Gold coated brass speaker spades

Well, of course we know copper does sound better as it has less resistance, only bettered by silver, and Shunyata’s top cables are all a blend of silver and Ohno copper.

In regards to the outlets a little research shows that pure copper does not enough ductility, or the ability to bend repeatedly without cracking. Due to the movement inherent in the outlet prongs when inserting and removing cables there isn’t a choice, so the added zinc to the copper to make it brass is a necessity. At least in the design of the Hubbel outlet shown. Sound considerations aside, it would not be good if people’s outlets began to break, and then one gets electricity arcing.

However, Furutech have made their own outlet which does have solid copper contacts and their own stainless spring clamping system, so there is no bending on any solid copper prongs. I have this GTX-R- NCF outlet and like that it doesn’t mar the coating from your expensive power cords. But since it is solid copper it needs to be coated with something to prevent oxidation- Furutech offers a choice of gold or rhodium.

GTX breakdown 

Look ma- no marring!

Unknown to me if Caelin ever experimented with these outlets or approached Furutech instead of Hubbel to make his outlets? But again he and his team have of course listened to his outlets and if they determine they are fine, that gives me enough confidence to use them. I have heard him state he didn’t like rhodium. Actually I have just ordered my first Shunyata power cord, and I will see if the nickel coating on his plug gets along with the rhodium in my GTX outlet. (Again, the coating is just microns thick, 99% of the electrical energy simply travels though the base metal, and I am sure I won’t notice the difference )

Certain assumptions are being used to justify finding brass or any other material inferior without the assumptions being supported.  Is conductivity the deciding factor in what sounds good?  Is it necessarily the case that a material that that reduces conductivity or in any other aspect alters the signal necessarily bad for the sound?  So much is being made about the particular connector's, or for that matter the cable itself, physical properties under the assumption that there is a set of properties which, if optimized, will always result in superior sound.  It does not work that way because each system is different and each listener has sound preferences that may mean different alterations to the signal will either be desired or deleterious. 

Does it matter if Tara uses gold plated brass?  Yes and no.  If it alters the sound as compared to some other choice, it matters but one cannot say for the better or worse on a universal basis.  If it doesn't alter the sound in any system, then cheaper or more durable is desirable.

i don't care what material is used for the connectors in my cable (Audio Note silver wire); I care about the sound of the cable as a whole.  I looked it up because of this thread and found out that my banana terminated cables utilize silver over what I will call "mystery metal" (the description is only that it is non-magnetic material) for the connectors.

Are Furutech outlets UL-listed?

It states this under their FPX outlets, but it is not underneath the GTX outlets, so not sure.... 

SPECIFICATIONS

All non-magnetic α (Alpha) Phosphor bronze Conductor
All models c(UL) approved

Unique pin insert construction ensures increased contact areas,
stable transmission and the tightest contacts in the Audio industry and they won’t scratch or mark the plating on male AC connectors!

・Accommodates cable diameters from 10 AWG to 24 AWG.

・Dimensions: 104.2mm×33.5mm (L×W), 28.2mm thick.

・Materials: Main body: Nylon and Fiber Glass

・Cover: White polycarbonate for FPX- (R) and (G), Black for FPX - (Cu)

・Connections: Set-screw

・Non-magnetic Rhodium, 24k Gold or Non plated Phosphor Bronze conductor（t: 0.8 mm）

Yes both the Furutech GTX-D (both gold and rhodium plated) are UL rated, as is my second favorite Oyaide R-1. I own both, and just double checked them