantial upgrade over previous audiophile outlets I've used, including other models from Furutech.

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[rrwmd]

When I wired my room around 12 years ago I put in the Shunyata outlets just to be going the extra mile. Can't say the construction is all that great though--decent I guess. Never tried anything else.

I'm thinking they were only like $50 then, but see they're now up to $95.

[Mike]

In my room in my house, I have hospital grade crappers, Furutech and MIT across 8 dedicated 20 amp circuits. The MIT Z-Duplex are a SOB to get into the box due to their active filter on the back of the unit. The Furutech's fit great and look great and hold cables tight. From a pure measurement standpoint (using an Entech Line Noise Analyzer), the hospital grade crappers and Furutech measured the same. The MIT dropped the noise floor 80% due to the active filtration. But I can't help but wonder (my OCD kicking in) if the MIT filtering "chokes" the AC in a way because sonically the Furutech outlets sound best. And that's why the voodoo drives me crazy!

[Jfboynton]

Best I've ever used are the new Furutech GTX NCF. Incredible!

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+1

[Buch73]

I am using some from "HMS" of Germany.

No Rodhium or etc, but very solid copper , gold plated and with low resistance and good connection.
They have a firm grip on the power cords.
Not sure how available they are in the US though.

[Alpinist]

My favorite is the Audioquest NRG Edison 20 Amp Outlet. If your number one priority is neutrality, then this is your outlet. I have them on two 20 amp dedicated lines and they just step out of the way and let you focus on the music.

Ken

[Mike]

My favorite is the Audioquest NRG Edison 20 Amp Outlet. If your number one priority is neutrality, then this is your outlet. I have them on two 20 amp dedicated lines and they just step out of the way and let you focus on the music.

Ken

Ken - the NRG Edison 20 amp outlets are built into the Niagra 7000. Gotta say...I really like them. I think I'll order a few.

[La Dolce Vita]

Best I've ever used are the new Furutech GTX NCF. Incredible!

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+1


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[La Dolce Vita]

I am using some from "HMS" of Germany.

No Rodhium or etc, but very solid copper , gold plated and with low resistance and good connection.
They have a firm grip on the power cords.
Not sure how available they are in the US though.

Beautiful outlets but unless Mike is using Shuko cords on a 220 line...well... EU outlets are aesthetically so far ahead of US outlets... in any case...


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[KeithR]

Porter Ports, the all time classic

[Buch73]

Beautiful outlets but unless Mike is using Shuko cords on a 220 line...well... EU outlets are aesthetically so far ahead of US outlets... in any case...


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Arh, sorry. Of course not
And I don´t think they make a US version.

[Kuoppis]

Using Furutech.


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[soundqcar]

Porter Ports, the all time classic

+1

[slowgeezr]

I just use some PS Audio plugs that were on sale. They grip my 7 gauge amp cables very tightly, the previous wall plugs couldn't hold them. They seem well built and I plugged in a couple of Shunyata Venom Defenders in the open plugs.

[rrwmd]

And that's why the voodoo drives me crazy!

Sorry Mike...now it's your job to sort through the voodoo

[Mike]

Sorry Mike...now it's your job to sort through the voodoo

Good ideas here. May go with AQ. Unsure.


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[BlueFox]

Shunyata ZR-71 outlets to go with everything else.

[still-one]

I used upgraded wire in the store, and 10 gauge. As for what runs to the breaker box from outside? Who knows? What I'm finding is that the hospital grade outlets are sh!t. They don't hold a tight connection with the big ass heavy Shunyata Sigma Power Cords. They were installed properly, but they just suck. They don't form a tight fit.

Mike that is surprising.. Grip is exactly what is supposed to make them hospital grade. They are supposed to be installed with the ground pin at the top and not how they are usually installed facing down. The few Shunyata cables I have connected to wall outlets (not the 6000T) grip nicely.

[cmarin]

Furutech GTX NCF with matching wall plates and covers.


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[Melbguy1]

I use a Furutech GTX-D(G) in my system which is a terrific wpo. I chose the gold over the rhodium as my system is all-ss, and I reasoned the more neutral-sounding Magico S5 Mk2's could use a touch more warmth. The hystrionics on some forums over the rhodium version borders on neurotic, and is mostly uninformed tripe.

[Everest Audio]

I use a Furutech GTX-D(G) in my system which is a terrific wpo. I chose the gold over the rhodium as my system is all-ss, and I reasoned the more neutral-sounding Magico S5 Mk2's could use a touch more warmth. The hystrionics on some forums over the rhodium version borders on neurotic, and is mostly uninformed tripe.

I've tried both the Furutech GTX-D gold and rhodium versions and preferred the gold myself. However, the new Furutech GTX NCF for me definitely eclipses them both.

[Melbguy1]

I've tried both the Furutech GTX-D gold and rhodium versions and preferred the gold myself. However, the new Furutech GTX NCF for me definitely eclipses them both.

There will always be something better coming out. My Oyaide R1 was only in the wall for 12 months before it got replaced with the GTX-D(G). The trick is knowing when your gear is 'good enough'.

[Everest Audio]

There will always be better gear coming out. My Oyaide R1 was only in the wall for 12 months before it got replaced with the GTX-D(G). The trick is knowing when your gear is 'good enough'.

I absolutely agree, but for someone just diving into outlets, I'd just say get the full Furutech GTX-D NCF package with cover and wall plate and you're done. I opted to not even show the Gold and Rhodium versions on our site any more as the change in price to go to the NCF wasn't that terribly much more. So, I figured, if someone is willing to lay out some cash for the Gold or Rhodium, lay out just a little more for the NCF and you won't regret it.

[Melbguy1]

I absolutely agree, but for someone just diving into outlets, I'd just say get the full Furutech GTX-D NCF package with cover and wall plate and you're done. I opted to not even show the Gold and Rhodium versions on our site any more as the change in price to go to the NCF wasn't that terribly much more. So, I figured, if someone is willing to lay out some cash for the Gold or Rhodium, lay out just a little more for the NCF and you won't regret it.

I think you eloquently described the slippery slope of high end audio .

[soundqcar]

Mike that is surprising.. Grip is exactly what is supposed to make them hospital grade. They are supposed to be installed with the ground pin at the top and not how they are usually installed facing down. The few Shunyata cables I have connected to wall outlets (not the 6000T) grip nicely.

Same here. I always install outlets ground pin up. Albert Porter's outlets are modified hospital grade outlets, and grip very well for me. The power cords to my amps are extremely stiff and heavy, yet the outlet keeps them nicely in place. The strongest grip I have ever seen regarding an outlet is the Oyaide R-1. It nearly takes an act of God to remove that plug once it's in there. Nice sounding outlet too....just didn't want to spend the loot at the time to outfit the entire room with them.