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The Laughable $147 'Audio Grade' Power Outlet
So what exactly is an "audio grade" socket? Well it's a wall outlet. But not just any wall outlet, mind you. This power socket "features glass-filled, nylon front and rear housings," as well as a gold-plated, solid brass "[mounting] strap, rivets, grounding strip" and "terminal clamps." It also uses "a three-layer plating process," "[oxygen] free copper plating, electrolysis nickel, and finally 24k gold plating." And lastly, the "receptacle contacts are cryogenically heat treat hardened."
What does that all mean? Theoretically, it means better power transfer and less interference, we suppose, but you'd probably have to have the hearing of an elephant or dolphin to hear the difference.
Reviews of the socket are glowing, though, with one user stating:
Oh, and if you're wondering how much it costs to snag yourself one of these "audio grade" outlets, it's a laughable $147.72. If you buy four or more you can get that down to $140.33 apiece. Who could resist a deal like that? [From: PartsExpress, via BoingBoing]"I put in my favorite movie The Delta Force starring Chuck Norris... When the movie was over my TV exploded and Chuck Norris stood in the carnage. Then he picked up my wife and gave her the best rogering she has ever had (the doctors say she might be able to walk again after intensive physical theropy). Two thumbs way up!!" [Ed. note: This review seems to have been taken down by administrators.]
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Comments
11
Subscribe to commentshighendaudioOct 28th 2009 8:10AM
It's idiots like you that the world doesn't need. You are such as schmuck. Why don't you do a little research on the subject matter before shooting your mouth off. Because? Why let a little facts get in the way of a stupid story.
A: Listen and compare on a real high resolution high-end audio system before putting your foot in your mouth and then come back. B. Learn a little about electricity and what goes on at the connection and how tightness esp has an impact. C. Have a little practical experience and see how badly made and how poorly AC receptacles stand up over time. They become corroded, pitted and arced from use over the years. They will literally fall apart in your hands when removed from the wall.
ou should be banned from writing. Go and listen to your boombox and stay away from audio.
AstralnavigatorOct 28th 2009 9:42AM
This article proves that any idiot with a keyboard is free to show how stupid he is to the world, online.
He probably enjoys his wittiness and revels in his bombast, but he has no knowledge of the topic at hand.
cludOct 28th 2009 9:44AM
Wow, you should learn about the principles of electricity highend. The resistance of a normal brand new outlet between two six inch wires at either end is .024 ohms. The resistance of a 10 year old, frequently used outlet is .025 ohms. The resistance of an 'audio quality' outlet that was installed by a previous owner of my house is .017 ohms. The difference is negligible, at best. Most likely, anyone who notices a difference is experiencing the 'placebo effect' because it sure doesn't sound any different to me. If you are using a digital system, then there will be absolutely no difference, it doesn't matter what you think you hear, you are imagining it. Digital systems convert transform AC power to a lower voltage, and through the use of capacitors and rectifiers, convert it to perfectly smooth DC power, which is then distributed to the speakers. The end result of the DC voltage is always the same, due to advances in solid state electronics. This means, that as long as you supply the correct voltage to the receiver (110-125VAC) it will always come out the same through the speakers.
PaceyOct 28th 2009 9:46AM
Look who's calling someone a schmuck.
First of all, if you have that high end of a system in your home, you better have a battery back up and line conditioner to make sure all your super expensive components are safe.
Second, you also will need to buy audio grade Romex to run to that $147 outlet, because the regular stuff isn't made of moon dust in a airtight room and plated in platinum... oh, and make sure it's shielded to prevent any pesky outside EM interference from entering the line
Third, you'll need a special breaker to control the flow of electricity down that special Romex. Don't want to use just any old part at this point.
Forth, Contact the local electrical company to come and replace the meter at your home, because I'm sure that could introduce some interference somewhere down the line.
Finally, While the electric company is out replacing that meter, have them run a new line from the overhead to your home, with the same properties as the Romex you used in step 2.
/sarcasm
Yes, there is a difference between a 'Home Theater in a Box' system that you'll get from Wal-Mart and a true high end piece of home theater equipment, but believing that a special electrical outlet is going to make a noticeable difference in your listening pleasure is absurd. Especially since the first step above (which was the only thing not sarcastic) will take care of any 'faults' the outlet may have.
