Rhodium vs Gold AC connectors

10-09-14: Sabai
Czarivey,

You stated "Niether [sic] Rhodium or Gold-plated termination will have substantial differences in performance after all ..."

My experience is that there are substantial differences in my system between gold and rhodium. My system prefers rhodium.

Yes Sabai, your (tube) based system prefers rhodium. I agree with Rja's and Czarivey's opinion, in the case of the new GTX-D wpo's, there is NOT a drastic difference between these, despite the plating difference. The major mojo is in the base metal (pure copper), and the slight lean towards warmth vs resolution in the gold vs rhodium (respectively) is more related to a slight 'shade' vs night/day difference.

10-09-14: Rja
Popular opinion is that rhodium plating is neutral to cool while gold is slightly on the warmer side.

I've installed rhodium and gold plated Furutech outlets as well as Furutech AC power cable terminations with both platings. If the described differences exist at all I find them to be quite subtle. IMO: You could go either way without discerning much difference.

While gold plating is definitely cheaper the durability issue mentioned in the previous post might be a consideration as I have had gold wear off AC plugs. In retrospect I wouldn't lose too much sleep over this issue although others may feel differently.

+ 1. That was a very cogent and well considered post Rja and echoes my own understanding after reading reviews & discussing the new Furutech GTX-D outlets at length with Chris from VH Audio.

That's fair enough Rja. I currently own a tubed cd player, but will be moving to an all-solid state system with my next next cdp. I maintain that with the new Furutech GTX wpo's, the plating doesn't have as much influence on the overall sound as say, the Furutech FPX outlets. The real mojo is in the base metal (pure copper). And although the Vitus gear is on the warm side, on balance I think the GTX gold version is the right way to go, and Chris and I are on the same page there.

Raf, fyi i'm my system i'm using Jorma Prime pc's which use the Oyaide P-004/C-004 connectors (one model down from the F1) are sound natural and well balanced top to bottom. My Gigawatt power conditioner uses wpo's designed in-house using brass connectors plated with a thick layer of pure silver, whilst i've gone for the Furutech GTX-D (G) wpo as i'm moving toward an all-ss system. The Gold GTX should better preserve the tonal balance of my system compared to rhodium. Btw, there is no difference in resolution between the GTX-D gold & rhodium versions.

Jeb, just as an academic question i'm interested to know if you've compared the Furutech FI09 (R) to the GTX-D (G)? Are you aware of the drastic difference the pure copper base metal makes in the GTX?

Tbg, have you tested a GTX-D (G) wpo? Yes, it is gold plated, but there is NOT a drastic difference between the rhodium and gold versions despite the plating difference. The major mojo is in the base metal (pure copper), and the slight lean towards warmth vs resolution in the gold vs rhodium (respectively) is more related to a slight 'shade' vs night/day difference. But as always, ymmv.

Rsf, how can you recommend the GTX-D rhodium version over the gold when you've never heard either? Also I think you're over-generalizing. As I said earlier, with the GTX-D, the major mojo is the base metal (pure copper) which has a greater influence in the sound than the plating material which is a minor player. We're talking about a slide shade as opposed to a night/day difference. Both versions are outstanding. Chris from VH Audio recommended rhodium for tube-based systems or very warm SS systems where you don't want to risk going any warmer, and gold for neutral to slightly warm SS systems.

Ok, fair enough Rsf. Was you friend's system tube-based or perhaps using warm ss gear with an analogue front end? As if so, that would explain your preference. I haven't tested both outlets in different setups, however according to Chris V, the gold is better suited to neutral to slightly warm ss systems with digital front ends. But that is a generalization only as this is a subjective science and ymmv.

The Gold did not have the magical sound stage presatation or the Resolution that the Rodium brought out of my cables, you seem to be the first audiophile that knows what he is talking about, has nothing to do with tube or solid state equipment, like you said, rather it has everything to do with cables synergy!

