Upgraded wall sockets

[realysm42]

Has anyone done this, gone from a generic wall socket with power switches to an upgraded switchless Furutech one (for example). I know the best thing to do is upgrade all of your mains supply (like Marco and John) but thats out of the question for me right now.

If yes, what benefits (if any) have you derived from the change?

Are they subtle or significant?

What models did you use and why?

Cheers gang.

[Marco]

Hi Martin,

Yes, the Furutech sockets work and provide a notable sonic improvement, but they're really just for adding the 'icing to the cake', as it were, once every other aspect of your mains set-up has been sorted, therefore to be honest, your money would be much better spent on something else, like this if it's still available for sale:

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showt...797#post341797

Later, you could then upgrade the sockets for Furutech ones, as I have on my Mark Grant mains block. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the sockets on your current block are fixed?

If you really want to fiddle with wall sockets, then in my experience, the best sound-per-pound option is The Missing Link EPS-100 Ultrapure Silver plated (un-switched) wall sockets, shown here:

http://www.the-missing-link.net/new_page_1.htm

If you scroll down, you'll see some measurable proof of their sockets having considerably lower resistance than bog standard generic sockets from B&Q, or whatever, and even supposedly high-quality ones from MK! On the left is the measurement from the Missing Link socket, and on the right, one from from MK:





I've carried out those sorts of measurements before, with my friendly electrician, when we were optimising my mains set-up, and trust me you can hear the sonic improvements of lowered resistance!

Right down at the bottom of the page are prices, which I consider are very reasonable (considerably less than the Furutech stuff). I would also go for the matching 13A plugs, which are likely to be a good physical fit with the partnering wall sockets.

Try that, and you'll be a happy bunny!

Marco.

[Tarzan]

[Marco]

Lol, why the popcorn, Andy?

Marco.

[Beobloke]

Well, I can't speak for Andy, but possibly because he has the same thoughts as me, namely that the resistance of the length of mains cable itself is likely to be greater than 5.1mOhm - it certainly will be once you take into consideration fuse contacts and the equipment connector pins at the other end of the cable. Therefore the measurements they show are pretty, but meaningless.

Also, their measurement is on the earth pin - no current flows through this and if the equipment is double insulated, it's not even connected!

To Martin, if you're worried about your mains then invest in a decent mains regenerator unit (NOT filter) to plug your amplifier into. This will make a far bigger difference than faffing around with your wall sockets!

[Marco]

...yes, but it'll also be a damned sight more expensive!

Regarding your point about the measurements, sure, however, I've heard the difference that lowering resistance makes anywhere in the mains supply chain, including the removal and/or upgrading of plugs and sockets, and while the sonic improvement is undoubtedly subtle, in comparison with that obtained by employing the use of a mains regenerator, IMO, it's worthwhile. All these little improvements add up, and so the benefits are cumulative!

Martin, after all, will only have to do this once, and he'll then have the base he needs (decent sockets) from which to embark on a major upgrade of his mains set-up, and in the meantime obtain a nice sonic improvement from a relatively inexpensive little tweak, which I suspect was the whole purpose of him posting this thread

Marco.

[realysm42]

Cheers Marco, some interesting food for thought; I'll report back when I've made some changes.

Ps. Thanks for advising I take my PC and monitor out of the power loop of my stereo; the detail it resolves is impressive having gone back through some tunes I've not listened to for a long time, lots more from nowhere!

[Marco]

No worries, dude - glad it worked!

Marco.

[DaveK]

FWIW I suspect that any benefit you might gain from changing the wall socket for a silver plated upgrade one might not be audible if the rest of your kit isn't up to taking advantage of it. I have replaced a normal MK wall socket for a silver plated (unswitched) one and could not hear any benefits.
In mitigation I would say that my ears are not in 'as new' condition, my kit is not top of any range and a Belkin PF40 is plugged into the wall socket and everything is fed from that.
On the other hand this has not stopped me from hearing changes brought about by changing i/cs or valves or op-amps - you pays your money and .... .
Dave.

[Marco]

Indeed, Dave. As they say: 'suck it and see'!

I've always been one for assessing anything in audio from a position of practical experience, rather than cynically dismissing the efficacy of something, based on mere technical theory

Marco.