High performance electric outlets

I purchased a FIM 880 outlet based on a recommendation in my dealer's newsletter.

In that newsletter, he stated that FIM went to a major outlet manufacturer (presumably Woodhead) and asked what they could do to improve their outlet if cost was no object. Their response (copied directly from the newsletter) was:

- greater contact pressure
- increased contact surface area
- higher tolerances throughout
- less resonant housing
- higher copper-content mating surfaces

So, presumably the FIM 880 is a custom version of the previously mentioned Woodhead design manufactured to FIM's specs.

P. S.- has anyone had this outlet cryogenically treated? If so, can you elaborate on any audible changes that you noted? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

Be careful about Hubbell hosp. grade. My understanding is that for hospital purposes they have a treatment that is not good for audio applications. Hubbell has the same level of outlet without these treatments. Also I would check out FIM outlet they are excellent.

The cryo treated Hubbell outlet Jena Labs sells is a "semi custom" model not carried by Hubbel dealers (according to their WS). It is a mere $100 each.

My experience with outlets over the past year and a half or so leads me to believe that there is literally a truckload of misinformation or disinformation on receptacles out there. I have tried a number of outlets from various manufacturers, and the best stock outlets I used were Hubbell 8200/8300 hospital grade, although I did not use a stock Hubbell 5362. The Jena Labs is a stock Hubbell 5362 that is cryoed, and both the Hubbell 5362 and 8300 are available cryoed from Audio Excellence/World Power, for $55 and $60 respectively. I can say that the cryoed 5362 is substantially better than the stock 8300 (which is also the basis for the PS Audio receptacle) and believe me, I was very skeptical that there would be much improvement. I posted a review of this receptacle at Audio Asylum (in the cables section) and tried to post it here, but apparently it didn't go through. Haven't heard the FIM, and wasn't keen on the Pass & Seymour stock receptacle that the Acme is based on.

"My understanding is that for hospital purposes they have a treatment that is not good for audio applications."

Ksales......I don't mean to throw a wrench into the works, but this is not exactly correct. For the hospital grade outlets, Hubbell uses a different, and higher-impact resistant face material (rather than the nylon used on non-hospital grade products) and bright-nickel plates all the power contacts and metal strapping. The multi-layer plating insures the metal won't oxidize or corrode, especially in a medical environment.

Sonically (and I beta-tested these units with others), the 8300 and 5362 are *very, very* close. They are both quite musical, with an extended and smooth frequency response. The 5362 gives a "slightly" more laid-back or relaxed presentation, the 8300 a "slightly" more immediate (one customer described it as more 'intimate') presentation, as if you moved your listening chair a bit closer. Again, these differences are ones of subtlety, not night-and-day differences.

From my understanding, bright nickel plating is on a different level than standard nickel plating, about which many have thought to have sonic problems, and consequently, have labeled anything with nickel plating to be "bad". In the Hubbell's case, au contraire.

I hope this information helps.