..and nothing to do with $3300 speaker cables and $100 entry level connectors? It's like Audiolabyrinth said -

you seem to be the first audiophile that knows what he is talking about, has nothing to do with tube or solid state equipment, like you said, rather it has everything to do with cables synergy!

It's lucky we have forums like Audiogon to get to the bottom of which connectors and wpo's work best.

I've never read such a load of claptrap in my life. The Oxford dictionary must have a linko this thread next to the word "misinformed", lol!

There is a reason why Boulder, Gryphon, Vitus, Vac & Kondo don't hard-wire their flagship amps, but shhhh, don't tell Audiolabyrinth ;)

01-11-15: Tbg
I think that there is little question that copper is the best cabinet as well as the best material for ac transfer. But it is just too soft. I talked with Furutech at the CES, and was told that Beryllium copper is just insufficiently conductive. I have tried the Oyaides R1 and R0 outlets and prefer the R0s. I do hate gold plated contacts, preferring the rhodium plating. So right now I will live with the rhodium plating.

Have you tried the Furutech GTX-D (G) Tbg? That is a different animal to normal gold plated wpo's, as the plating is minimal & the major mojo in terms of the sound is the base metal (copper). Which works best depends on your system. I have a solid state, all digital system & my pc's use Oyaide P-004/C-004 connectors. If I were using gold-plated connectors, or had a tubed system the GTX-D (R) would have been the better choice...it's all a balancing act.

Tbg, your System thread links into a thread about Spot welding, so I'm not sure about what kind of gear you own. If you have a tube-based system, have an analogue front end or use gold-plated plugs on your pc's then yes, the GTX-D(R) would likely have better synergy. It's all system dependent. Both versions are convincingly better than a cyro'd Oyaide R1.

01-19-15: Bo1972
100% identical, even the length is the same.

Yeah I plan on upgrading all my Jorma Prime pc's at some stage with Oyaide F1/M1 connectors. The Prime pc's are factory terminated with Oyaide P-004/C-004 connectors which are very good. The combination of platinum and palladium-plated beryllium copper with the Furutech GTX-D(G) should be a great combo in my ss system.

Thanks for your feedback Bol on the Oyaide P-004 vs M1 connectors. I plan on getting 3 of my Jorma pc's re-terminated initially, and a 4th pc upgraded later in the year. But not cheap, VH Audio are asking $345 for a single cryo'd M1!

Bol, you have a long equipment list with some expensive gear in their. The BMC Arcadia's are a good example & look impressive. Why such a myriad list of gear? I'm kind of going in the opposite direction & trying to reduce my box count,

@Bol, first of all just to correct you, I used the word "myriad" in the literal sense. I wasn't referring to the UK brand Myryad fyi.

01-22-15: Bo1972
gold is for dummies!!

Really? Since Audiolabyrinth cited Chris from VH Audio, here are comments from Chris regarding Furutech Copper/Gold vs Copper/Rhodium -

Rhodium tends to do better with tubed gear
than SS or digital. I use Rhodium on my tubed gear, and Gold on my SS and digital.

I'd still recommend the Gold, unless you feel your system is leaning towards too much warmth right now.

There is NOT a drastic difference between these,
despite the plating difference. The major mojo is in the base metal (pure copper), and the slight lean towards warmth vs resolution in the gold vs rhodium (respectively) is more related to a slight 'shade' vs night/day difference. Don't think you can go wrong with either. I use both in my own system

I think either will be an improvement, but believe if you are currently a bit too 'warm', or don't want to 'risk' going any warmer, then Rhodium would be the way to go. If, however, you are happy with where things are at (tonally), and you are looking to step up in resolution, dynamics, and better imaging, then the Gold will be terrific. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

If you want to maintain the tonal balance of your system, I'd still recommend the Gold. You're already using a decent receptacle in the R1, so you don't already have 'bright' receptacles to correct. I maintain that either the Gold or Rhodium will provide a significant improvement over what you have, though, and that you really can't go wrong with either. Gold = ever so slightly towards warmer side of dead-neutral, and rhodium is ever-so-slightly on transparency side.

