I do wonder if I replace the outlet first(w/in my budget) will it still have a positive effect on my current power strip? Obviously getting the e-TP609 at the same time is best but I just can’t afford both right now.
Yes, the outlet has a positive effect on everything that is plugged into it. I’m using AV Options Ultra power bars that have deep-cryo Hubbell duplexes.
As AHT said, even if you don’t see all the benefits, changing just the wall outlet should still bring big changes. The changes I found were with a power bar using all Hubbells. The benefits of NCF are cumulative, each additional will bring further improvements but the first change of say the wall outlet will probably have the biggest impact.
Outlet first if it’s the Furutech GTX-D (R) NCF. It will bring the largest impact to the system. I do not have experience with the e-TP609 power strip but in my limited experience the power device between the wall outlet and power strip/component is more important if there are insufficient wall outlets or dedicated lines, a device which acts like a power bank that doesn’t restrict power delivery or dynamics.
Well, this was part of a reflooring project in the listening room, due to damage, so there was a 2-month gap before reinstalling the system. But I would say there was an immediate drop in the noise floor, with increased dynamics, tonal purity, and precision in soundstage, and also better articulation of the harmonic envelopes of individual instruments. And so on. Sure, things improved somewhat over time, but I don’t recall an arduous break-in period–it was great from the start.
But does the system still move you emotionally and/or physically? Assuming it ever has. It’s an aspect I value highly and will sacrifice some of the hifi niceties for.
Thanks @daren_p for this thread and the numerous experiences with Furutech products. They are not so common here on the forum and that has always surprised me. I don’t have the same wealth of experience but can confirm your impressions. I came across Furutech rather by opportunity. I had started first with Vovox power cables, which are quite inexpensive but had a very big positive effect. They are solidcore and have Furutech Rhodium connectors. Vovox comes from studio technology and accordingly these cables tend to be fast and high resolution. However, I also needed a Schuko wall socket, as the Swiss standard is propietary and hardly any cables with a Swiss connection are available. I also needed a power strip for several devices. Neither was available from Vovox. So I started with a Furutech Schuko wall socket. During the Corona supply bottlenecks, the FT SWS NCF was not available, so I had the FT SWS Rhodium installed by an electrician. The sound progress was immediately audible with wider soundstage, more clarity and better dynamics. However, the result fluctuated a lot during weeks, the already mentioned 500 hours burn-in time seems realistic to me and was also a bit of a suffering time. This also prevented me from switching to the FT SWS NCF later, as the transition period then begins again. After the positive experiences, I then ordered an e-TP60 (NCF) power strip, which, after a short burn-in time, clearly outshines my Sun-Audio power strip which is over 30 years old. However, it is only the entry-level model. Furutech offers much more expensive unfiltered power strips (e-TP 609/809 and others), some at eyewatering prices. I have not heard one of these so far. However, I had by chance seen and bought a second-hand FP-S032 power cable with FI-N50 NCF plugs. After being rather disappointed at first, it opened up the sound considerably after a few weeks. I think the previous owner had only used it briefly and it was practically new. All in all, my Furutech products are very good and also fit well with Naim. They are worth a listen. In the end, the switch to dedicated mains brought me another decisive step forward. No cable or power strip could fix the severe fluctuations in power supply on different days that I had before. This is now much better and with a manageable investment (dedicated mains and the components mentioned) I have made great progress overall. What comes next? I may replace the Vovox Excelsus cable between the Furutech wall socket and the power strip with a Furtutech power cable with FI N50 plugs as well…
For me these are not “hifi niceties,” they provide a richer and more real experience of the music. The interplay of the musicians, their emotional expression and involvement becomes much stronger. This is important for all types of music, but polyrhythmic material and of course music made with acoustic instruments benefit in particular, both jazz and classical. The sense of being in the room with the musicians increases. A lot of the simplistic music played at hifi shows is not my focus.
I’m not sure that’s true. Their sockets and cables might not be as prevalent as PowerLines and unswitched M&K sockets but Furutech have been cropping up regularly for over a decade.
I have modified my 3 Powerlines and using Furutech end UK plugs.
Although none other than the fact that only these plugs would fit my purpose of plugging my whole system into my PS Audio P20. The original naim plugs are just far too big and will end up obstructing too many of the power outlets of my P20