AC Outlets

^^^ "high end outlet plate covers" Why of course - no doubt your PRAT will be noticably affected!

Brownsfan: At least the effects of gravity can be predicted in advance of actually experiencing it. The wire people never advertise what their product will do, other than conduct electricity. I guess they leave it to the customers to decide.

Let's be careful about using analogies with science. Next thing you know we will talking about speaker placement and quantum mechanics in the same sentence. When that happens, it's Delta Quadrant here I come!

Rok2kid,
You are correct about the effects of gravity. It is predictable, even if the bases on which our predictions are made are wrong.

When are things ever so clear cut with audio.? I can spend 30K on another amp or preamp and no one can predict a priori how it will sound in my system. My point with outlets is that this is an inexpensive experiment. In my case, a $40 outlet fixed a problem that was only partially rectified by a much more expensive power treatment device.

Finally, high end audio is based on the marriage of electrical engineering with art. The designer must know the physics, and he must have an ear for music. There are companies out there that have consistently demonstrated they have both elements in place. Though I have a background in science, my background is not in physics. My approach to audio tends to be empirical, not theoretical. Questions are answered after the fact by music, not ab initio based on presuppositions.

An outlet is only a connection point. It does not change the sound of anything, just as long as it does its job right. By doing its job right, I'm speaking of it making the connection tight and safely, and carrying the current it's designed to. As long as it does its job this way, there should not be any change in sound.

The 60 cycle AC power coming from your outlet is converted to DC, in your component. If any of the AC is getting through the equipment's power supply, something is wrong.

If the outlet makes a bad connection, then it could introduce noise into the system. A good grade of commercial, or a hospital grade should do this just fine. A good connection should not get hot, or make noise. A hot one is a bad sign. The better outlets can handle more usage, without wearing as quick as the budget ones, that come standard in a lot of homes.

There are a ton of connections that the AC power must pass through just from the transformer, to your home. Then, there are countless connections in the power grid. Not only outlets, power cords just carry the power needed to your gear also, putting these in a similar category. Shielded power cords can help stop RF leakage, that can get airborne. They've been using this shielding on some computer cords, before upgraded audio power cords existed. Also, who knows how many noise generating factories, other facilities, and homes, are tied to your AC power, through the US Power Grid?

There is no proof, that I have seen, of any audio grade outlet doing a better job of this transfer of power, in a home audio system, or any other. Just buy a good quality commercial, or hospital grade outlet. That should do the job just fine.

Hi Fi - that's exactly the point I've been making in my above posts :-)

Also, I think SnoFun3's first post above makes a really good point LOL

As Always good Listening

Peter