I could probably find just as many reviews in my e-mail inbox that rave about the gold version, as well. My strong preference is for gold in SS and digital sources.

The difference between the gold and rhodium are far less in magnitude than say the difference between gold/rhodium in brass/bronze connectors. I suspect this is because the base metal (copper) dominates the sound in the GTX, whereas the plating has more influence when on brass/bronze. This is why I mentioned that no matter which version you chose, you’ll likely be extremely happy with the improvement.

And this response from a customer of Chris after he mentioned I was having trouble deciding between Rhodium and Gold -

In my opinion your customer would hear the differences between the two with any of the Magico speakers. I believe that he might mirror my own experiences using his speakers. The Gold hands down, was the more natural of the two in my system. The tone and timbre were perfect and could not be any better. It is perfect. The Rhodium seemed to me to affect the naturalness of the tone and timbre slightly and seemed to always call my attention to it.

Both outlets were the same in other regards. There was no more detail with the Rhodium than with the Gold. The improved solidity of musical images was the same with both. Lowered noise floor was the same with both compared to my previous outlet the Oyaide R-1.

01-23-15: Bo1972
When you compare the Oyaide with gold against the 004/M1 the difference is quite clear!!

Bo1, I think you completely missed my point. I provided a detailed commentary supporting the view there is in fact a small, not night/day difference between the FURUTECH copper/rhodium and copper/gold products given a tonally neutral system. I don't doubt there is a clear difference between the Oyaide P-004/M1, but you are talking about apples vs oranges. Firstly the Oyaide P-004 is a lower range connector compared to the M1. And secondly, Furutech's FI-50M(G) is much superior imho to any Oyaide gold connector due to their superior materials, design and metallurgy. As far as the FI-50 and M1 goes, Chris expressed a personal view that he prefers the FI-50, but noted the M1 is a very good connector. He also qualified that in some systems, the M1 may have better synergy (eg: if you're running R1's). In my ss/digital system, I would likely obtain better synergy using FI-50M(G)'s as i'm already running a GTX-D(G) wpo. I'll have to have a think about that one as both are excellent connectors.

Tbg, I did not mean to imply you are a commercial member, only that you have some association to HFC by way of your position as a professional reviewer and owner of their cables. It is disappointing you felt the need to descend into this response -

But it suggests your desperation to denigrate the High Fidelity cables that you would dig it up

I in fact stumbled across your review by chance. I did not as you wildly assumed troll the internet to "dig up" dirt on you. And no, I have no association to disclose of any nature.

01-23-15: Audiolabyrinth
Hi Melbguy1, I do not understand why Chris said he uses both the gold and Rhodium in his system, I tried that, it was horrible!, they worked against each other, a real train wreck, weeks of testing revealed someone can only use one version or the other through out a system, atleast that is what happened to my system any way..I do not believe at this point untill I do more auditioning that one would have to use the same wall plug's through out, just the wpo's.

Audiolabyrinth, you're comparing apples and oranges. Chris correctly recommended the Furutech GTX-D(G) for solid state systems which are not overly warm. You are using a tube cd player as your source/pre and warmer, gold plated connectors (079’s), so I am not surprised you prefered the GTX-D(R) in your system. If you ran a ss cd player & Oyaide P-004 connectors, it could well have been a different story. As for mixing Gold and Rhodium wpo's, obviously that works in Chris V's system, but I would personally not advocate mixing gold and rhodium hardware.

01-23-15: Audiolabyrinth
Chris was dead wrong about what his recommendation's were for my system, The Rhodium over and over again was the clear winner on my solid state amp and tube/solid state Hybred digital cd-player that run's direct to amplification, extrodinary transparent hugely

I thought Chris V's advice was to go for Rhodium "on tubey sounding equipment, or tube amps or pre-amps, and gold on tube cd-players"? You're running tube preamp & warm sounding gold connectors, so his advice that Rhodium best suits that mix is correct.