KlossOct 28th 2009 2:32PM
Why not buy a hospital grade outlet not costly at all. And they will keep connections more secure with less arcing. This is just a polished up one anyway. And they do make a diferance to your system. But why over pay when a HG is only a few bucks more than the cheap old receptical in your home. Most are shot anyway. If yours is over a few years old bet it doesnt hold your plugs so well. This poor connection is audible. And can damage digital sources, think sparks man, sparks, you understand spark cant ya. And the wee little chips dont like such right? right? You get it yet. HT system is a computer,TV, DVD= computer, SACD-CD= computer, ps3 = computer ya now ya do. Ya plug them into a surge protector right? One source or brownouts and surge can be poor connection to your outlet.
liamlunchtrayOct 28th 2009 9:55AM
I work for a well known company that makes power protection equipment. When we launched a line of AV products we looked into what was currently on the market for high end AV power protection and it were amazed at how much snake oil is being sold. People spending hundreds of dollars for a replacement input cord because it was "hand terminated", voltage regulators that manage to actually amplify surges - all sorts of crazy stuff. A $147 outlet makes absolutely zero sense. It has zero impact on the audio output and only serves to separate a sucker from their money.
JDOct 28th 2009 11:00AM
As a former pro audio engineer and manager for gutiar center AND due to my degree in recording engeering and 15 years of electrical experience I have to tell you how wrong you are. Yes there is a degree af subjective listening involved but plug ANY $300.00 plus speakers in to the wall direct and listen. Then plug them in to a good high end power center by a reputable company and YOU WILL HEAR THE DIFFRENCE LIKE NIGHT AND DAY. if you can not I would get your hearing checked. Really! being a "journalist" I wish you or your boss had even fact checked anything you said. Pretty typical of media today to not know what the hell they are talking about but still.... Maybe put down the bias and actually USE THE DAMN PRODUCT before you run your mouth off spouting incorrect information.
cludOct 28th 2009 11:19AM
JD I wish you would have read the article before posting. This isn't about a power center. This is about a $150.00 outlet. The difference between the two is like night and day. This outlet brings power to your components through the power cable. A normal outlet brings power to your components through the power cable. A power center filters, and cleans up the power before bringing power to your components. And being that most good receivers today filter and clean the power before supplying it to your speakers, the difference between having a power center, and not having one would be more like noon and 1PM. But, back on topic, this $150 outlet is completely useless.
JDOct 28th 2009 1:14PM
my apologies for not being more clear
I was attempting to give a comparison and show that some things ESPECIALLY power make a HUGE and AUDIBLE difference. ie in my example..but for the sake of argument lets just ONLY talk about the outlet itself.
I was operating on the premise that the usage for this is PROFESSIONAL AUDIO...ie Professional Recording and Mastering Studios (in these environments every minuscule part in the chain adds to noise floor, EM noise crosstalk etc.because there are so many different components involved) not for the people who listen to mp3's on their iPods...probably not even for the guy who has a 10K Bang Audiophile system...but in a PROFESSIONAL environment where you have to deliver the highest standard every day.
I have personally heard the difference between a standard home depot outlet and an outlet similar to this and can attest that although it is not as if you are removing cotton from your ears...when your entire systems power is fed through outlets of this sort there is IMHO more clarity & better bass response in systems that utilize outlets of this sort ALONG with all the other gear, ie power conditioning, mentioned previously. Every little bit helps in a high end environment, and when Russ Berger studio designers utilize outlets similar to these/possibly even these very ones as they look familiar to me, I think there is something to it. Again maybe it is subjective but I hear a difference.
michaelNov 2nd 2009 6:08AM
It's your money. Spend it how you see fit.
I'm sticking with my coat hanger component cables: http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/03/audiophiles-cant-tell-the-difference-between-monster-cable-and/2
and my standard "pro grade" Home Depot wall jacks. The extra $.50 is worth the price.
Zoltar The InedibleNov 3rd 2009 12:56AM
This is a bit like installing gold-plated faucets when your water is being drawn from a stagnant pond. It'll do nothing to clean up the power glitches caused by other appliances in your house or any neighbors that are fed from the same pole transformer.
I do agree that wall receptacles wear out, but if you want to install a better grade of outlet, just ask your electrician to use "Spec Grade" outlets.
It scares me that people who take this kind of thing seriously have jobs in the real world, probably high-paying jobs in the banking or investment field.