@fthompson251 i have two Furutech GTX-D NCF Rhodium outlets, one per dedicated line. I’ve owned the following power cords: FP-S55N with NCF 50 plugs, FPS-032n with regular 50 connectors. Had DPS-4.1 with NCF 50 plugs long enough in my system to assess it. I also owned DSS-4.1 speaker cables with TOL Furutech Rhodium spades.
I still have the outlets. Sold all power cords and speaker cables. Furutech, especially NCF, imparts certain sonic signature. I’ll go straight to DPS-4.1. This power cable can be both great and terrible. Depends on the component it’s on. You get crystal clear mids, sweet highs and agile bass. But overall it doesn’t sound natural to me. It can also be harsh on preamp and too warn on digital. It never really gets out of the way. If you get lucky by having it compliment the rest of your system it can be great. But overall I can’t recommend it. The other power cables I mentioned above are slightly less of a risk but they all color the sound. In my system they just don’t work. One other downside is resale value. These cords don’t sell well. If you come across a used DPS give it a shot. Other than that I honestly can’t recommend it because of how unique these power cables are and how unpredictable your results might be.
Furutech GTX-D NCF outlets are overall very good. Noise floor is reduced but they round off dynamics at the same time. The overall presentation is more subdued, hi-fi sounding and softer on the leading edges. Again, if you have a system that can benefit from this, these outlets are your ticket. In a warm and relaxed system they might not be a good match.
I now use Nordost Frey 2 cords on amp and DAC and Heimdall 2 on Aurender N200 streamer. I also just installed Shunyata SR-Z1 outlet 4 days ago and I’m really digging it. The amp woke up. Dynamic, open, detailed but natural sound. I’m still keeping the Furutech outlets and will be comparing to Shunyata when I get around 200hrs on the latter. Mean time I ordered a second SR-Z1. I feel it’s a better match in my system. Better synergy. Hope this helps.
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@audphile1 Yes it does! Thanks for the information sir.
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Solid post. I tried a single Furutech rhodium fuse and it was not good. Rhodium tends to add a hard, chrome-like coloration. Interestingly, my phono amps all benefit from rhodium power cord terminals.
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I DIY all speaker and power cable to shielded, sized, perfection. Fuses and other rabbit hole idea's I don’t waste my time. When I see words like nano I quit reading !
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I have the Furutech DPS4.1 with FI-50 NCF (R) plugs and can recommend these. The plugs are more important than the cable and I don't use anything lesser than the FI-50 NCF (R) on the DPS4.1. Initially I bought the DPS4.1 which came with older and lesser plugs and they didn't sound better than the TCS31/FI-28(R) which I also own. After several months of comparing the cords, I decided to change the plugs on the DPS4.1 to the FI-50 NCF(R) and this move made all the difference. The overall sound is much more open and dynamic with improved clarity and detail.
Apart from the DPS4.1/FI-50 NCF(R) I also have the GTX-D NCF (R) at the wall outlet which I feel is the best upgrade I have made to the system. The impact is huge. As for power cords, as we all know it needs to fit the system and components. I have a mix of Furutech and Acrolink cords in my system. The Furutech DPS4.1 is at the upstream between the wall to power conditioner, while the Acrolink cords go between the power conditioner and components. I have found that swapping these cords around will produce a different sound, so you need to experiment to find the best result in your system. The system can sound warm and unengaging with reduced clarity and detail if the cords are not properly matched to their respective components.
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@audphile1 how do you find the Furutech Dss-4.1 speaker cables with totl furutech plugs? I am actually done with the system but have always admired these speaker cables. The only hindrance that is keeping me away from the Dss-4.1 is the high price.
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@ryder Well I cannot change the PC 0n my old Shunyata Hydra. I just had a new cord made a few months ago with DH Labs RED Wave Signature and a special plug. Where I am investigating new PC is on my amp, where there is a DH Labs Red Wave Signature now. That will graduate to the DAC. So if these Furutch are that finicky then maybe I shall pass.
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@ryder DSS-4.1 were ok. Honestly not too crazy about the Furutech sound. I traded them in to TMR for a set of Audience FrontRow speaker cables. In direct comparison with Furutech prior to finalizing my decision the Audience won. I took about a week to make sure both the cables and my ears settle and begin evaluating. Further more, I had Audience AU24SX sp cables and they too sounded better to me than the furutech. I hear this weird coloration with Furutech be it power cords or sp wires and I just can’t get past it. The GTX-D outlets are probably the best Furutech item I tried. Sound is still colored but in a nice way although as I said in my initial response the dynamics are somewhat restricted with rounded leading edges.
