installing 7 Furutech GTX-D NFC (R) outlets this morning

[Joe Pittman]

my dealer Joe just left. the NCF duplex outlets are on back order (likely somewhat my own damn fault) for a few more weeks......but he did receive the 6 NFC plugs for my 3 power cords for the -2- A-820's and the King Cello tape repro. and he installed them earlier this afternoon on the 3 Absolute Power PC's.

then we listened to tape.......on both the 1/2" and 1/4" machines. completely raw and not broken in they were a very nice upgrade in performance. more extended, finer detail, and more lively and vivid.....a greater degree of "suspension of dis-belief".......... high level tape has such a high ceiling of performance that when you improve something like power delivery or lower noise the payoff is easy to hear.

as the tapes we played are a bit 'underground' I cannot really describe them other than the 1/2" Tape Project 'Kurt Elling' "Flirting With Twilight". Kurt's vocals were simply real, the gestalt of the recording overwhelming.

maybe the best recorded music playback I've yet heard. and once I get these power cords on the cable cooker they will be a little better based on my previous experience, as well as once the NCF duplex outlets get installed it will get a little better yet.

maybe Joe will chime in.

your RTR tape front end needs this upgrade. you won't regret it and it will be the most cost effective way to go further.

I didn't listen to the tape machines prior to installing the FI-50 NCF connectors, but there is usually an improvement. Two of the three PC's had the older gold plated connectors, so the latest NCF connector with the Rhodium plating was like two steps forward in performance.

In any event, the sound I heard was the best ever. I was more than amazed. I had tears in my eyes. Words cannot describe how great tape is. You have to hear it to appreciate it.

 

[Mcbrion]

With a sense of curiosity, I ordered the GTX NCF, 3 years after having lived with the GTX rhodium version.
What stuck me immediately is how similar it was to the first version of the Nordost generation with the Frey, Tyr and Valhalla: the upper bass/lower midrange suckout demonstrated before Nordost introduced their V2 versions. I'd heard the "silvery" sound, which is exciting, but drains the color out of the music.

The NCF version - after 12 hours of burn-in time - shows a removal of a sense of "pastels" in the music, and a move towards primary colors. It is this, I observe, that makes voices more distinct, one from the other. Playing the Atco release of "Gimme Shelter," Jagger and Merry Clayton's voices were much more as they sound on vinyl, with the words in particular being easier to hear - and at lower volumes. At one point, during Clayton's solo, she sings "rape, murder/they're just a shot away/they're just a shot away" and with the NCF, I could read a magazine and still hear her words clearly. Before, with the GTX, it sounded like "raaaay, mur_urr/they're just a shot away/they're just a shot away." The letters "P", "D", "S", and "T" in particular, are more noticeable. Should be fun at 24 hours and then the rest of the time. I didn't want mine cooked: I like the process of hearing the changes. Music will move me coming over a car radio: high end audio brings it to a more lifelike level and engages me more, but I could - and do - live without the "best" components to listen through to the music.
The original GTX now reveals itself as a bit sterile, and explains why I did not like the Furutech fuses or the IECs I placed in my amps years ago (the IECs will be leaving soon, now that I know why the Hurricanes, a model of midbass magnificence, sounded so wimpy for the past few years). Am I distressed by having heard more resolution, but less soulfulness? Not at all, because I knew something was not right with the music.
For those who are worried about their systems sounding worse, that's a waste of worrying. The NCFs provide more of the soul of music, not more of the gearhead attributes. I reject completely the idea that it will make anyone's system worse. As someone else said, there was not a tonal shift, as much as there was simply more saturation, so piccolos and flutes sound different (they, all too often, blur together) and with more vivacity. The Mercury Box set CDs sound fresh. And, yes, the subtle noise (or grain) in the highs has all but vanished. And the cymbal crash - even this early - has the midbass components in correct proportion to the higher frequencies, so it sounds not like White noise when they crash the cymbals together, but a purer, sweeter version of the cymbal.
I will likely get one for my amps and move away from a solid state integrated and back towards a good tube preamp (and to think I got rid of the CJ Classic and the ET3 because they sounded so washed out (CJ must have thought I was quite the ignorant one), but it is clear that, as good as the GTX was, it had a distinct "whitish" character, which has been banished without losing any resolution. This also affected my perception of my ZiTron Shunyata cords, since everything was filtered through that Furutech outlet. Now, THAT, I could have lived without. But, heck, a little mystery can be fun, especially if one is a detective type. Mystery solved! And just in time for the Sigma power cord, which will arrive in two days. I'll just have to leave it out of the system for 2 weeks, to give the Furutech time to make an impression, even though it'll require another additional week to break in. At that point, it will be 500 hours, the majority of the break in. And in the meantime, I'll just put the Sigma on a PS Audio Humbuster and tie it to the kitchen refrigerator (I wonder if the food will taste better). I'll listen to it brand new, and then after 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400 and then 500 hours to hear the blossoming of the music and how much more emotional a sad song can make me.

