@steakster You mistake the difference between electrical safety and audiophile sound. for example, the push in stabs are not going to give you audiophile sound with a point contact but they won't get hot or burn the house down.
Is it possible a 20 amp outlet can make a big difference in SQ?
This is a somewhat rhetorical question, but I'm interested if anyone has a similar experience, or can explain why...
I have one duplex outlet to power everything. I assumed it was 15 amp so a few months ago I replaced the outlet with a hospital grade 15 amp outlet. (fwiw there are 4 wires, 2 white 2 black). My tube amp is plugged directly into the wall.
On Friday the air-con went out so I had a reason to check the fuse box - and realized that the circuit powering my AV is 20 amp.
So I replaced the outlet with the same brand and grade but 20 amp.
I was surprised that there was a significant change in SQ - I'd say dynamics are faster, more detailed, more powerful.
If I'd spent $500 or more I'd factor in the mental bias but I spent $20 and expected nothing.
Am I imagining this?
Any thoughts?
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@carlsbad2 @steakster Both outlets I used have back wire and side wire options. The back wire option is NOT a spring loaded push in - I read up on this - the spring loaded/quick connect option is not recommended. I did use the back wire connection. I cut the bare wire to length according to the guide on the back of the outlet, sanded the bare wire, then pushed the screws all the way in which fully opens the clamp, then tightened the screws. The connections are solid, no bare wire exposed, no electrical tape used. |
No mistake. I’ve been working with heavy load electricity on a regular basis since 1977, the first time I tied into a 400 amp commercial panel. I’ve got 20 years of first-hand experience with audiophile grade AC cables - and 10 years of experience with audiophile grade AC connectors. There’s no confusion here.
Apparently, you weren’t at my home last year when an outlet failed. I smelled something burning. The outlet was quite hot when I touched it. Pulling out your physicist card doesn’t impress me. |
Back wires are good, back stabbing is bad. Back wires use two plates held together by a screw. Back stabbing use spring loaded prongs pushed through the plastic case and IMHO should not ever be used. Back wires are really good for daisy chained connections. They avoid the little clippable jumper between screws.
https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2022/01/audiophile-ac-outlets-for-frugal.html |
@steakster I'm sure I could never impress someone who already knows it all. |
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