Jeb, i'm confused. Your friend did "the Furutech GTX duplex outlet taste test", but "The clear winner was the Rhodium plugs"? That just tells me your friend preferred FI-50M(R) connectors with a GTX-D wpo. That said, it's not surprising he preferred Rhodium to Gold given he has a mostly tube-based system.

In your system, i'm not surprised you prefer the GTD-D(R) given you have a vinyl front end & are already using Furutech Rhodium connectors. It's all a question of synergy. In general, the commentary on this forum about Furutech GTX-D and FI-50M hardware is heavily biased toward rhodium. If I were a lay person reading most of the commentary, I would assume the Rhodium version of the GTX-D and FI-50m sounds better in most cases than the gold version without stopping to ask how their amps, front end, cables, pc connectors & wpo influence the sound, and thus their preference.

Audiolabyrinth, in your long discussions with Chris, did you mention you were using your tube cd player as linestage? That effectively means you're running a tube preamp and changes the equation. Btw, Chris's advice that the gold version is recommended for ss and tube cd players is echoe'd by other sellers such as The Tweek Geek. I'm having a hard time believing the Furutech GTX-D(R)removes "litterally veils up-on veils were taken out of the sound" compared to the GTX-D(G). Something else must be going on there since the base metal (pure copper) dominates the sound of the GTX-D. As Chris remarked, the slight lean towards warmth vs resolution in the gold vs rhodium (respectively) is more related to a slight 'shade' vs night/day difference. In the end, you're running a valve preamp so I am not surprised you preferred the rhodium version.

I have to wait until my Vitus SCD-025 arrives in a couple of months before I can see how the GTX-D(G) sounds in my system, then I will have to wait for atleast 250hrs for my new player and Jorma Statement cables to play in. But I suspect the combination of the Oyaide platinum & palladium-plated P-004 connectors, Jorma (copper) cables and Vitus amp and front end will have good synergy. (And I have to remember that only one pc will be connected to the GTX-D. All my other pc's will be plugged into my Gigawatt PC-3 SE Evo conditioner which uses in-house designed cryo'd and demaged silver-plated brass wpo's). If I feel i've got a good balance between neutrality, transparency, speed, warmth, naturalness & harmonic richness with the P-0004/GTX-D(G) combo, I will likely re-terminate all my Prime pc's with Oyaide M1/F1 hardware later in the year.

@Tbg, is your name Norm Luttbeg and did you write this article? http://www.stereotimes.com/post/high-fidelity-cables-ct1-ultimate-series/ If so, you should disclose your commercial association when commenting on HFC cables.

Audiolab, I think what you were hearing in your system is the result of natural synergy between the GTX-D(R) and your tubed Vincent cdp/linestage, warm sounding connectors (079's) and vintage JBL L7 speakers. Chris told me he has as many positive reviews about the GTX-D(G)in his email box as the GTX-D(R). If the gold version were so dreadfully veiled as you described, then the outlet would be panned in favour of the rhodium, which it is not. It's just synergy man.

Again AL, in the case of the GTX-D it would be wrong to assume the more precious?/expensive plating material is better as the base material (pure copper) dominates the sound of the wpo, and Furutech are only using a thin plating on top. It is more of a slight shade/lean toward transparency resolution (Rhodium) vs warmth/harmonic richness (Gold). It depends how you use it and what the rest of your system is like. That's why Furutech make two versions of their flagship.

The misinformation in this thread is amazing, God help any newbie turning to some of the above posts for advice...

01-28-15: Audiolabyrinth
my post was an extensive hard ache testing that was crazy to have to go though to the begin with, it's an absolute to everyone, this kind of difference was substantial!

Audiolabyrinth, buy some real high end speakers then come back to us with a serious evaluation. Listening through your $695 JBL L7's does not cut it..

