Audiophile Grade Wall Receptacle


Moving homes.  Any recommendation for quality wall receptacle?   Pangea?  Audioquest?

 

Thanks

 

mlapenta

@retiredfarmer 

I know, I know, should’a put the doo-dads first.  I will catch on eventually.

@mitch2 

 

Starting at the front end. And a balanced system is the way if anything is ahead of the rest best if it is at the front. Speakers cannot reproduce signals they don't receive. 

@rsf507 Glad you had the opportunity to get your hands on various premium outlets and develop your own viewpoint .  That's a pretty strong commitment in time and energy (literally).  I'll simply say that the AQ Edison got me from zero to 60 in about half a second and validated the product category as "legitimate"  in my audio world.  Your comments opened the prospects of other options in the future.

@boxcarman Evaluating components in your home in your system is the final frontier to determine where/how your disposable income is spent.  While the cost of time and energy to install premium wall outlets is high greater than many potential upgrades, many on this forum are solidily convinced that they are a worthwhile consideration. I can't say with 100% certainty that a property installed premium wall outlet will make an audible difference in your system.  I'll just say I'll take a "conservative approach" and say that I'm only 98% certain you'll like the result.

For those of you that maybe considering buying a spec grade or better Hubbell duplex receptacle you need to do your homework before buying. About 10 to 15 years or so ago Hubbell starting changing and adding a cheaper line to their product. Example is their Hubbell-Pro line. I would not install a Hubbell-Pro outlet to feed my audio equipment. The biggest issue I have with the outlet is the ferrous steel supporting backstrap used. From my experience and countless others the steel strap adds grain to the sound presentation of the audio equipment. Grain will impact the clarity of the high frequencies. 

Hubbell-Pro Hospital Grade Receptacles

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Also avoid a Hubbell Spec grade or better outlet that has a nickle plated brass supporting backstrap and nickle plated brass contacts The nickle plating has ferrous materials in it and causes grain in the sound presentation. Not as bad as a steel backstrap though.

Here is an example of a good spec grade extra heavy duty hubbell outlet

Wiring HBL5252W Specification Sheet

Note:

Slender/Compact Body.

Specifications
Face Nylon
Base RTP
Contacts Brass
Wire Clamp Plated brass
Terminal Screws Brass
Mounting Strap .031" (.8) Brass
Automatic Self-grounding Clip Stainless steel
Mounting Screws Steel-Zinc Plated

/  /  /

20A Duplex Receptacle 125VAC 5-20R GY - Zoro Tools

This must be a NOS 20 amp Hubbell Hospital Grade duplex receptacle. It appears, looking at the photo, the supporting backstrap is non nickle plated brass. If interested before buying I would contact the seller to verify the backstrap is non nickle plated brass and the contacts are non nickle plated. From the round center 6/32 hub ,for supporting the wall cover plate, the outlet is the Slender/Compact body design.

 

Yet one more product I would like to see in a blind testing.  My gut feeling is no one would be able to hear the defference between a $3 standard house outlet and a $300 audiophile plug.  Just saying......