I just installed my outlet Thursday after having it for a month and reading Maxgains reporting. After all the trouble he had I was expecting my ears to bleed when I turned my stereo back on. It was terrific right from the start none of the PROBLEMS that Maxgain has reported, nothing but beautiful ,clear, correct,and enjoyable sound. The sound has NOT changed much in the last 5 days and might have even gotten better. Do not be afraid to install these outlets ,you will have a ear opening experience and one of the BIGGEST IMPROVEMENTS you can make for the money. Maxgain read Khaki8 12-22-02 post I could not have said it better myself good advice. Thank you Albert you made my future music listening more enjoyable it was a great hassle on your part , but you made allot of people happy. |
Tweety, I am happy that you are having good luck and not hearing anything unpleasant. I, in no way, was trying to discourage people from installing and listening to the outlets, or scare them in any way! I don't feel that what I was reporting were PROBLEMS, only observations. I only reported what I heard. I HAVE enjoyed the experience. I have no way of knowing what you are using as you don't list your system. It may be helpful to others reading to know what your reference is. That way members with similar systems and tastes might be able to gather more from your experience. I hope that by listing my system it helps other readers to see if they are at all on the same page I am and not for any other pourpose.
I only hope that more of you didn't misinterpret my findings as some sort of negative thing. Just as anyone who tries to review a product or describe sound quality, I felt that I was making careful, and yes,a critical evaluation of the outlets and the break in process. This means reporting the good and the bad. The "PROBLEMS" that were very aparent with my gear may not be with other systems. I did say that no serious listener should be without them. I am not in a rush here, why should I be? If it only means letting the system rest for a few days that is no real hardship. When I turn it back on today I am confident that things will be back to sounding very good again. I just call it as I see it.
I am glad to hear others reporting in about their findings even if they don't feel they hear the same thing I do. I hope we hear from more of you. |
Maxgain,
It just surprised me that I was not hearing the same things you were after installing the outlet. My system is as follows:
One Porter outlet
Shunyata Hydra with Mojave power cord plugged into Porter outlet
jp maximum gold power cords
Empirical audio Holophonic interconnects and Clairity 7 speaker cables by Empirical
Electrocompaniet Emc-1 c.d. player
Tom Evans "The Vibe" pre-amp
Herron Audio M-150 mono block amps
Avalon Arcus Speakers
Many compact discs
Thats it folks! |
Tweety, perhaps some changes take place after the cryo threatment even if the outlets are not installed? Just a thought. Perhaps letting them age a bit after the treatment before installation eases some of what I heard.Any cryo heads out there(no, not Ted Williams)that might know or have any opinion on this? I installed mine the day after they arrived, and as Albert mentioned they still felt cool when he got them. My syestm sounds great again today after letting the cables mellow out after too much time on the Cable Cooker. I just posted to let people know that I would no longer be able to make many judgments about what the outlets were up to after burning in the cables and throwing my scientific method out the window. I do know what they sounded like before I burned the wire and it was amazing. Now it perhaps sounds even better, I just don't know if it is the wire burn in or the outlet getting even better that has done it. At any rate I am pleased as hell that it sounds so life like and detailed! Tweety,very nice system by the way. |
I got my outlets today and, of course, could not wait a moment to get one going. I installed one in a non-dedicated circuit, though I do have an electrician friend scheduled to remedy THAT situation after the holidays. I plan to use this one from the "git go", and have the other outlet I bought "cooked" and then do a comparison later.
First impressions are outstanding. Tighter bass and, overall, a MUCH "cleaner" presentation. Upper end is really improved - for instance, the timbre of cymbals are standing out like never before. As Albert says, they will sound better out of the box than stock outlets, and this is true in spades. Look forward to the breakin and further improvements.
Know I won't have the stamina of Maxgain to post blow-by-blow results, but will try to keep others posted as to my experience.