Just more to look forward to!!! And it's great when the benefit outweighs the cost: $272.00 to hear Merry Clayton wailing away in "Gimme Shelter"? Waaaay worth it!

 

[alfa100]

Excellent description. I have replacrd all my Oyaide R01 with the same

 

[Mcbrion]

Excellent description. I have replacrd all my Oyaide R01 with the same

And I need to clarify that, when I said "What stuck me immediately is how similar it was to the first version of the Nordost generation with the Frey, Tyr and Valhalla: the upper bass/lower midrange suckout demonstrated before Nordost introduced their V2 versions. I'd heard the "silvery" sound, which is exciting, but drains the color out of the music," I meant that when I heard the NCF generation of the Furutech, I realized that the GTX-D (R) version was the one that sounded like the generation of Nordost that had the Valhalla in it, not the current Furutech, which sounds anything BUT bleached out. As I stated, I had noticed that the sound had changed, but I went through several upgrades very quickly (not a good idea for critical evaluation), getting Nordost Frey shortly afterwards as well as a new speaker system. I thought the "silveriness" was simply more transparency, not realizing at the time that it bleached the sound out a bit, which I would have normally noticed. I'm not a fan of "lean" sound, as it imparts a loss of the natural beauty of the music. And somehow, it also seems to lose out on the "toe-tapping" rhythms of music, although that's more subtle. I'd pick it up because I did African-Jazz dance for a long time and rhythm is everything in that style of dance. The newer NCF version restores that rhythmic quality. And to buttress that observation, a friend of mine happened over last night and the only thing he EVER wants to hear is Scheherazade by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Normally, he just listens to the 4th movement, which is all strum und drang, but last night he was bouncing around on the love seat - which he never does. I asked him how it seemed, and he said he had noticed the way the brass was going at top speed (he meant the triple-tonguing of the brass), which he hadn't really noticed before the NCF came into the system (not that he said that part: he just noticed it last night, but I had played it for myself just before he came over and noticed it (the triple-tonguing brass) instantly and thought, "hmmm, that wasn't anywhere near that distinct before.") And then, he heard it. Now, he doesn't listen with intent: he just listens to music, but he loves Scheherazade so much that somewhere in his memory, he notices when the system sounds better or worse without ANY prompting from me (ONLY for Scheherazade. No other piece I ever play gets much reaction from him). I knew it was the NCF, but I didn't even tell him about the outlet change. He heard it all by himself. And now, listening to the JVC version of Holst's Planets, I can hear all the brass instruments are considerably more distinct, one from the other.
A really, really, good investment, and since it comes from the wall, one that will expose what your other components are doing (or not doing) down the line without disguising the problems that the GTX-D Rhodium version disguised. If you haven't heard the NCF, you might like the rhodium, but some others on here picked up on the 'analytical' quality of it much sooner than I did. So, buy it. And weep. For joy, though, just for joy.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Just out of curiosity, Mcbrion, if you have ever evaluated the Furtuech GTX-G gold outlets?

If so, how does the gold compare to the rhodium and to the NCF?

