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What kind of outlet wall plate do yo use?

I was reading a post over on AA last week. The post was about outlet wall plates, non magnetic stainless steel wall plates.

I had seen these posts in the past on AA but always passed them over never really reading them. This time I took the time to read the post and reponses to it.

To cut to the chase I went out and found some non magnetic stainless steel outlet plates at a lumber yard. I must stop here and tell you I was a bit skeptical that I would hear any difference in sound from my system.

I pulled the plastic plates from my 3 dedicated duplex outlets and installed the ss plates. I plugged the equipment back in and turned on the system. I let it warm up for about a half hour and then sat down for a listen.

The first CD I listened to was Diana Krall, "The Girl in The Other Room." I could hear a difference right off, but not for the better. Sound stage was small, Krall's piano sounded like a blanket had been thrown over it. The air had been let out of the music.
I listened to a few other CDs with the same results.

I then carefully pulled the ss plates from the outlets for the preamp and the power amp. Just sliding them down on the cords out of the way. I sat back down for a listen. Every thing was back as it was before I had installed the ss plates.

I should mention here my preamp is a Sonic Frontiers line-1, and the power amp is an Audio Research VT50.
The three 20 amp branch circuits are installed in EMT conduit. The rough-in boxes are 4"x4" 2 1/8" deep with a single gang raised device cover for the sheetrock wall and electrical outlet mounting. Wire is #10 awg solid THHN copper. Recepts Leviton 20A Hosp Grade. Branch circuit breakers single pole Square D OQ. Branch circuits breakers installed on the same line in the panel. Distance from electrical panel less than 25ft.

I still was puzzled why there was any difference in sound at all. I then, just for the hell of it, installed two leviton stainless steel plates. One for the power amp outlet and the other for the preamp outlet. A magnet will stick to the leviton plates like gorilla glue...

I plugged the gear back in, turned on the system and let it warm up for about a half hour or so. I then sat down for a listen. The sound, not bad. Remember this is the electrical wall outlet plate. First impressions the sound is darker, vocals smoother, more body, fuller.

I will compare the leviton ss plate to the plastic plate later after my ears have had a chance to adjust to this new sound.

Have any of you guys experimented with the wall outlet cover plates?
Why is there a difference in sound? When I first read the post I thought maybe it was due to the rigidity effect the plate was placing on the electrical outlet. Was it working as a damper of sorts. I mean a non magnetic ss cover plate verses a plastic plate.
Why did the non magnetic ss plate degrade the sound of my system?
With the Leviton ss plates are they providing shielding, in effect a Faraday cage.

By the way I asked the person, who posted the thread, why the plate changed the sound on his system. Some of those tweakers can be quite defensive when you question them. Though he was not others were.
I also should mention the member is using solid state gear.

Jim

jea48
c5150
115 posts
 
You know when....

A hair trigger on a shotgun...fine sensitive fishing line. when balancing a house of cards..,It doesn't take much pressure ,energy or vibration to sense or feel this things happen ,move or shift.

When you make a change in an audio system ,whether this be wall plate ,ac cord ,brass feet ,and all the minor yet sensitive moves one does do, it must ,your gear, be sensitive enough to feel the change. Your system is too massive.Mass....as in not only heavy but too tight,too many blockages as in you rack . Hey how many guys gear is not even level or centered on the racks.Balance...Or your walls have not enough give in them .Too much absorption etc...Too much furniture in your room....MASS

Your gear or system includes all of the contents of your room. Including the walls. The same gear in an empty room will not sound the same in an over crowed ,over saturated ,dead room. How do you expect to hear the difference. This is basic science. But hi-fi has to answer to no natural laws it seems....Becauce a few guys with bad systems, ( great # 1 brands a-list stuff) but set up like really bad ...all that is sensed ,experienced and measured is snake oil...

If you system cannot ....cannot ,in 24 hours of changing ac cords.If you cannot hear ,sense ,experience a change....I don't care good or bad.....You changed the bloody cords ,there will be a bloody change.

If there is no change.. 1) your ears are not sensitive enough ...2) your "whole" system etc ..is not sensitive enough

"whole" means the room and ALL it's contents in it!
c5150
115 posts
 
Oh ....hold that thought.

Merry Christmas to all

I'm back on the 3rd of Jan.....happy new year as well.

So try to keep it interesting while i'm GON. LOL
jea48 OP
4,609 posts
 
Lots of talk about this outlet cover plate, pros & con. $199.00 each....
Oyaide WPC-XXX outlet cover plate.
http://www.vhaudio.com/acreceptacles.html
jea48 OP
4,609 posts
 
Here is a better picture. Note the cover must be used with their receptacles..
http://www.oyaide.com/e_audio/audio_products_files/wpc-xxx.htm
.
spiro
115 posts
 
Hi,
I was trying to instal a Furuteck outlet yesterday, and found that the plastic wall plate was cracked in the center on one side.
i placed a metal plate on and didn't put in the new outlet. We ate lunch and an hour later, the sound was different. I didn't a/b it.
But we all thought that the system (not awake before as it was just turned on) sounded nicer than with the matal plate. My point is not brak in, or warm up, but that at about the same warm up there was a diff.
Why do people resent the hearing, or systems or discussion of this?
I had an associate tell me if he did the dirty on my CD it would sound better, in response to my saying that "the chip" or "cryo" can change the sound of a CD. My AM listening hillbilly Dad with whom I wasn't raised can tell the diff in these... How can someone with such a closed mind as above actually enjoy the music? Aren't they too busy saying "a woman can't play that well" or "if that were an in country made piano it would sound better?" these prejudices get in the way of the whole life experiences as I'm sure they extend into the "organic" question, or the "water purification" question, or the "corn syrup vs sugar" awareness.
I have no macho restrictions to saying "I've never heard that" instead of "It Can't! happen!" as that set s one up for being embarrassed if excersized too often.
BTW the furuteck has changed the sound, and I personally like it and so does the guy who'd system it is powering.
Thanks
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