There was a previous topic about this but I would like to continue hearing about people’s experience.
I would like to hear experiences after the long burn in process and not about the changes throughout the burn in process. The topic never received updates anymore after the burn in so I am creating a new topic after Richard recommended this to me.
If anyone has compared other wall sockets, please chip in the conversation as well about your experience!
I decided to try a Furutech socket as a Furutech plug is what Naim use on their EU Powerlines, I ordered the same plug and an NCF socket, the premium on NCF for the socket is a lot less than it is for the plugs. The plug went on the flying lead of my home made multiblock of 6 UK sockets from MK as I moved my system over the channel a few years back.
I found no down side compared the Legrand plug and legacy socket I’d been using and detected a nice improvement. This led me to buy the FI-E50 NCF R plug and again I liked what I heard and have no reason to swap back.
The prompt is that I’m considering a second ND555ps, which will come with a Schuko plug so converting the rest makes some sort of sense but my ND555 has been back to Naim twice and its existing ps once in the last year leaving me without for three month each time and I’ve got sidetracked exploring different vinyl options in their absence. The local Focal powered by Naim dealer lost patience with me long ago and I’m mostly going through Naim France directly with the aid of Mickael Becue, Naim’s French rep who has been a great help if a trifle hard to reach.
A dedicated supply would probably be a better place to start but I’m not certain the system is in its final resting place yet.
I’m still using the Furutech Rhodium NCF sockets here in the U.K.
I would say the burn in took a very long time for me. More than the 300 hours advised by some members. Rhodium takes an age. I will highlight, if the treble is sharp then it hasn’t burned in yet. Eventually you’ll have a beautiful extended treble with great attack and without harshness.
My experience was made worse by a less than optimum sound from my 552 which was a transit bolt that was still screwed into the boards inside the preamp.
Overall I’m very happy with the improvement the Furutech NCF sockets provided. IME a cleaner and more extended sound from bass to treble. Compared to the Russ Andrews socket, the NCF has a smidge less punch but a more sophisticated sound overall.
In my experience the wall socket change made an astonishing difference but only when all other mains elements from the wall to the equipment had already been improved and brought to a good standard - with all copper good quality mains cables and including connectors, and a high quality mains block. At that point replacing the RA wall socket (essentially an MK unswitched socket) with a Furutech Gold wall socket was I think removing the “bottle neck” remaining and unlocking the whole effect of all the mains upgrades, all at once to their potential.
Changing wall sockets before that point has never produced such an effect.
You could be right and they may have switched brands recently, mine was bought years ago and pretty sure labelled MK on the fascia but don’t think I’ve kept it to check as it was quite oxidised and probably rusted too.
P.S. Just looked them up and indeed they now appear just slightly different on their website
Indeed yes it’s a racket.
Hager double unswitched average £3.50 online suppliers.
RA same one as pictured from their site below.
No link allowed.
£32.00
A while ago I changed my Schneider single gang unswitched sockets to MSHD Silver Plated single gang unstitched sockets.
I found that not only was the plastic case material thicker, but more importantly, they gripped the plugs much tighter. Have a much better connection and are substantially built.