 

[Mcbrion]

I'm afraid I had the gold for only a short time, and found it warmer (and "softer-sounding") but did not keep it. At the time, I was wanting more resolution, and a more forward sound (meaning, bringing the soundstage closer to me, which frequently goes along with "excitement", but sometimes at the expense of ambience, just as sitting closer to the stage in a concert hall delivers a more 'direct' sound, but less overtone structure). Having listened to the NCF for all of 30 hours, I can see that I sacrificed some of the 'completeness' of an instrument's full tonal quality. I can now hear more of the "tuba-ness" of a tuba with the NCF. But I can't honestly speak to the Gold outlets' final quality. I do have quite a number of outlets, though, from Furutech's next in line outlet (can't remember its designation), the Synergistic Research (both the earlier one and their current one (at least I think it's current, unless they introduced a new one in the last 8 months)), PS Audio's Power Port and PPP outlets, FIM outlets, and the Maestro. Had an Oyaide R-1, but eventually realized it made EVERYthing sound like 5th row center, even RCA recordings, which should sound more like Row 16 (or Row P) than Row 5.

I do recall HP having had his Silver Circle updated and that Silver Circle was using the GTX-D Gold outlets, which HP touted as improving the sound considerably. I can only go by my own (imperfect) memory of the Gold, having had it such a short time. Given your superior system, I think you'd hear the difference quicker than I would. Have YOU heard the Furutech Golds??? And have you heard the Rhodium or NCFs? I see your system says Furutech outlets, but not which ones, and I haven't looked over all 27 pages to see what you have. What are your experiences with the Furutechs?

 

[es347]

my dealer should arrive shortly. I've just spent the last hour disassembling my gear so he can get to the outlets unobstructed.

http://www.furutech.com/2015/11/18/12066/

I have 10 of the previous model GTX-D (R) with Oyaide WPC-Z outlet covers. since I'm doing this upgrade I'm also upgrading the outlet covers to the Furutech GTX outlet frames and 104 carbon fibre covers.

I wonder how much tearing everything apart will impact the settling of the Tripoint Troy Signature and Entreq Silver Tellus and Poseidon?

if I like these i'll do my 3 other outlets (one is a 4 gang set-up for my tape decks).

..Mike, you need to clear out your inbox

 

[Ron Resnick]

I'm afraid I had the gold for only a short time, and found it warmer (and "softer-sounding") but did not keep it. At the time, I was wanting more resolution, and a more forward sound (meaning, bringing the soundstage closer to me, which frequently goes along with "excitement", but sometimes at the expense of ambience, just as sitting closer to the stage in a concert hall delivers a more 'direct' sound, but less overtone structure). Having listened to the NCF for all of 30 hours, I can see that I sacrificed some of the 'completeness' of an instrument's full tonal quality. I can now hear more of the "tuba-ness" of a tuba with the NCF. But I can't honestly speak to the Gold outlets' final quality. I do have quite a number of outlets, though, from Furutech's next in line outlet (can't remember its designation), the Synergistic Research (both the earlier one and their current one (at least I think it's current, unless they introduced a new one in the last 8 months)), PS Audio's Power Port and PPP outlets, FIM outlets, and the Maestro. Had an Oyaide R-1, but eventually realized it made EVERYthing sound like 5th row center, even RCA recordings, which should sound more like Row 16 (or Row P) than Row 5.

I do recall HP having had his Silver Circle updated and that Silver Circle was using the GTX-D Gold outlets, which HP touted as improving the sound considerably. I can only go by my own (imperfect) memory of the Gold, having had it such a short time. Given your superior system, I think you'd hear the difference quicker than I would. Have YOU heard the Furutech Golds??? And have you heard the Rhodium or NCFs? I see your system says Furutech outlets, but not which ones, and I haven't looked over all 27 pages to see what you have. What are your experiences with the Furutechs?

Thank you, Mcbrion, for your recollections!

Your system is far superior to mine because, at this moment and for the next year at least, I have no system in operation. Each of the items on my components list is either owned and in storage, ordered but not received or aspirational. I still have to select a loudspeaker and a phono cartridge.

My future electrical system will use gold or NCF Furutech outlets. However, outlets just don't turn me on. I do not have the interest, inclination or patience to A/B electrical receptacles.

Based on the reports of trusted WBF members who, knowing my sonic preferences, believe I would prefer the gold over the rhodium, and on your report of the rhodium being "lean" and "sterile" (definitely not my sonic cup of tea), currently I favor the gold. But the reports on the NCF have been, I think, unanimously favorable. And my friends who recommended the gold have not compared the gold to the NCF.