THANKS AGAIN ALBERT!! |
December 31,02
I just have a bit to add now that the outlets are setteled in and sounding amazing. I did find that the outlets did change the tonal balance. They got rid of some colorations in the bass and mid bass as well as smoothing out everything else. I had set up the speakers prior to the outlets for this, unknown to me at the time,to compensate for this colored bass. Now that I have re-positioned the speakers for the new and improved tonal qualities I am getting smoother and more defined bass with greater drive and better pace. I find that I can also move the speakers farther apart and still retain the kind of focus and image that I was looking for. This opens up the soundstage to an even greater degree than ever before. Very Cool!
I have to say that this has been an unqualified sucess for me and has been a great learning experience. I have always been a firm beliver in set up and having the fundamentals of the system in place before you try to evaluate what you have as far as components. I do think that most audiophiles give up on speakers and electronics far before they know what they can sound like given the right set up. I will say that these duplexes are at the very least a great set up tool that anyone wanting to improve system their needs to install before they spend one more dime on anything else. I am planning future improvements in this area of AC power by upgrading my electrical lines and my other stock power cords and some sort of line filter that I can use these outlets in(perhaps a Chang or an Audio Magic). I am close to where I want to go with what I refered to as set up fundamentals. I have some reasonable isolation form vibration for my gear now and would like to work on my room a acoustics a bit before I ever consider buying a new pair of speakers, wires, or components. These outlets are a MUST have item for any serious listener.
Once again thanks to Albert,Lak,Brian,and the other Audiogon members for sharing in this experience and sharing their knowledge with me. I may never have stumbled on to these with out your help. I would like to ask once again for a few reports from the others of you who have installed these in their systems. I would like to find out what you think? |
Max, Thanks for your updates. My guess, is that many of us who bought these outlets have not installed them yet. I am currently using a Tice outlet, and will A/B it with the Cryo treated ones soon. I finally installed them in a wall next to my reptile tank. I chose this location for the outlet because there are lights, filters, and heaters that are constantly on. I have chose not to go through hearing the "Whole" break-in experience and will wait a couple of months. If you think the spike from the fridge is better let us know. |
We just celebrated Xmas here (ok, New Year as well)... my father is always stir-crazy for projects around the house, so I knew I'd have my chance (I've been sitting on the outlets a while - I'm not stupid!) I had him install Porter Ports for my main rig and my bedroom rig.
First impressions in my main rig - detail retrieval improved, and a little bit sibilant. Burn-in will zero it in. I can already see the light at the end of this tunnel! Very pleased already.
Pops didn't understand quite exactly what we were doing or why we were doing it (a missing cover plate and a 20yr old brown "Eagle" outlet in one room helped him think there was some point to this), but he really did admire the fit and finish of the outlets.
Looking forward to years of better sound. Thanks all,
Mike |
Okay Max, I heard your request for more of us to participate in our findings of the Porter Ports. I hope I am not premature, but nevertheless they're great.
I am comparing these with outlets from Tice Audio, which have been in my system for the last 6 years. Tice treats their outlets with high current,(TPT-Tice Power Technology)rather than our Cryo'd treated Hubbells with low temperture.
I Chose not to listen to the whole burn-in experience of the Porter Ports, so it was used elsewhere. I figured after a week or so it may be time to check these babies out. I knew as soon as I heard them, it was not burned in yet. It sounded very thin, cold and very clean, not bright, not warm, Clean.
I have been very satisfy with Tice Treated outlets for years. They have a good soundstage,layers of full warm mids and decent bass. The Porter Ports changed daily from a thin clean sound to a very focus soundstage, with layers of warm accurate mids, highs and a tight bass to boot. The detail and extention on vocals are amazing. The Tice and the Hubbell do share the same intimate soundstage. I understand the Hubbell 5362 is a tad more laid back than the 8300.
As I write this, of course I believe the outlet has stabilized and I it will remain in my system for years to come.