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Thanks @audphile1 for the thoughts, appreciated. I can’t refute your experience on the weird coloration with Furutech power cords or speaker cables but have read some of these comments several years ago on whatsbestforum I believe. I have no problem accepting this as I acknowledge that everyone’s system is different and we all hear things differently. I don’t get this artificial coloration with the Furutech cords and outlet in my system but I can’t confidently say it’s not artificial coloration. All I can say is I like the sound presentation of the Furutech which gave me a bold, powerful and dynamic delivery. Without the DPS4.1 cord and GTX-D NCF outlet (which I believe brought the largest impact to the system), the system sounded pale, flat and lacklustre, lacking verve and dynamics.
It is useful that you found the Audience FrrontRow to improve upon the DSS-4.1. I read a rather long review on the comparison between the DSS-4.1 and Audience AU24SX and it seems to favor the former more.
https://taww.co/post/661286450716934144/review-furutech-dss-41-speaker-cable-dps-41-power-cord
I am actually done with my system and do not have any immediate intention to change anything but if I catch the bug, I would look at speaker cables first and foremost. The DSS-4.1 in my desired length will be above my budget and will cost almost the same as the speakers which I currently own, so it will have to wait. A Naim NAC 552 / NAP 500DR owner on the Naim forum who recently picked up a pair of Furutech DSS-4.1 has given me some motivation to consider these cables. He initially tried the DPS4.1 power cord in his system and after being impressed by the performance of it, he went ahead with the DSS-4.1.
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FWIW it’s not all about Furutech as I use a mix of Acrolink power cords and interconnects, Wireworld digital cable and Chord speaker cables in my system, apart from Furutech power cords. It’s the combination that matters.
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@ryder yes
Definitely the mix is key. One thing that’s undeniable with furutech outlets, connectors and cables is they lower the noise floor. As I mentioned above I just installed shunyata outlets and really like them. Still have the 2 furu gtx-d ncf in place as well and will compare when the shunyatas break in. Shunyata outlets provide a tighter grip and I believe a larger contact area. There’s a video on YouTube with the SR-Z1 outlet dissected. Check it out.
https://youtu.be/9TtgjtzQSwY
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👍 yeah it’s a pretty simple outlet just well built and provides good connectivity. I’m not excluding a possibility that running some components off Furu and some off Shunyata might be a good combo. We’ll see when the Shunyata breaks in.
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Just my preference, but I don't like anything rhodium plated from Furutech; to me it just doesn't sound correct, and is usually sibilant....that applies to receptacles and connectors
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Both shunyata outlets are fully broken in. Didn’t take long at all. Natural sound. No harshness. Nothing stands out. Really like how the system sounds. I haven’t gone back to furutech yet.
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When it comes to Furutech PC's.. best advice is to be very very careful to determine if they are legitimate. There are a number of fakes that are being sold as real, and these cables look very close to the real item. Unfortunately, Buyer beware is best when it comes to Furutech cables.. A number of less than scrupulous vendors are selling the knock-off's as real on various sites.
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@audphile1
Thx for posting that link about the Shunyata Z1 outlet. In the video, Caelin mentions how a poorly constructed, cheap outlet can become a fire hazard.
Years ago, I couldn’t figure out where a very mild burning smell was coming from in my kitchen. For weeks, I triple-checked all of the appliances. Nothing was unusual. One day I decided to do some paperwork at my dining room table – which I rarely do since I have a home office. As I plugged in the laptop charger, I almost burnt my hand when it touched the outlet cover. I’ve never encountered anything like it. And I’ve worked with a lot of electrical outlets. Of course, I was very relieved to discover the source of the burning smell. I didn’t know that was even possible. When I replaced it, the unit was wired correctly.
A while ago, I mentioned this incident in another thread. Curiously, another veteran Audiogon member, who worked for a utility company, posted a response that he didn’t believe me. It was very true – as Caelin pointed out. Learned something new – fortunately without any consequences. I was very lucky! Subcontractors trying to save a buck.
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Given the variety of responses in this thread, it would seem that there is no substitute for trying the "device under test" in your own system.
Formerly, my system was tube based and I was thrilled with my loom of Nordost cables. When I switched to a Hypex integrated, the synergy was off. I tried a Furutech DPS 4.1 cord with FI-50 NCF termination and was amazed.
Now my entire loom from the GTX-D NCF (R) wall plug to the DSS-4.1 speaker cables is Furutech. I detect no overt coloration. I consider these products to be a bargain, in high end audio terms. I couldn't be happier.
For those who posted dissenting opinions, I have no reason to doubt you. You hear what you hear. This is my experience.
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