My review of QSA sockets:
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My socket journey started when I upgraded my main power cord to a larger diameter Shunyata Sigma XC cable for my space-limited home office system, resulting in an awkward situation where the cord protrudes from the wall and makes an awkward bend as it is then forced back to hug the wall and go behind the rack. I was looking for solutions for my 90-degree angle needed when others recommend upgrading my house's contractor Leviton outlets to something more respectable.
Based on a forum member's advice, I replaced my existing $5 child-safe receptacle with a more respectable $30 Hubbell HBL5362W. It was fine, but did not blow me away, and on initial listen seemed a bit less dynamic and exciting than my el cheapo Leviton. So, looking for something more "audiophile", I considered Synergistic Research, Shunyata, Furutech, etc. Abstract reviews online seem mixed, and then QSA came along, with online rave reports sounding like it's the next sliced bread. So I thought I'd try out the QSA Red and Red-Black sockets as middle-tiered options.
Methodology & Appearance & Quality:
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All configurations involved using a Sigma V2 XC with a Voodoo 90-degree adapter straight into the receptacle and a Denali 6000S/V2 with a single wall outlet which is part of a daisy chain in my home office, with other outlets dedicated to nearby computer equipment. I went from my Hubbell HBL5362 to the QSA Red for 4 days, and then to the QSA Red-Black for 8 days. Then I went back my original contractor Leviton 15A Decora duplex (SKU #T5325-205-00W, has "TR" printed on the front fascia) and wrote this review.
The appearance of an outlet receptacle is probably about as unimportant as it gets. After all, it's in the wall, and you won't ever look at it... but it is still the first impression. After all, if I'm paying for a receptacle equivalent of a Porsche 911 GT3, I can't help but /some/ expectations of its panel gaps, door closure thunk, and interior upholstery. The appearance and build quality of the $1550 outlet is probably the most disappointing aspect; obviously this is in the eye of the beholder, so I posted side-by-side photos compared to my $30 Hubbell above. The QSA is much lighter, smaller, and seemed overall to have much less metal than the Hubbell, and upon removing the neutral/hot bus screws, there was quite a bit of rattle. In fact, I had intended to first install the Red-Black, but after removing one of the hot screws to loop in the wire, there was misalignment between the metal parts (due to rattle) such that I could not put the screw back in, and instead installed the Red first. A brief google search shows this is based on the Legrand-Pass & Seymour 5362BL Hard Use Spec Grade Receptacle, Mexico market version, which is < $10 USD at the time of this review.
In full disclosure, I did not buy an off-the-shelf P&S 5362BL as a control for comparison. Nor can I do a blind A/B as my wife is likely to divorce me if she knew I was testing $1550 receptacles.
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Sound:
As long as it doesn't short or burn down my walls, who cares how it looks right? How does it sound?
The Red socket sounded ok. I'll leave it at that, it did not make enough of an impression for me to remember its signature. I did not notice any remarkable difference from my Hubbell, but I attribute at least part of this to inadequate burn-in time... but still, I'd expect some improvement... I did notice the both frequency extremes seemed more rolled off.
Compared to the Red, the Red-Black socket sounded more like live music within 30 minutes of installation, or in my headphone case, more like I was in the same studio. There was more bass depth than the Red, but still a tad diminished compared to my baseline, making passages with bass drums or tympani less sonically impressive, and songs like U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" a bit thin, and U2's "Ultra Violet" missing its undertone. Most evident, however, was that accompaniments / background vocals and some instruments are more pronounced. Treble energy is pronounced, with sibilance not previously noticed.
Going back to the Leviton was the biggest surprise. I predicted it would be hearing a bunch of trash and feeling shame knowing what I lived with, but on my first 15 minutes the original deep, defined bass and lower mids came back. Macrodynamics went up by 2 levels, making it sound much more live. Tympani membrane bounce was defined, drums had kick, as if I went from a 50W amp to a 600W amp. Voices felt more open and immediacy was turned up a notch. Low-level details were also better, and the frequencies seem more extended on both ends; maybe this is why before i felt there was some brightness? Most importantly, I find myself tapping my hands and playing air guitar much more, and I have a big smile on my face.
Verdict?
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First, I consider myself a technical and curious but cautious skeptic, with formal training in the sciences, however I'm open to the fact that many things (esp when it comes to psychoacoustics and human perception) cannot be readily measured nor explained by common metrics. I absolutely embrace digital cables and power conditioners, but just can't fathom how this chintzy-looking outlet can have any electrical advantages to my meaty Hubbell, but of course we're also not privy to whatever alien voodoo QSA is doing to their stuff. I'm guessing it might be some PVD or coating process, but without an electron microscope I can't verify this.
I approached this whole exercise with high expectations based on others' review. I wanted to spend money for improvement. Yes, I did hear a sonic difference between the 4 receptacles. But for my system, this is what I heard, and I'm stunned that I preferred not only a "non-audiophile" outlet, but I preferred the cheaper contractor one instead of the beefy Hubbell with supposedly 'better' contact / materials. Within the time constraints of my trial period, this is what I heard; perhaps if I had a prolonged trial and burn-in period things might be different? Maybe it is some synergy thing w/ the Shunyata Denali?
If I were to be a skeptic about my own observations, I would say, "But Keith, perhaps you just prefer the sound you are /used/ to?" Well, to that, I would say I'm actually not used to any sound right now in my system. Over the past 4 months, I have upgraded my amp, then my DAC, interconnects, tubes, power cords, and then the entire power conditioner system, rack, then outlets; I have not had my system at one configuration for more than 2 weeks at any time, and so unfortunately can only observe sizeable changes from recent memory.
I wish others better luck in trying these receptacles. Naturally I ask, "
What's wrong with me?", as others have raved about QSA products. Your mileage may vary.