Thanks again Albert and you too Max! |
I had to reread my post from 11/26 which says, "have an electrician coming tomorrow". I just got the lines put in today. The first electrician cancelled on me a few times & then has his wife call me to say I should look for another electrician. He's semi-retired & I guess he had other things to do. I find another guy & set up an appt. My schedule fluctuates, so I worked the night before he was scheduled. Of course, I overslept & missed him. My dog didn't bark-I never heard him at the door. We reschedule, then he has some family problems. We reschedule again, then he has a wart dug out of his foot & can't make it. Well, I was lazy & it all worked out for me, meaning all this time I could have been burning in the outlets & didn't. A few weeks ago I installed one of them in the garage & ran a receiver & TV 24/7. I also ran some power tools from it like a shop vac, grinder, dremel and ran a 100' extension cord from it & used a halogen light under the house while I used my roto rooter drill to clean out the drain pipes. Yeah, that was fun! I think I got all the initial burning in done & swapped it earlier today for the other Porter Port. I already had a Virtual Dynamics cryo'd in the wall & put it on the front end & the Porter Port on my amp.
I only had time for about an hour listen today & started off with an MFSL of Aja. Not bad. Then I put on Norah Jones "Don't Know Why" and had a massive attack of chills! Whoa, it was great! I played a few more female vocals & could definitely hear more detail. Things like decay were extended, vocal reverb was more noticeable & bass was tighter. The overall presentation was really wonderful.
I'm going to leave the other Porter port in the garage for a few months & swap it out for the one already installed, to see if there's any difference. Once I've decided they're doing the same thing, I'll swap out the Virtual Dynamics. After I do that, then I'll swap them out for some regular outlets for a true comparison, as I made two changes today.
I'm sure that the sound will improve & todays test drive shows great things ahead. |
Glad to see you guys report today! Thanks |
FINALLY got around to running a dedicated line from the circuit box to the now well broken in outlets. Omigosh what I difference! The realism is spooky.
I could go on and on, but I will just say that I never really realized just how good my system could sound until now. Thanks again Albert! |
Do you need to break in *each* of the two sockets in the duplex outlet, or will breaking in one also break in the other? Thanks. |
In my experience I have found that if one side is used to the point of break in then the other side sounds good also. I don't understand why it works that way, but it does for me. |
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As I understand it, it is not difficult or expensive to have anything cryoed. There is a company in the mid-west I believe, that does this for $10 per pound. Hubble hospital grade outlets can be had for around $12, maybe less. Two or three can't weigh more than a pound. Would the cost of three of your cryoed outlets be less than $46? If so, how much less? |
Not to be a killjoy, Jm88439, but a 20 amp hospital grade Hubbell is not going to be around $12, it's going to be closer to $20. On top of that, there is shipping both ways and the cost of handling, packing and boxing, as well as the cost of cryo. Secondly, all cryo is not created equal. Do some research. If you can get 3 cryoed outlets for $46, go ahead and do it. But don't be so sure you are getting the best performance out of your $46 for 3 cryoed outlets. Albert has gone out of his way to do a service here, and has also chosen (based on what I think is a pretty good set of ears) a somewhat unique hospital grade in that it is not plated (probably a good thing). If the cost is $30 to $40 per outlet, it is a deal, as the cryo being done to these is a good cryo and the outlet an excellent one to start with. And my opinion is that someone like Alan Kafton, who also subjects his receptacles to excellent cryo and then burns them in before shipping, is not charging an outrageous amount when he charges $60 or $65 per outlet. The Virtual Dynamics, cryoed Hubbell 5262 at $39 also looks interesting. But once again, I reiterate, all cryo is not created equally. |
Sometimes you have to pay a flat fee and then $/per pound in order to have items cryo'd. Check out details carefully!
Hdm is correct; " all cryo is not created equal". |
Hdm,
I have a few chocolate and vanilla Hubbell 8300 that I'll let go for $16, and several orange Hospital (Isolated Ground) Hubbell 5352IG for $12. RSVP if you or anyone wants a couple. Cheers. Ernie |
