2. member-reviews
  3. 1065488253

Review: Porter Port AC Outlet Customized Hubbell 8300 Tweak

Category: Accessories

I continue to be an independent audiophile and have no association with any manufacturer or individuals whatsoever.

I believe all types of stereo equipment, including tweaks of all types, can be system-dependent. In addition, I also think audiophiles are capable of liking different products. Just because I prefer item A and you like item B does not mean one of us is wrong. We can agree to disagree over personal choices. My review is based upon listening results from my tube system and my solid state system.

Over the past several years, I’ve done an extensive amount of listening to my systems using the following outlets:
Wattgate 381 non-cryo’d / cryo’d, FIM non-cryo’d / cryo’d, PS Audio non-cryo’d, Furutech FP-2G non-cryo’d,
Acme Silver plated cryo’d, Leviton 8300 non-cryo’d / cryo’d, Hubbell 8300 non-cryo’d / cryo’d, Hubbell 5362 cryo’d, and the Porter Ports, a special order Hubbell 8300 that has no multi-layered bright nickel plating on the contacts and has the same higher impact resistance thermoplastic polyester face as the Hubbell 8300’s do.

I do very much like the Wattgate 381 and the Furutech FP-2G (both of them are gold plated). In my systems I prefer to save them for special occasions when I desire that special smooth sound for a specific component that requires it. By the way, I don’t recommending cryogenically treating anything that is gold or gold plated. I never heard an improvement. If anything, I’d say it degraded the sound a bit.

While I do hear vast amounts of improvement using all the other cryo’d outlets that I mentioned, I believe the Porter Port edged out all my other outlets. I believe it has something to do with the fact that the contacts are not nickel plated and the outlet is treated by a long computer-controlled cryo immersion as opposed to a long computer-controlled cryo vapor.

Here’s what I heard: All of the well-recorded CD’s I listened to (that I use for demo comparison purposes) sounded as if the volume had been turned up one or two clicks. There was more detail in the lows, mids and highs. I heard a sweeter timbre and background accompaniment. The sound was not harsh, and there is a wider and more dimensional soundstage with a deep, fast bass. There is a very black background that reveals the detail in a very positive manner, even when listening at very quiet levels.

When I received the Porter Ports, I was doubtful that I would hear any change compared to my other cryogenically treated outlets because of the AC power filtration systems that I am currently using. However, I was shocked and surprised by the performance of these outlets. I highly recommend the Porter Ports.

Associated gear
Click to view my Virtual System

Similar products
See review
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xlak
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
I'll have to echo Lak's comments. I bought one, was skeptical, tried it, and all I can say is wow. I can't believe the improvments in detail, background queitness, but especially a much more dramatic 3d rendering of instruments. My wife can even hear the difference, even on direct tv watching football games. The sound just has more impact.

If you are the type that is skeptical, try it. For me, it was like a interconnect cable upgrade in the 4 digit price range, not approx $40 like these are.

I have not tried all the other outlets like Lak. The only others I've had are home depot hubbels and PS Audio power ports. Both helped, but, not sure it was worth the 10 minutes to install by yourself. The Porter Ports are a steal for $40.

I like this so much, I've bought a 2nd from Albert, installed it on my phono stage and motor controller for my SME 20/2. Same thing. More detail, much more queit background, better images. My 1st Porter Port is on my amp and preamp.

I think I'll buy a 3rd for my video projector. I wonder if the picture will have the same improvements?

Please see my posted system for associated equipment.
wdi
40 posts
 
After reading Lak's and HDM's comments in other threads regarding the benefits of unplated Hubbell outlets, I also bought a couple of the Porter Ports to try; and at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, was in awe.

I have to say that I'm usually skeptical regarding claims of this magnitude; and with most tweaks (if this is really just a tweak) I'm usually left wondering why I'm not hearing any difference. But once these things finally burned in, I realized that my modest system had finally attained the fullness, clarity, and focus that I knew had been lacking; and at a measly $36 per outlet.

Prior to Porter Ports, my system was shrill, edgy, and was painfully lacking body and bass. This had me baffled considering my Rotel amp and the Cambridge Audio CD player I was using at the time are usually described as being warm.

My first Porter Port replaced the builder grade outlet at the wall, and the second went into a power box I put together to replace a cheap power strip, so I’ll admit that I don’t have the experience of comparing multiple audiophile outlets.

But the improvement attained far exceeded my expectations and now whenever I read other threads where people are rushing to spend $$$ replacing equipment and cables, but haven’t tried a $36 outlet, I want to scream; but perhaps I might sound hyperbolic, so I don’t.
hdm
1,062 posts
 
I recently had 3 power cords and some Kimber 8TC cryoed (at a very minimal cost) and the results were truly outstanding and consistent with what is heard with the Porter Ports or a cryoed Hubbell 5262 or 5362. That being said, a properly cryoed non-plated Hubbell is probably the biggest bang for buck in audio today. (The DIY JPS power cord I've been touting might come a close second). If you are not using outlets like this, you simply are not hearing what your system is capable of. If that sounds hyperbolic, so be it. Congratulations WDI!
lak's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
lak OP
4,669 posts
 
Hello Hdm,
It's been a while!
What Cryo lab did you use?
As always...Best regards,
hdm
1,062 posts
 
Hi Larry: Actually, I got a bit lucky; I ended up phoning a few places locally (London, Ontario) that do metal heat treating, and Bayson Heat Treating had just recently acquired a cryo unit. As I was somewhat familiar with the process, I made sure that it was what I wanted (a vapour cryo as opposed to actual immersion in liquid nitrogen).

The guy that did it for me was extremely careful as 1) they had initially had a problem with the unit with some liquid nitrogen (a few inches) appearing in the unit and 2) I told him that the wiring he was cryoing was fairly expensive.

They had replaced a part on the unit and had no further problems with LN being in the drum at the end of the process, but just to be on the safe side, they now raise everything off the floor of the drum by about 4-5 inches just in case, and he actually only takes things down to around -300F (He showed me the chart on my particular cryo, which was done with some other stuff-non audio-that was being cryoed at the same time, thus keeping the cost very reasonable).

In any event, I probably would not have done it if I had to ship my stuff out to the U.S. and wait 3-4 weeks to get it back; I'd have too much audio/video withdrawl! This worked out tremendously. I simply took the stuff in and picked it up two days later-whole process was about 30-35 hours and the stuff was still a bit cool when I picked it up.

The results on the wire were exactly like those experienced with the cryoed outlets; blacker background combined with much more extension at the frequency extremes, and a much more fleshed out, more detailed and transparent midband with more info. The wires needed to break-in a bit after the cryo as there was a bit of birghtness or edge to them, but they seemed to smooth out fairly quickly (within about 2-3 weeks) and it has been a great success.

I will probably do a few other things in the next few months-want to reterminate my phono cables with Eichmann's and I held off on cryoing the OTA interconnects and power cord I use because I was a bit nervous about them-will probably do all these and a bit more in the coming months when I can get around to it.

Regards

Blake
More to discover