Audiophile Grade Wall Receptacle

For those of you that maybe considering buying a spec grade or better Hubbell duplex receptacle you need to do your homework before buying. About 10 to 15 years or so ago Hubbell starting changing and adding a cheaper line to their product. Example is their Hubbell-Pro line. I would not install a Hubbell-Pro outlet to feed my audio equipment. The biggest issue I have with the outlet is the ferrous steel supporting backstrap used. From my experience and countless others the steel strap adds grain to the sound presentation of the audio equipment. Grain will impact the clarity of the high frequencies. 

Hubbell-Pro Hospital Grade Receptacles

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Also avoid a Hubbell Spec grade or better outlet that has a nickle plated brass supporting backstrap and nickle plated brass contacts The nickle plating has ferrous materials in it and causes grain in the sound presentation. Not as bad as a steel backstrap though.

Here is an example of a good spec grade extra heavy duty hubbell outlet

Wiring HBL5252W Specification Sheet

Note:

Slender/Compact Body.

Specifications
Face Nylon
Base RTP
Contacts Brass
Wire Clamp Plated brass
Terminal Screws Brass
Mounting Strap .031" (.8) Brass
Automatic Self-grounding Clip Stainless steel
Mounting Screws Steel-Zinc Plated

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20A Duplex Receptacle 125VAC 5-20R GY - Zoro Tools

This must be a NOS 20 amp Hubbell Hospital Grade duplex receptacle. It appears, looking at the photo, the supporting backstrap is non nickle plated brass. If interested before buying I would contact the seller to verify the backstrap is non nickle plated brass and the contacts are non nickle plated. From the round center 6/32 hub ,for supporting the wall cover plate, the outlet is the Slender/Compact body design.

@bigtwin Said:

bigtwin

470 posts

04-21-2022 at 02:33pm 

Just to end this discussion (for me anyway), I will do my ultimate comparison.  I have purchased 70 feet of Romex 10/2 Simpull wire and ordered Furutech GTX-D(R) Duplex Receptacle, FI-32M(R) Plug and 106-D-NFC Receptacle Cover.  Now I know the 10/2 adds nothing to the party as 12/2 would provide all the current my system will ever need and the 20 amp breaker can draw, but I found Lowes was selling the 10/2 at a cheaper price than Home Depot was asking for 12/2 so I bought the heavier cable.  I will be running the new line out of my mechanical room directly into my garage and up to my listening room.  Meeting all code requirements along the way.  When done I will be able to demo equipment on 15 amp vs 20 amp.  Furutech vs $2 contractor plug, with and without power conditioiner in the loop.  This will take about a week but I will make a full report for anyone interested.  Open to suggestions on musical selections that may provice the best opportunity to hear the difference.  Cheers.

@lak Said:

lak

4,285 posts

04-22-2022 at 08:23am 

@bigtwin; Sounds like fun. Remember the Furutech GTX-D(R) Duplex is going to take hundreds of hours to burn in and sound consistent.

@bigtwin ,

@lak  is correct. Just check the archives here on Agon and AA. I believe you will also find threads on SH forum as well as the AC forum. Them puppies need hundreds of hours of burn-in time. Why did you buy a Rhodium plated duplex outlet???

Failure to burn-in the outlet properly is just a waste of good money. And your listening test will be flawed, useless...

Spend the extra money to have the outlet burned in or you will need to hook it up to a circuit that feeds a refrigerator or freezer for a least a month.  If you just connect a load to the outlet of a couple of amps it may take 6 months to a year  to burn in one outlet of the duplex if not longer.

@jerryg123 said;

Nickel plated  brass contacts. More than likely will sound grainy. Highs may sound bright. not natural.

Specifications
Face Nylon
Base PBT
By-Pass Power Contacts .036". (.9) Nickel plated brass
Ground Contacts .025 in. (.6) Brass
Clamp Nickel plated brass
Terminal Screws Plated brass
Mounting Strap .050 in. (1.3) Nickel plated brass
Mounting Screws Bronze

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