New dedicated line & outlets sound worse, not better- HELP!


About 3 weeks ago I installed a new dedicated power line from my breaker box to the outlets for my stereo set-up.  I used 10 gauge Romex, a new breaker in the panel, and also installed two new Porter Port cryo'd outlets.

My system is comprised of the following:
Gallo Strada speakers
M&K MX-80 sub
Parasound A23 amp
Consonance Cyber 222 line stage pre
MHDT Stockholm 2 DAC
Audio Philleo converter & Pure Power module
Clear Day double shotgun speaker cables
Silnote Epirus USB cable
Silnote Morpheus IC from DAC
Audience PowerChord from DAC
spiked maple stands for pre and amp

So my concern is that my system sounded just about perfect prior to the installation of the dedicated line and outlets- very clean, open, and detailed, yet also a musical and relaxed sounding. I figured the new dedicated line and outlets would just bring more of all of the good things I was hearing.

Instead, following it's installation, everything sounds a bit edgy and fatiguing to my ears. Soundstage depth and separation are improved, as well as bandwidth, but I literally cannot listen for more than 30 minutes before I get irritated. The treble seems too aggressive, which I'm very sensitive to. And there seems to be a slight veil over everything- just not as open as before.
Do I need to just be patient with break-in of the line and outlets? I've heard it can take a month or more for things to settle down. What are others experience after installing a new line and/or outlets?
Any insights or possible issues I might have overlooked are much appreciated!
Lincoln
lincnabby
I enjoy getting laughed at, so here goes.

Let's look at one wire, the 'hot' wire of one outlet. This is a brand new piece of copper, it's nice and shiny. You may have cleaned it before inserting it into the Porter. It looks beautiful. There is a point where the wire is in contact with the receptacle. This is called an 'air tight seal'. There is no oxidization at that exact point. But what about right beside it?.

In your head, enlarge that point. Enlarge it to the point that you envision a Tesla Coil. Now imagine our electricity is 10,000 volts. What do you see?........ Lightning?...... tiny arcs?. Drop this down to 120V, and you simply get smaller arcs, but they're still there. They're immeasurable, but we can hear them.

At other forums, I've tried to introduce the concept of 'micro-arcing', and got laughed at.

The act of 'burning in' simply give the wire time to oxidize. Copper oxide does not conduct electricity. So, over time, this micro-arcing decreases.

Here we go: go to the hardware store, electrical section, and buy some electrical paste. It comes in a tiny tube. It's black and messy. And right now some of you are laughing. It's uggggglyyyyyyyy. Who in their right mind would install brand new dedicated lines, and then smear them with this crap?. Me!. That's experiment #1.

Let's look at brand new multistrand wired power cords. Is there micro-arcing between the actual strands in the wire?.

Experiment #2: you have Romex left over. You can get male receptacles at the same hardware store. You will need to order iec plugs. Build some power cords, remembering to smear the paste at all contact points.

Listen.


Excellent advice as above.
I would add to give your system about 400hrs of break-in time.
One never knows for sure when it comes to audio until you expermint and try some ideas that might seem different ;-)!

I did not comment on selection of the Porter Ports - they are cryod Hubbell hospital outlets.  Let's let lincnabby burn them in first.  The Hubbell outlets are brass and in my experience, brass elements tend to be on the sterile side and have a little bit of shouty effect in the highs.  Some people have NOT had any problem with these.  The Synergistic Black outlets are really expensive at $250.  They might be good.  The cheapest good outlets I have used are the Furutech FPX-Cu and are more affordable at $70 (phosphor bronze conductors - which are around 90% copper).

I did not comment on selection of the Porter Ports - they are cryod Hubbell hospital outlets. Let’s let lincnabby burn them in first. The Hubbell outlets are brass and in my experience, brass elements tend to be on the sterile side and have a little bit of shouty effect in the highs.

Not from my experience. Of course it may depend on the audio equipment the receptacle is feeding.

From my experience the Hubbell Extra Heavy Duty Industrial Series HBL5262 (15 amp) and 5362 (20 amp) duplex receptacle is slightly on the warm side of neutral.

http://www.hubbell-wiring.com/press/catalog/a.pdf

See page A-12


As for the Hubbell duplex receptacle Albert Porter uses for his Porter Port, I remember reading in the past, he pays Hubbell to mix parts of hospital grade and HBL5262/5362 Extra Heavy Duty to build his outlets. I am not sure if he continued the practice or not. Special order can be expensive.

I have not been able to find an ad on Agon of Albert’s Porter Ports to check what the outlets are now.

Albert Porter’s old style cryo’d Porter Ports were the old stock Hubbell slim/Compact 8300H Hospital Grade 20 amp duplex receptacle. Back strap is non plated brass as well as the contacts, non plated brass. The sound was pretty much neutral. Hubbell no longer makes the 8200H/8300H hospital grade duplex receptacle in non plated contact and back strap.

Example of the old stock slim/Compact HBL8300H Hospital Grade duplex receptacle:

http://www.jzsupplies.com/lot-of-2-hubbell-hbl8300h-i5029065/

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Here is another older, I believe, Hubbell catalog.

http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/wiring/catalogpages/H5254.pdf

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