 

[Gene 15352]

Hello everyone. Keeping the theme around the NCF products from Furutech, I was curious if anyone had any comments on Fururech's new Powerflux 50-NCF. http://www.furutech.com/2016/08/23/13623/
Looking at the specs they claim The Flux-50 NCF Filter "reduces noise, oscillation and resonance in the cable by a factor of 10." I'm not a techy person, is this significant? I currently use NCF connectors on my power cables, wall outlets and carbon cover plates. Would I be reaching a level of diminishing returns? Sometimes it may prove difficult to try to auction "silence" in your system. Thanks.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Hello everyone. Keeping the theme around the NCF products from Furutech, I was curious if anyone had any comments on Fururech's new Powerflux 50-NCF. http://www.furutech.com/2016/08/23/13623/
Looking at the specs they claim The Flux-50 NCF Filter "reduces noise, oscillation and resonance in the cable by a factor of 10." I'm not a techy person, is this significant? I currently use NCF connectors on my power cables, wall outlets and carbon cover plates. Would I be reaching a level of diminishing returns? Sometimes it may prove difficult to try to auction "silence" in your system. Thanks.

at this point I would have to give any Furutech NCF product the benefit of the doubt. the damn thing likely works just as they claim it does. like you I already have Furutech NCF everywhere I can have it.

as far as the idea of diminishing returns, I think that by our actions both of us show that we want to find that spot where the step does not result in an improved reference......so we can stop.

at least this product can be easily inserted into the power cord interface to test and possibly even benefit in terms of stress on connections to very stiff power cords. I might buy a couple to play with in various places and find out for myself if this is a step too far.

damn!

I suppose I must say thanks for the heads up.

 

[hi5harry]

A member here ( Sammy T. ) just installed a Furutech NCF chassis i.e.c. on my pre yesterday. The best part is they are the same size as standard i.e.c. inlets on most gear, so the change is easier. It's too soon to tell if it helps , but the ncf wall outlets have been a pleasant surprise so far, so I thought I would give it a try.

 

[Mcbrion]

I would also suggest that if you are looking at AC outlets, and decide to try Synergistic's Black outlet, you keep an eye on the lower midrange and the upper midrange/lower treble. Initially, the Synergistic will have a little bump in the lower treble, giving singers a "breathy" sound, but as the unit breaks in, the upper midrange turns just a bit flat, especially compared to the previous generation Teslaplex SE unit, which was/is decidedly bright in the lower treble, although I detect no weakness in the lower midrange in the SE outlet. Having hooked up my components into the NCF and then on a different dedicated circuit to the Synergistic Black, using a Shunyata Venom power distributor as the "control," the NCF units have, as someone mentioned on another site, a more "organic" sound, which the Black does not quite duplicate. It (the Black) is a bit "lean" sounding, although, as already mentioned, initially it will not strike one that way.
The Black is a very good unit, although it's a bit disappointing that the treble brightness of the Teslaplex SE was taken in the other direction this time around with a concomitant decrease in the "Frank Sinatra" range (lower midrange is his usual vocal range). This will affect Black male singers the most, especially if their voice has a grittiness to it, a la Sam McClain's voice. And Barry White will sound anemic. As will marching and bongo drums. Although I have the Black as well as the NCF, I find myself enjoying the music more purely (without looking for "more bass" or "extended highs") with the NCF unit. Of course, any romantic sounding components will sound less romantic with the Black, so in this case, given it all starts at the wall, I'd audition both carefully.

 

[mauidan]

New Furutech 105-D NCF outlet cover:

 

[newmill]

I used some rather heavy power cords once. They cracked the iec receptacle. Perhaps there would be market for some type of support deviçe.

I had a similar thought with my Shunyata cables connected to my ARC gear. I machined up some supports out of Delrin (excellent electrical insulator), and problem solved.

 

[DaveC]

I just installed the new NCF receptacle and NCF cover in my wall. WOW... I had the non-NCF versions + the wall plate installed before, so it was as good as it gets, but the new NCF versions are much better. Clarity, accuracy, detail, dynamic, lower noise floor... it's all there and very obvious. This isn't a subtle upgrade. Of course I'm biased as a Furutech dealer but every single person who has bought the new NCF products has been VERY happy with them. Many are downright shocked at what adding a single receptacle can do. For $280 retail it's one of the best value upgrades you can possibly do. Even better to add the wall plate and cover...

