Good outlet for amplifiers

I'm currently using Furutech GTX-D Gold. 

OP

I tested a bunch of receptacles over a year, and here were my findings:

Best - Furutech GTX-D(G Gold) - The GTX-D(R Rhodium was too bright for me, but it is a detail machine...but took forever to break in)

Best (just a hair down) - Oyaide R-1 (not the SWX series)

Really good and less expensive - Acme Audio Labs Silver plated, cryo'd, with CFC coating....really good for about $70

Best - Furutech GTX-D(G Gold) - The GTX-D(R Rhodium was too bright for me, but it is a detail machine...but took forever to break in)

@vthokie83 

I have the GTX-D Rhodium and did notice it took more than 400 hours. So it was the rhodium that caused the long break in, and not the NCF? The gold broke in with less time? 

mclinnguy

I'm not sure what caused the long break in to be honest, I just know the Rhodium took me over 3 months.....not sure of the total hours. I was working with 8 (9?) receptacles for about 13 months. I also tend to prefer gold plated, then silver plated, then rhodium plated in that order

The GTX-D(G) took about 6 or so weeks, the Oyaide R-1 about the same. In my new listening room I'm installing two Furutech GTX-D(Gs), one Oyaide R-1 on the dedicated lines.......and the Acme Audio Labs silver/cryo/CFC elsewhere.

And I don't want to abuse the Furutech rhodium plated, but they are REALLY detailed and it was too much in any of my systems. I could see it being really helpful for people with "dark" systems

I don't see much better grip from a duplex outlet than the top offerings from Hubbell and for a fraction of the cost Pass & Seymour.  I use both and frankly I always recommend 20 amp P & S's with the clamping from the back to the wire for thirty plus years and everyone I've checked is still very tight.  When I added P & S (now discontinued) Grey/ clear body colored ninety degree male plug to the end of a power cord, the two gripped like a permanent bond.  To this day they hold well as a recent visit to an acquaintances home where I did this in the early 1990's.  Still my fav right angle plug if you can get them that  was reasonably priced.

Don't waste money on power cables receptacles plugs fuses conditioners etc.. nothing but snake oil. Take your wife to concerts if you have extra money. 

@vthokie83 

I'm not sure what caused the long break in to be honest, I just know the Rhodium took me over 3 months.....not sure of the total hours. I was working with 8 (9?) receptacles for about 13 months. I also tend to prefer gold plated, then silver plated, then rhodium plated in that order

The GTX-D(G) took about 6 or so weeks

Thanks, sounds like it is the rhodium then. 

Just received a Viborg rhodium outlet, and I'm debating putting in on the freezer in the garage for a month instead of into the hifi system. One hand it is interesting to hear the changes, but 400 hours again; even listening for 12 hours a day that is 33 days. Think after just doing that math I have decided the former. 

Anyone have all copper receptacles?

@thecarpathian 

It is just the coating that is rhodium in the one described above, the contacts are all copper. You can't have uncoated copper, unless you want to clean the corrosion off weekly. 

Viborg VM02

Hi, @mclinnguy ,

Yes, I know. Was wondering if anyone had them, and thoughts. Rhodium I don’t understand, it’s a lousy conductor. All copper or better yet silver coating seems the way to go. My thought on the all copper is your attaching bare copper wires to it anyway some decades old and they I imagine never get cleaned and polished. Personally I’d go with the silver. Can someone explain to me why rhodium is even in the equation?

Carpathian, here are some copper units. I tested and liked the Furutech FPX-Cu and the Oyaide R-0, but the Oyaide R-0 is better in my mind. The ACME is very good, but silver plated

Furutech does have the FPX-Cu receptacle which is phosphorous copper, because pure copper is too soft to provide strong contact - $63 Cable Company

Acme Audio Labs have silver high purity plated copper - $65 Acme Audio Labs

Oyaide R-0 highly polished beryllium copper (same here, not pure copper because of clamping strength) - $151 Cable Company

Shunyata SR-Z1 high copper content brass - $100 Cable Company

Not sure that is all, but those are the ones I know of

@vthokie83 ,

Thank you! Yes, thinking about it copper is too soft by itself. Perhaps the use of rhodium is because it’s a very hard metal. But there are so many more metals with superior conductivity. Maybe it’s applied in such a thin coat it’s conductivity isn’t so much an issue.

thecarpathian

Gold plating works best for me, and then silver plating. Rhodium is loved by some, but it's just too much for me, and that incessant break in period is hard to take

@ghdprentice  Those Furetech's on Amazon might be fakes according to furetech website 

@thecarpathian

Maybe it’s applied in such a thin coat it’s conductivity isn’t so much an issue.

That is my understanding, but then why does it sound the way it does? How can a few microns of a coating make a difference to the sound? No idea, but it does. Cardas and all those other plug, connector and cable companies must have had some reason to use it over brass/silver/gold. Caelin Gabriel is the only guy who has stated he didn’t like rhodium to my knowledge, and does not use it in his stuff.

...on the all copper is your attaching bare copper wires to it anyway some decades old

You know, I’ve never thought of that. It never occurred to me to clean the ends of the wire with some emery cloth. Obviously I don’t think the most anal and eccentric audiophile would do this on a regular basis, but yeah, if you’re installing the plug it would be a good idea- why not? I am sure some audiophiles use some deoxit there.

And silver tarnishes too, don't forget. 

That's what I plan on doing, sure can't hurt (unless you forget to shut off the breaker!)

Also about the plating, but I've also bought (but never used yet) contact enhancers. The two that I have are the Stabilant 22A and the Furutech Nano Liquid Ag/Au enhancers. Still have a ton of research to do, but that'll have to wait until the fall

@brunomarcs 

Great for bringing up that point. Mine came from Japan. But this highlights a huge problem with new and used accessories these days. 

You must be very careful when purchasing today.