 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
68.189.129.243
In Reply to: RE: Wall Outlets (again) posted by throwback on June 22, 2007 at 21:42:30
When I put in my dedicated lines (4 x 15A), I went with VHAudio's Furutech copper because I wanted more of a warm sound than ultra resolved (bright). They met my budget point (<$50 a piece since I needed 4). This thread has me wondering what I'm missing, but I also don't seem to worry about it much.
Maybe we should try mixing in one Oyaide to see the difference?
Follow Ups:
They are still damn good outlets.
If you like that tonal balance it might be worth trying an Oyaide R1.
HM....are you hinting that the R-1 has a similar tonal balance to the Furu?
How would you compare the two? This would be good to know.
Yep. In my system the R-1 has a similar tonal balance to the old Furutech Copper, and would say that both these are the most tonally neutral sockets compared to the Oyaide SWO, GX, Hubbel, P&S.Compared to the Furu Copper, the R-1's have a smoother fuller midrange and more detail in the top end and are an easy upgrade from the old Furu Copper. I cant say the same about the SWO which is toxic anywhere in the chain for my front end (and believe me I have tried it in every plug socket combination, cryoed, heavily burned in etc etc). BUT on my poweramps all is fine when combined with the P-079. This will be contrary to what others have found, but thats what the SWO is like for me.
Downstream I use Furutech Gold which I also like and synergise well with an R-1 and SWO upstream.
nt
IME, the only similarities to the Oyaide R1 Beryllium is that the Furutech FP-15(Cu) presents a very relaxed top end, perhaps the FP-15(Cu)'s top end being "too relaxed" (to a fault), and a big bottom end... however the FP-15(Cu)'s bottom end is less articulated. Clearly, the R1 presents a substantially superior rendition of all listening cues across the board (the R1 is simply a hands-down better sounding AC outlet in all aspects), IMHO.
But the FP-15(Cu) *does* have fine attributes, particularly for the price. I find it to be an obvious upgrade from an AC outlet such as a Hubbell or a P&S, in that the FP-15(Cu) sounds more organic/musical, more open, and offers a grain-free lowered noise floor. It's also perhaps the best choice per synergy to mate with a Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug, since their sonic signatures compliment each other when combined -- the main caveat being a lower resolution presentation than what an Oyaide R1/004 combo or an SWO-XXX/079 combo can provide (they're the bombs, IMHO).
Hmmmm.....
While I certainly do not have the experience of others in comparing AC receptacles, I would respectfully suggest that stating any product is better in "all listening cues across the board" might be an endorsement that lends itself to being dismissed........
"Clearly, the R1 presents a substantially superior rendition of all listening cues across the board (the R1 is simply a hands-down better sounding AC outlet in all aspects), IMHO."
I have had three different outlets in my setup in the past few years.
I presently have the Furutech FP 15 N1's and do not experience the "relaxed top end" and loose or non-articulated bottom end.
In fact, as you know from my private emails to you, the big bottom end you describe was not really there with the Furutechs for quite some time for me.
I will say that after 375 hours of break-in the low end has now developed quite fully, but it is quite clean and defined. Maybe it is because I have Furutech AC male plugs on all of my power cords. Maybe it is because I use Oyaide wire in some of my power cords. Really, at least in my setup, the Furutech receptacles have enhanced my presentation to a better level of detail and resolution overall, but are pretty transparent and uncolored for me.
Suffice to say that synergy is a key and although there are likely some signature characteristics of receptacles and power cords, etc., the interaction of all system components in the specific room environment for each person is something they have to experiment with.
Are receptacles important? Yes IMO.
Do they determine the character of your system sound to the degree that some are implying here. Maybe not to such an extent in my opinion. They can enhance and allow the strengths (and maybe weaknesses) of your equipment and room context to come through more fully if you have a system that is reasonably well thought out and a room that is reasonably well treated.
An Oyaide R1, or Hubbell, or Furutech outlet is not going to make up for other elements of your total context and equipment that are not adequately addressed.
They each may have their own signature it appears. Whether that works for you is to be determined.
