Funny, I was thinking the same thing a couple of days ago while resetting the system.
What High End AC Cables should Offer
90 degree plugs.
90 Degree plugs are the answer to many problems with excessively large and heavy cables.
Here's a 90 degree plug from Leviton as an example. I'm not saying that you should hack your $3,000 Furutech cable, but that we should start asking manufacturers to offer 90 degree plug options. Not only do they make it less likely to leverage a plug out of the socket (i.e. sag) but also huge space savers. I can put my bass traps right up against one of these, no problem. Can't do it at all with even a modest straight angle plug.
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Some of us use duplex outlets. And only one of these plugs will work there.
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@audphile1 - Au contraire! The plug can be rotated in 360 degrees so you can pick a convenient exit direction. If you use a 45 degree angle on the exit, so it points neither straight up or straight down, leaving room for 2. Next, I speak from experience when I say I can put the bass trap right up to the wall with this. First, the bass trap side is soft, second there is about a 1/2" thick baseboard along the floor, which is as tight as I can put the bass trap. Lastly, moving an outlet isn’t all that easy, quick or cheap to do. It’s not at all the same. |
I think you’re describing a DIY scenario with ability to change plug orientation to whatever angle you need. Which is fine. But I thought you were referring to the already manufactured cable with the 90 degree plug. In that case it won’t be adjustable. In addition, some bass traps, especially the corner tri traps, have a frame and they’re not soft. It’s a solvable problem and you can solve it whatever way you want. |
@audphile1
I’m saying that manufacturers should offer 90 degree plugs with the cables at 45 degree angles, like many surge protectors have already. I have 2 types of bass traps from GIK and both have soft sides, but you are right, not all will work, but having 1" away from the wall is better than 5". Even if not discussing a bass trap, the 90 degrees gives us back a lot of floor space, such as behind a speaker or rack. The point was not that a 90 degree plug solves a bass trap problem, explicitly, I just used it to illustrate the benefits to floor space. |
This is one of the main reasons I built my own cables. I use 90 degree plugs on most. I have been using those cheap ones for years and always wondered why there wasn’t a better quality 90 degree plug made. Well, I discovered some audiophile grade ones a few months ago on Aliexpress and they are great. Good quality, larger parts and more space inside for the fat cable. Have since replaced most of the cheap one. wish I could post a picture, but Agon doesn’t make it easy. |
I bought one of the Levitons and was a bit disappointed that the clamp isn't big enough to clamp on the insulation of a heavy cable. How did you manage this? I bought a right angle plug on ebay that is indeed big enough but not a name brand, which I would pay more for. they may be the ali express ones mentioned above. wouldn't call them high end but they are well made. Jerry |
The ones I bought from Aliexpress is supposedly a Furutech knock of. At least it says Furutech on it, rhodium plated copper. They will take any size cable. The only issue I had with them, is that the ground blade is about 1/8 inch too long, and that makes it more difficult, if not impossible to fully plug in to a receptacle. My handy moto tool took care of that on all of them. |
@carlsbad2 Sorry to hear it, but I really can see why. I mean, no where but in Audiophile land do we see such outrageous insulation used. The place I use the Leviton however was on the end of a captive cable going to a Furman voltage regulator. Two other conditioners feed off that. |
@allanblissett I try to avoid rhodium. I find it too hard and too low conductivity to offer the best connection. The hardness means it tends to stay slick instead of grip. |
See, that's what I'm talking about! There's a lot less leverage on both ends. If they let you customize the angle, you can plug two of the male ends into a single wall outlet. I like the 45 degrees many power conditioners have settled on. They look pretty thick though, but that's probably why they can accommodate the huge cable thickness. |
@erik_squires or you could buy one of AE’s power strip boxes have them install the 45 plug and move it away. What I really like is AE’s cables are light, flexible and easy to work with. Not stiff huge heavy hoses…works for me! |
Welp, I did find that Furutech makes a 90 degree plug, but oddly Parts Connexion doesn't sell to the US, only to Canada it seems. Other US sources seem to have them. Furutech also makes an IEC version as well for about the same $90. Worth checking if they can be turned in 45 degree increments or only 90. |
@carlsbad2 I finally found the specs on the Leviton, maximum size is 0.7" thick, which is the same as the Furutech model I posted above. |
@allanblissett aliexpress sells Chinese fakes. Enjoy! |
I recorded sounds of 4 hi-end cables today. Hi-end AC cables should offer the better sound than stock cables. The sound difference between cables is clear. Can you hear the difference? In description section, click times (4:46, 9:50, 14:38, 18:53) to hear different cables quickly to compare. 4 Power cords review - JPS, Zentara, Wavetouch V2 power cords listening comparison Alex/WTA |