Not enough outlets


I always plug my Ayre amp and Cambridge Audio streamer/DAC directly into the wall outlets.  I have a single duplex outlet behind my equipment rack and since I have just two components, that is enough.  However, recently I decide to try better power cables (Audio Envy) than the OEM cables that I was using.  Unfortunately those plugs are large enough that if I use the AE power cable for one component, the plug for the second AE cable doesn't fit (there is just not enough room).  

So I am contemplating two options:

1. Use the AE cord for my amplifier and just use OEM for my streamer

2. Get some kind of a strip and plug both my amplifier and streamer into it...I understand that many strips can interfere with power delivery so I'm concerned this may affect the dynamics of my system

Thoughts and advice? 

deone

I have owned many AE power cords and never had this issue. I do know, they fit snugly on top of each other. Try again, if you can’t then use AE quad power strip or try a different duplex.

Plug this (or other) Power gizmo into the wall, and plug everything else into it. Use every other plug to fit large plugs if needed.

 

Furman P-1800 PFR (not the other P-1800

see furmanpower dot com

On sale, B&H, $450.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/616232-REG/Furman_P_1800_PF_R_P_1800_PF_R_Power.html/?ap=y&smp=y&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-r-vBhC-ARIsAGgUO2C-7TanfpQKx-DQRP6YfpXMMMddrIxGMbF_eaQN7fYXwLuHE_3UZR8aAljZEALw_wcB

Used one on Reverb for $250.

 

I used regularFurman  power strip 6 outlets less than $30 at Amazon when I bought it.

@deone Audio Envy makes a OKTA Power Pro and a Quad Power Box that should fix your concerns. I attempted to copy and past the address however I got blocked by a new device that Audiogon has implemented.

Alternatively, replace one or both with a Leviton Hospital Grade 90 degree plug. Very well made, very tight, and you can turn the exit around to any angle. Setting it to be 45 degrees will allow for two.

Now that I think about it you don’t have to get the 90 degree versions, but I find them very convenient for space saving.

Compared to other high end plugs I find this model really improves the outlet grip strength.  If your outlets have any play in them consider adding an appropriate spacer or wall plate like this one to give you maximum rigidity and support for heavy cables.

I now build my own PC & have great success w/Furutech FI-12MG GOLD Male Angle AC Plug. I can set it to any angle I need, in which I have changed it few times. (system upgrade)

Post removed 
Post removed 

This might be outta your price range, but it’d solve your issue and also add power conditioning and surge protection…

https://www.thecableco.com/ar2p-adept-response-power-conditioner.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7vub_srvhAMVjHBHAR1B4wrlEAQYAiABEgKY-fD_BwE

On the other end of the spectrum, this power strip is bare bones and known for not limiting current or coloring sound…

https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/p/Wiremold-Ul100Bc-Lc-9-25In-Gray-W-4-5-15R-Recepts/5623441

Best of luck.

Post removed 
Post removed 
Post removed 

just to physically solve the problem, 3 ft long

Luxury Office 2 Way Outlet Splitter 3 Prong Split Extension Cord For Home Office 3ft 1 Piece

Why not buy a Puritan audio line conditioner then you can plug what you want into it ,I don’t recommend plugging a streamer into the wall unless you have very good surge protection at your breaker box which I do as well as a dedicated 20 amp        4 wire common ground and a insulated isolated ground ,and your outlet absolutely needs to be a quality gold or rhodium over copper outlet ,not the Huge bottleneck j$1 outlet that comes with the house which is a Huge bottleneck !!

Post removed 

Try Synergistic Research QLS-6 power strip.  The 6 outlets are all in one row and about 3" of bare space between each one.  No problem with connections--very secure grip on the plugs and quiet soundwise.  

Bob

 

Thanks a lot for all the advice.  I'm going with a high quality powerstrip as suggested by several; I'm picking one without any conditioning or surge protection: just something that minimally interferes with the power going through it, specifically Pangea Audio Quattro Premier - 4 Outlet Power Center 20 Amp or Quad Power Box as suggested by @lak.

 

@tattooedtrackman: the nicer power cables also tend to have nicer hardware: plugs that fit tightly and make a good connection and plating that resists oxidation over time.  