01-28-15: Audiolabyrinth
This is in agreement to my finding's!, January 2014

Audiophile AC Power Outlet Comparisons
Oyaide, Synergistic Teslaplex, ACME, Hubbell IG 5362, cruzeFIRST Audio Maestro, and Furutech GTX.
Review By Jonathan Lo

How could this review be in agreement with your findings if they did not compare the GTX-D(G) in the same system?? I must be missing something.

01-28-15: Audiolabyrinth
I am going to say this once, my speaker's are NOT some $695.00 speaker's!, They are a highly modded pair of $2,000.00 JBL L-7 speaker's, I have way more money than this retail of $2,000.00 in these speaker's, I have said this to you many time's before,stop

Yes, those speakers were $1950 in 1992. By "highly modded", I assume you're talking about your Tara Labs jumpers? High end jumpers certainly improve the sound, but that is not a mod. To clear the air, perhaps you can fill us in on what mods you're speakers have had?

Michelzay, I agree that was a well authored review, but is completely irrelevant to anyone seeking reliable feedback about the differences between the Furutech GTX-D(R) and GTX-D(G) wpo's. Perhaps you can link into the "gross and non-sense comments" you referred to as I must have missed them.

Audiolabyrinth, thanks for the clarification on your speakers. Yes I agree it takes time to achieve your audio goals. My current system has been an almost 7 year labour of love. But I also think you need to be realistic about where your system is at. I've owned a pair of $2k speakers of similar vintage (Infinity Renaissance 90's). The Rens simply had superior drivers and cabinet design compared to your JBL's including High Energy Emit & Emim drivers, a Watkins dual voice coil bass driver & excellent sound staging and off-axis performance. They were good reference tools, but my current S5's kill the Rens and have much better resolution, linearity, layering, timbre, dynamics, balance and slam. Really my current system has been a revelation. Now with the benefit of hindsight I can see how even my classic Rens were not up to the task of objectively evaluating the differences between the GTX-D(G) and GTX-D(R). That requires a well balanced high end system with excellent resolution, overall neutrality and no weak links. I don't doubt you've formed an honest view from your listening tests based on your equipment. I put it to you however that given a reference level system with which to evaluate the two outlets, your view would likely be very different.

02-02-15: Swampwalker

No one trusts anyone else's opinions here and should not.

Anyone else find that a very odd comment coming from a reviewer? Or do I have Tbg confused w someone else?

Tbg has observed in this and other threads many examples of members like Audiolabyrinth lavishing endless praise on those who express views which accord with his own opinion, whilst correspondingly critizing and talking down those who express a contrary view until they're snuffed out and the member walks away. Tbg's comment might have been a bit overarching, but i'm picking up his frustration at the kind of commentary he has obseverved. The fact is, Audiolabyrinth shouts from the rooftops how great his gear is and invests a vast amount of energy trying to convince everyone on this forum of that. Try posting a contrary view and sticking to your guns. You can actually see how his comments become more and more crtical to the point of fanaticism. And there are a sizeable number of groupies who jump into blindly defend him. Members like Audiolabyrinth polarize views on this forum, therefore Tbg's comment is completely understandable.

Michaelmas, firstly you should think before you falsely accuse other members of using profanity. Secondly, you are very attached to the phrase "so be it". Perhaps you are a fan of the film 'Pump up the volume'? Thirdly, are you a frustrated academic or something? Your lengthy, but flawed essay was little more than sermon in mediocrity. It seems like too arcane a concept for you to grasp that Audiolabyrinths's findings could be correct in the context of his system, yet potentially misleading for other members relying on his commentary before waiving their credit card. Yawn, onto another thread...

And i'm not? (a well seasoned audiophile). I've been in this game for almost 20 years & have an almost $200k system. Audiolabyrinth, the only people who help you on this forum are those whose views accord with yours. Then they're all-wise and knowing. So yeah, what would I know...

Cheers Tbg, I know the real reason I talk to myself on this forum, and it's nothing to do with the folks on here..