 

[newmill]

Gtx

I just installed the new NCF receptacle and NCF cover in my wall. WOW... I had the non-NCF versions + the wall plate installed before, so it was as good as it gets, but the new NCF versions are much better. Clarity, accuracy, detail, dynamic, lower noise floor... it's all there and very obvious. This isn't a subtle upgrade. Of course I'm biased as a Furutech dealer but every single person who has bought the new NCF products has been VERY happy with them. Many are downright shocked at what adding a single receptacle can do. For $280 retail it's one of the best value upgrades you can possibly do. Even better to add the wall plate and cover...

I installed the GTX-D rhodium version on my dedicated line, and I am completely shocked; not only that there is a change at all, but the type of effects. Prior to install I ran a fan for several weeks. I installed it 2 days ago and was shocked to discover I have no bass whatsoever. It didn't just soften but almost isn't there. Prior to this swap out from a hubbel spec grade receptacle, I had plenty of punch and dynamics from my ARC gear powered with Shunyata cables. There was positive improvements as well, but the bright coloration and lack of oomph was too much to handle. It was so bad that I had to take it back out. Unlistenable. My question is: Should I replace this receptacle, with the gold version? If I upgrade to the new NCF it will be rhodium plated, and I might be back to the same issues again? As of now I can listen with the orange hubble outlet, but I think I have learned that there is something to be gained here with the correct the outlet. Thanks,
Nick

 

[Stereophonic]

Hi newmill.
A fan needs little power to run.
I'm on the opinion that you have to break in the wall socket on your system.
I have the same model and i can asure you that bass is well presented, with great articulation and all have improved.
Patience is only that you need. Rhodium works specially well on tubes.
Just my 2 cts.

 

[DaveC]

Hi newmill.
A fan needs little power to run.
I'm on the opinion that you have to break the wall socket on your system.
I have the same model and i can asure you that bass is well presented, with great articulation and all had improved.
Patience is only do you need. Rhodium works specially well on tubes.
Just my 2 cts.

I agree, the GTX rhodium receptacles take a very long time to break-in and the break-in can be very dramatic. That's why I made a bunch of male-to-male AC cables so I can burn them in on my cable cooker. It's not perfect but it reduces the effects of break-in to be shorter and much less dramatic.

Most people say bass is improved with the GTX(R), tighter and more articulate. Others have even compared it to a loudness effect and said it accentuated the bass. So far I have never heard anyone experience a loss of bass energy, but it will reduce the warmth/bloom of bass to a degree, make it more accurate...

I don't think the new NCF version will solve the issue, it's basic character is the same as the previous version, just cleaner, more definition, less noise and distortion. The gold version is a good bit different though and some do like them better but this is kinda rare.

 

[newmill]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have moved the GTX-D-R receptacle to my home home theatre and will run it there for a few weeks. Hopefully this will be an improvement. One thing I didn't mention earlier was the lower noise floor. This is a positive, but the brightness.....hard to handle.....the piano made my ears hurt. Thanks again and I'll keep you posted.
Nick

 

[RogerD]

I installed the GTX-D rhodium version on my dedicated line, and I am completely shocked; not only that there is a change at all, but the type of effects. Prior to install I ran a fan for several weeks. I installed it 2 days ago and was shocked to discover I have no bass whatsoever. It didn't just soften but almost isn't there. Prior to this swap out from a hubbel spec grade receptacle, I had plenty of punch and dynamics from my ARC gear powered with Shunyata cables. There was positive improvements as well, but the bright coloration and lack of oomph was too much to handle. It was so bad that I had to take it back out. Unlistenable. My question is: Should I replace this receptacle, with the gold version? If I upgrade to the new NCF it will be rhodium plated, and I might be back to the same issues again? As of now I can listen with the orange hubble outlet, but I think I have learned that there is something to be gained here with the correct the outlet. Thanks,
Nick

Thanks for the replies guys. I have moved the GTX-D-R receptacle to my home home theatre and will run it there for a few weeks. Hopefully this will be an improvement. One thing I didn't mention earlier was the lower noise floor. This is a positive, but the brightness.....hard to handle.....the piano made my ears hurt. Thanks again and I'll keep you posted.
Nick

Can be typical when you make changes effecting system ground.I would suggest waiting 1 or 2 days for break in,as the lower frequencies will be very subdued at first and the things will start to open up again. The Hubbell's are a very good unit,but others might have a better design allowing a better ground path.