@deone U are actually very right about that. I also use Furutech GTX-D (R) and Oyaide WPC Z2 and Z1 covers. Outlets and covers. Very tight fit also. 

I think of hospital grade as a baseline for quality. I've got several of these attached to the back of my rack, I got the ones with a 3' cord:

Tripp Lite

I also use a Furman power strip/conditioner/surge protector. That should easily solve your problem. 

The problem with some of the strips is that they use the same OEM low quality cables as you probably already have. Cullen Cables makes very nice power boxes with an upgraded cable, and nice receptacles.....hand made in the USA and a great bargain. They are $199 with their "Gold" series cables, and $259 with their "Crossover" series cables. IMO the $259 version would be a very nice upgrade and solve your problem.

Just a note about hospital grade outlets. At AXPONA several years ago I met Caelin Gabriel from Shunyata and we had an interesting discussion about various power issues. The subject of outlets came up and he told me that it is not a good idea to use hospital grade outlets because they are made to resist corrosion from the cleaning and disinfecting chemicals that hospitals use. They use stainless steel for the electrical contacts instead of copper and Gabriel said that this does not provide as good a connection. He noted that Shunyata sells high quality copper outlets but he told me that the most cost effective solution is to use good quality Hubbel outlets. Just because I'm OCD I replaced my audio outlets with Hubbels for a nominal expense. And, no, they didn't "blow away" the old outlets - I couldn't hear any difference. But everytime I play my rig I'm secure in the knowledge that my system is not restricted by the cheap contractor grade outlets that were originally in my house.

A good quality power strip will work just fine for your application. Spend a little more money and buy a name brand that is rated for 15 amps. It will have no effect on the voltage or current that your components receive.

I have a similar situation, only 1 duplex outlet so I plug the amp into the wall and use a "Cullen Gold Series Power Box 6 outlet".

Very well made and reasonably priced. I tried to post a link but it got blocked.

If you bought them new then just trade them for the straight plugs. Or exchange just one for the straight plug. 2 90 degree plugs will not work in an ac outlet

Post removed 

@artemus_5 Issue is that the plug needs to go behind a shelf and a straight plug would require me to move the shelf an additional couple of inches into the room which I prefer not to do.

 

I'm going with a high quality power strip and will report back if that results in a drop in sound quality.

Well, all well and good....but since we've a 'live/work' situation, the fire marshal (who visits every 2 yrs.) pointed out that best practice is to have hvydty plug strips with an onboard  breaker that plugs directly to a wall socket....

Therefore:
- Puters & access. on their own,
- Amp direct to wall
- Pre. eq's, switching on the 2nd
- Other audio on the 3rd.

The nice part is the routine has 'neatened' and makes cable distribution exhibit sense v, 'done enough'.

(Nice to have 4x4 boxes on the wall, so I could add a 2nd dbl plug... ;) ..) 

Oh...and only 2 4x4's with 4 plugs each on their own GRCI prior to a 20 amp breaker, 4 & 16 ft. from the 200amp panel with room to grow.

Lucky

If you go with a strip take a look at the Wiremold L10320. It is/was the only power strip recommended by Naim. It has no power filtering, no on/off switch and no breaker. It’s just a well made extension with nothing in the way which is what you want for amplifiers. If you want, you can opt for the fancier SuperWiremold version sold through AV Options. From what I can tell it’s a L10320 that has been cryo treated , a wood base added and what looks like a Wattgate connector. I own 2 of the regular ones, one plugged into a Bryston Bit-20 and the other into a PS Audio HC something or other (can’t remember the name). Anyway, I hear absolutely zero difference with them in or out of the loop

I have a similar issue with a duplex outlet. I recently bought the AE quad with the Mega cable and it has been working really well for me. 

My humble suggestion is the Parts Connexion extension kit.  I like it for two reasons:

  1. You can substitute your own favorite outlets and/or IEC socket
  2. Has voltage meter built in

I would get a power conditioner with up to 12 outlets and plug them all in there.

It doesn't have to be an expensive one.

I ordered the Cullen 6 receptacle unit a few weeks ago. That should do it.  I would not plug an amplifier into any power conditioner. I have Furman and had my amp plug into it. Once I plugged the amp directly into the wall there was a noticeable improvement in SQ. Much quieter and more impact.