@Audiolabyrinth, if you were running some reference speakers and a good source, I would take more notice if your findings. But anyone who pairs $45k worth of wire with a pair of speakers worth $695 today and a budget Chinese cd player has rocks in their head and I won't respect their view. So write as many essays about the GTX-D(R)as you like...I am sure you'll have a captive audience. I will wait until i've got my new Vitus SCD-025 player and Jorma Statement sc's are run in before evaluating the GTX-D(G) and posting a review. Obviously my Vitus/Magico/Jorma system and extensive Stillpoints isolation will enable me to write a more accurate review of how this wpo performs.

@Michaelzay, I was wondering when you were going to chime in. Yes, you can achieve good system synergy at any budget level. Your main system is a good, well balanced system and would enable you to properly evaluate any changes such as a change in wpo. It's not a matter of having the most expensive system. This is not a pissing match about whose system is best! But I put it to Audiolabyrinth that plugging $45k retail worth of cables into a pair of vintage JBL's worth $695 today & a budget Chinese cd player is a/ lunacy and b/ would not allow him to accurately evaluate the differences between the Furutech GTX-D(R) and GTX-D(G).

I am not contesting the differences he claims he heard in his system (although Keith has solid form wildly exaggerating the facts, and in fact has been caught out posting disparaging remarks about the US Ayon Distributor and his Ayon CD-2s after he blew up his player by leaving it on during an electrical storm). I am simply suggesting he should not make generalisations about the difference between the GTX-D(R) and GTX-D(G) as his system is not capable of accurately conveying how close in performance these outlets are. It is not resolving enough nor neutral enough to do that. And if Keith thinks otherwise, so be it as you like to say.

As to your comment your modest second system beats out $80k+ systems at audio shows. So? Audio shows are notoriously problematic and tricky to achieve good sound for various reasons which should be obvious to anyone who regularly visits shows.

I don't understand your peculiar comment regarding unscrupulous manufacturers. Are you trying to suggest the majority of high end manufacturers struggle to make ends meet, shut down then re-open under new names, then pay off low level reviewers to write dishonest reviews?

Ooops Audiolab, I forgot those speaker binding posts and replacement caps you bought, ok i'll be generous and say $1500 used then. Well that's an interesting story about your Ayon player. My comments were based on a first hand account of you telling another member your player blew up in an electrical storm after you left it on. Kind of embarassing. I think I would change my story as well if that happened to me. But to stick the US Distributor with the tab for your own carelessness was not cool.

Re your comment "I do not desire to be the topic", lol! You are a walking self-promoting topic!

As for your comments accusing me of being a hypocrit for having not a-b compared the GTX-D(R) and GTX-D(G) in my system, you have completely missed my point. You should not be making broud generalizations about the differences between the GTX-D (G) & (R) outlets when your system is not capable of acccurately assessing those differences. I don't care how much you talk up your JBL's and Vincent cd player/preamp. And, I might add, you are not capable of objectively and rationally conveying any differences you hear. You proclaim what your latest flavour of the month as "the best there is", and talk down the 'loser' like it is a model down. I mean your commentary defies physics, but nothing changes there.

As for my system. I have a much higher fidelity system than yours and you know that. It is also more neutral and able to accurately convey the difference between cables and wpo's. It's not about whether or not I have a-b compared the outlets in my system. But if I did, I could accurately describe the differences between the outlets which I would venture to suggest would be a much greater value than your misleading comments.

02-09-15: Rja
Why is everybody fighting? Can't we just get along? 8^)

All they need to do is get rid of two commercial shills who are polarizing opinion and dumbing down the forum to restore harmony.

02-07-15: Audiolabyrinth
remember what I said here, one more time, and see what happens!, go about your bussiness and I will do the same, see ya!

Audiolatrine, stick your warnings where the sun doesn't shine. I've saved you the trouble and reported my own post. You see, that's what you do when you've told the truth and have absolutely no regrets whatsoever about what you've said. You richly deserve it!