Furutech Gold and Copper connector


I was wondering how long does Break-in Time of “Furutech IEC connectors” takes in order to open up and present all its potential quality. I am talking about Furutech FI-11 Gold and Copper connector series. The power cables where connectors are used with, are already broken in and sound good with their original connectors. I read in several review that Furutech cables takes up to 400 hours to break in! Is this also valid for Furutech connectors too!?

You feedback would be appreciated.
cheers,
Michel
michelzay
Hi Michaelzay, I enjoyed your review and find that I have the same impressions between Gold and Rhodium Furutech GTX-D wpo's, my cables are copper!, The Tara labs Zero Gold I/C, Tara labs Omega Gold speaker cables, Tara labs Cobalt power cord that is terminated with oyaide ends, the Rhodium is incredible with these cables, I went through a shock factor of the synergy with all of this, The Gold did not have the magical sound stage presatation or the Resolution that the Rodium brought out of my cables, you seem to be the first audiophile that knows what he is talking about, has nothing to do with tube or solid state equipment, like you said, rather it has everything to do with cables synergy!, well said Michaelzay, one thing that is most important that I have not said to no one yet, is the fact the Rhodium is incredible on the $5,450.00 Tara labs Cobalt power cord that is this,, Another industry first is TARA Labs' propriety annealing process, known as SA-OF8N 99.999999% copper (super-annealed, oxygen-free, eight nines pure copper). This creates a unique, long, unbroken crystal structure called “mono-crystal” which has exquisitely smooth and detailed transfer of frequencies over a very wide bandwidth. pure copper, which is the purest in the cable industry,even more pure than occ copper that is 6-nines,also versus cheaper power cords that I do not use that I had on hand for many comparisons that was not so much of a huge improvement like putting the Rhodium on a very good pure copper power cord, cheers.
what I want to know is, Has anyone mixed the Furutech GTX-D Rhodium with Gold Wpo's?
As for power cords, based on my own experiences. I think AC connectors play a big role on the output sound. Obviously, there are plenty parameters to consider too, like cable materials, no. of gauges, device equipment (CD player, DAc, preamp, AMP), power conditioner(s), the interconnect cables materials, speaker cables and most importantly the SPEAKERS. Devices being Tube based or Solid-State could also play a role in term of overall dynamic and revealing different frequency ranges. One could use Rhodium connector for CD player or preamp and Gold for Amps. For example, I use Dynamic Design power cord with Rhodium for one of my power conditioners feeding my LCD TV and AMP, CD player with an excellent clarity and results. The Dynamic Design Challenger cable with Gold connectors are used on my CD player. On my second system, I use a DD power cable with Rhodium feeding my preamp/processor.

I am afraid there is no any objective way to make rules on using Rhodium or Gold on CD player or amp. It is a multi-dimensional problem without any theoretical answer. The best way is to try and test.

Beyond all of these, THE MOST PROMINENT PARAMETER is the PERSONAL TASTE on type of music (Classic, chamber, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Metal), preference of being a bass freak or not, preference to have a more lively midrange, preference on more articulated vocal voices and enjoinment of hearing more pronounced instruments on high frequency or not.
I tested and have a lot of power cords and put some for sale. Some present an excellent sound especially with big orchestra and some are more suitable for jazz or chamber music. Of course, some cables present a reasonable compromise between the two. One might also choose to have entire power cords sets for each of these configuration. Some are very good for power conditioner, some are better for CD player or preamp or amps.

Regarding expensive power cords (>$800 used!), I am not sure, the subtle improvement that they might bring to your system could be really justifiable. I don’t believe neither reviews on Magazines that could be biased. One could learn some notions from that but buying based on review is not recommended. Based on my experiences, buying a reasonable and not expensive cable and changing the nema/iec connectors would present a much better result. I think Rafael0054 did that too on his Purist audio cables.
Michaelzay, I believe you are a well seasoned audiophile my friend, an asset to me, seems everything I find out about these Furutech GTX-D wpo's, from no where you are spot on like you read my mind or something, Rafael0054 talked me into tring the Gold out on the Krell amp, The Rhodium sounded better in everyway, including sound stage, but one important part of the tone, BTW, Krell is known for bass, for some odd reason, I cannot understand, The Gold had lower, fuller, bigger bass than the Rhodium on the krell amp, it's like I had a bass suck out on the krell, bass half notes that was thin compaired to the deep full bass of the Gold on the amp,you quoted this-,,,One could use Rhodium connector for CD player or preamp and Gold for Amps., what!, that is exactly what I am going to try today, for the first time, I am going to test the both on the entire system, since I only need two, The Rhodium had way better bass on the tube/solid state hybred digital, so this is a monkey wrench into what I thought before, being the Gold does bass correctly on the Krell, but everything else, including vocals and sound stage was way better with the Rhodium on the krell, just no bass, I do not get it?, I was about to send the Gold back for a Rhodium, I listened to Rafael0054 and did what he asked, mmm, glad I did, as they say, not so fast!, I will tell you how this may turn out.
 @audiolabyrinth

@michelzay 

Late to this party, but great insights, thanks.

I recently moved a Nanotec #308 cable with Furutech FI-11 gold connectors to my receiver.  This great wire had sounded wonderful in the mids and highs, but a lttle bass heavy when connected to the linear power supply for my DAC.  Bam!  Attached to the high current device, the sound that the Nanotec wire with gold connectors produced was powerful, fast, dynamic and natural, producing in-the-room presence with all sources when compared to the Shunyata Diamondback cable with gold plated molded brass connectors it replaced. No woolly bass here.

Swapping the Shunyata into the DAC, it sounded a little more balanced, the bass was a little less woolly and the treble a little more tinkling, but the midrange magic was clearly down a notch. I attributed the cleaner bass to the Shunyata being shielded, which was why I thought to swap it in the first place. Overall sound not bad really for the modest price and molded brass gold-platted connectors, but the real revelation of the swap was the Nanotec on the receiver.

Of further relevance to the last part of this thread, I just replaced the Shunyata on the DAC’s power supply with a Furutech FP-SO22N cable and FI-28M/FI-28 Rhodium connectors.  Wow.  The woolly bass is gone, banished.  Stone cold off the bench, this cable was coherent top to bottom.  I came onto this thread due to break-in time reference for Furutech connectors, but must report the rhodium connectors are working extremely well for me on my digital front end, and an unshielded cable with a similar wire formula and copper/bronze/gold Furutech connectors sounds just right on my amp.  Very much looking forward to sound of Furutech cable/Rhodium connectors in my system once they are fully broken-in.