How good is the Shunyata Venom Silver A/C outlet?

I have no idea. Most of us hereabouts use the Porterports.

Now down to $99 on the Music Direct website, probably reflecting a lack of sales at $195. Essentially a cryoed Hubbell 5362 with rhodium/silver plated contacts. Whether the plating performs miracles, I don't know and I'm too cheap to find out. You could look at a non-plated cryoed 5362 from World Power/audioexcellence for half the price, or a cryoed 8300 HI (also unplated) from Takefive Audio for about $20 Cnd. or $17 U.S. (don't know how Gene does that price but he does!). Unless you have 20 amp equipment and/or lines, you're better off with the Hubbell 15 amp versions of the above receptacles (HBL 5262 and HBL 8200HI) in my opinion, but I don't think you'll find anyone selling cryoed versions of the 15 amp receptacles.

The Venom outlet is not a 5362. It is custom a manufactured outlet made exclusively for Shunyata by Hubbel. The outlet was specified to be designed with an oversized internal chassis, reducing heat at the AC contact points. One look at the enlarged back of the outlet should distinguish it as a unique product. All ferrous metals and carbon were removed from the design, and the outlet is then disassembled and plated with silver to lower contact impedance and rhodium to protect the silver from wear. We then treat all outlets in our own deep-immersion cryogenic tanks.

The original price was $195 because the initial order was for a sample assortment and not stock. Once there was a strong market established for them, we ordered large quantities, driving our price down and allowing us to cut the retail price in half.

Divining facts from ill informed opinion on internet forums is a challenge, indeed.

Regards,

Grant Samuelsen
Shunyata Research

Grant: Neither the Shunyata website or the Music Direct website feature a view of the "enlarged back of the outlet". Perhaps you could direct us to such a view. In light of the fact that the Hubbell 5362 is already housed in an oversized "chassis" and contains little or no ferrous metal to start with, and that the front and side views of the receptacle appear identical to the 5362, perhaps you can understand my skepticism. It also seems a bit odd to me that a "custom manufactured outlet" would need to be "disassembled" to be plated; if it is indeed custom manufactured, surely it would be more cost effective to simply plate those plated parts before assembly and pass those cost savings on to the consumer, rather than build it, rip it apart, plate it and reassemble it?

Just an "ill informed opinion".

Why would I need to direct anyone to "such a view". The outlets are on the market and readily available for scrutiny by all. It is not our purpose to "prove" anything on the internet since this, and many other threads purpose is merely the continuation of irreconcilable, circular argument--aimed more at promoting linguistic superiority than truth. Anyone examining a 5362 next to the outlet made for us by Hubbel will readily be able to tell the difference. I am also confident that Hubbel will gladly describe the differences if asked.

The "disassembled" term was my fault. I am sure the outlets are plated prior to assembly, but again, you seem to be forming your reply as a means for "argument" or "exposure" rather than simple dialogue. If you are so invested in exposing some perceived untruth and you think we are only gilding a 5362, then by all means, contact Hubbel and post their reply. I in no way had intended to promote or color what is a legitimate, exclusive product. I am merely correcting your statements presented as fact, which are untrue.

If I am contacted regarding someone's misrepresentation of our products in a public forum, I will take the time to correct an opinion stated as fact. I apologize if you took offense to my "ill informed opinion" comments. My reply was not directed at your comments in particular, but more as an observation of the misinformation that is often stated as fact on this and many other forums.

That said, your recommendations of inexpensive outlets are solid, and I am sure most would perform exceedingly well. We refer many customers to the 5362's who might otherwise balk at spending $100.

There is no witchcraft or strong-arming involved here, people can try before they buy from any vendor we work with, so I'm not sure why this is anything more than a moot point. If your point is that great performing outlets can be had for less than a Venom outlet, then I agree whole-heartedly. If you are stating that Shunyata is misrepresenting, lying or "hyping" a product that is exclusive to our company, then I feel it necessary to state specifics.

Grant