I found a cheap and immediately noticeable tweek


I just wanted to pass this along. Since I've got my system finally finished (or as finished as can be for an audiophile addict!), I was playing around with my AC outlet last week. What I'm going to tell you isn't AC recepticle specific, it's good for any brand you like and use. But I believe what and the way I found out about this will be interesting to everyone.

I only have two components, so I only need one recepticle for them. I personally had an Avatar Acoustics Afterburner 8 recepticle in my wall that I chose over the Porter Port and all of the Oyaide recepticles.

I had a power conditioner (Topaz isolation transformer) plugged into it which had a Porter Port on the output side for my components. I replaced the Porter Port with a Maestro and it worked really well.

I sold the transformer two weeks ago, so all that I needed was my recepticle in the wall. I thought that since I really liked the Maestro, I'd swap out the Afterburner 8 and just use the Maestro. The Maestro didn't sound like it did when it was connected to the transformer. I put the Afterburner 8 back in and had my sound back.

The next day I told Roger (Irish65) about this and he told me that it was because the Maestro on the transformer was being fed the sonic characteristic of the Afterburner 8, and that's why I liked the Maestro.

He than told me that every recepticle on the line with my system feeds and affects how that one recepticle where my components are connected sounds, and that replacing my three other stock recepticles will enhance it even though nothing is plugged into them. It's the quality of the connections, or replacing the weak links on the line.

I called Darren Censullo at Avatar Acoustics and ordered three more to replace my stock recepticles. He asked me if I'd added to my system, and I told him what I'd found and what Roger had told me.

Darren told me that Roger was right, but it's not something that a good majority of audiophiles even think about. I hadn't thought about it either. He explained it the same way Roger explained it and sent me the other three Afterburner 8 recepticles.

I put them in two nights ago and the difference was immediately obvious and has gotten better since as the outlets have the current running through them.

When you think about it, it's a very cheap tweak that will reward you with an extremely good gain.

Chuck
krell_man
thanks for the answer. there is alot to this and many think it doesn,t matter but i do. i am positive that my system sounds better after midnight. not just a little better either. and i listen at all times so i don,t think it is psychological. my question is this.. are the ac receptacles in the furman a issue? this unit sells for 550 dollars retail. 13 ac receptacles would involve a lot of cost if they were even 20- 30 dollars each. on the other hand they are very tight and seem to make aa good a connection as the ps audio. time for more reading and experimenting. ha john
John,

So to be clear in my mind, you have a dedicated line running with just recepticle, right?

If that's the case, then you're dealing with the one PS Audio recepticle in the wall and 13 unknown recepticles in the Furman.

I've had a PS Audio Power Plant and I'm currently using their copper fuse in my Spectron amplifier. PS Audio makes good quality products.

One question concerning your system is, how many components do you have? I'm assuming that you need more than one recepticle. If you only need one, the PS Audio Soloist that Tmsorosk mentioned might be a consideration.

Otherwise, because the unknown recepticles are affecting the sound quality, either in a good or not so good way, and you don't know how much, you might try one or two things beyond trying to find out what the 13 recepticles are.

The first thing that you might try is, since the Furman is plugged in and you have the other socket open, plug one of the components that is plugged into the Furman right now into the open socket on the PS Audio recepticle.

If you hear an improvement, maybe buy one or two more PS Audio recepticles, or Porter Ports, put them in the Furman, plug some of your components into those recepticles and see if there's a difference, and see if you like that difference.

If there's a difference and you like it, continue on down the line one or two at a time when you have the funds and the time. There's no hurry, take your time and try one or two. If you like it, great, enjoy your system. If you don't, swap them back and enjoy your system. Either way, make sure you are enjoying your system, you've paid good money for it and taken the time building it.

Chuck
live and learn. when i got the furman i thought it was what i needed. now i see the beebee is incredible. and my emotiva amp sounds worse with the furman because of redundancy issue. at least the furman isolates the refrigerator noise. right? i hope? or do i have 550 dollar glorified spike protector ac strip?? ha. so much for blacker blacks etc. i.ll try what you recommended. i.m using a decco pre, vdac, emotiva cd player as transport. so i,m going to try the cd and the pre into the ps audio dedicated line and the power amp to the wall for a day or two and report back. i;ll just use my boat anchor furman for tv, dvr and dvd. ha. i love this hobby. my system sounds pretty good all ready so i can,t wait for the improvement. thanks
Chuck,you might try also putting some strips of still point ers cloth like BPT does with their outlets to cover the back metal strap.This may also lower the noise floor since you have so many outlets on the same circuit that have current running through them.