The older Furutech is simply not in the same league as the Oyaides. The issue is obliteration of fine details, not simply tonal balance. For similar detail performance to the Furutech with better (IMO) tonal balance, go with the cheaper Pass & Seymour MRI hospital grade. However, saving a few bucks on the outlets while losing a lot of what's on the recordings seems like false economy to me.
I agree that installing fine outlets is not going to overcome other problems with equipment matching or room setup by itself. Serious tweaking depends on good AC delivery, so that you know whether you've got things dialed in correctly.
intriguing characterization of the deleterious effect of non-Oyaide outlets, but that is what makes this hobby interesting. :)
Let's be honest now guys, about only 5% (if that) of the people in this hobby (or even this AA forum which is no doubt a deranged subgroup) even bother with outlets. FWIW I have had John Risch spec grade P&S recommended outlets in the past. He seems to know what he is doing. I liked them. In comparison I find them to provide less resolution than the lowly Furutechs, but that was my experience in my host environment. I like the Furutechs better. I may like a model of the Oyaides better if I tried one someday which I probably will since my curiosity gets the better of me typically. Others here seem to prefer other outlets to Oyaide and find the Oyaide sound not their cup of AC transmission tea.
As Alan Krafton states in this thread who has likely forgotten more than anyone here knows... "It's all a matter of personal preference, and of course, system synergy." Synergy is the key word here.
Very little in this hobby can be considered out of context or described in absolute terms. That is my only observational concern about this thread.
This thread is similar to many threads about interconnects-another arena subject to a significant diversity of opinion.
As an interesting aside I have also discussed these matters in some detail with a very highly respected AC power expert colleague of yours who doesn't appear to worry too much about outlet upgrades at all. (He doesn't seem to like contact enhancers, either). Again, that is what makes things interesting and this guy actually utilizes science, research, and objective analysis in his work more than most of the engineers and designers in this crazy hobby.
I like trying different AC hardware power transmission and context improvements, but it all becomes quite circular in causality of the final outcome which is always also dependent upon an underestimated uncontrollable subjective factor-the actual listener and his/her preferences.
I always find it interesting to audition gear or systems and have a very different experience than the person sitting next to me. (I know my own filters and overlays in assessing gear which are no doubt different than another person.
To the original poster-lots of good outlets out there that people seem to like. Try a couple and let us know what you think. That is the real fun of a lot of this-simply seeing how something works out in your setup.
Your perspective overlooks the recent rapid evolution of AC outlets for the USA standard. Spec-grade Pass & Seymour may well have been one of the best choices when Jon made his recommendation. I know it can be tweaked to sound almost as good as the Oyaide. The Furutech would have been a marked improvement over the stock P & S when it was released. The recent Oyaide designs are simply more refined.
The rapidity of the recent progress makes me think there is more to come. There is a lot of very expensive gear out there that would sound much, much better if plugged into AC hardware that does not degrade performance for obvious and stupid reasons such as poor contact spring tension. The potential market is large. I think Oyaide and Furutech should send us all boxes of outlets to test for them: at some point progress is inhibited by the personal tastes of the development group members.
My personal opines are clearly about the older model Furutech FP-15(Cu), not about the new for 2007 Furutech FP-15A(Cu)-N1 which is a different design with a different sonic signature. I have no direct experience of the new for 2007 Furutech FP-15A(Cu)-N1, so I can't speak of it.
I'm actually pleased with the older model Furutech FP-15(Cu) for use with my main system's tuner, and use three Furutech FP-15(Cu)'s for all of my second system’s components except a Hubbell that’s used for a subwoofer's active x-over (direct comparison of the FP-15(Cu) with the Hubbell is very telling, BTW). I've also found my second system's Oyaide SWO-XXX installed at the wall and Oyaide 079 AC connectors terminated to my PLC's power cord to improve the gestalt of that system, even with FP-15(Cu)'s placed downstream, so I have personally found that upstream AC gear is a very important factor, indeed.
BTW, my posts are clearly indicated as personal opines with IME & IMHO disclaimers, so folks should simply take the opines as subjective observations as intended. Cheers
| FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
