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Captive power cord - AC plug upgrade tips...

Posted by Duster (M) on June 12, 2006 at 16:56:50

I've previously mentioned the notion of upgrading an audio component's captive power cord's AC plug with an Audio Grade type. I find it to be a very worthy thing for some folks to consider who are not willing (or able) to retrofit an audio component with an IEC inlet to enable the use of an aftermarket power cord upgrade. I've experimented with some affordable Audio Grade Furutech AC plugs terminated to captive power cords that do very well for the purpose. They all provide a surprisingly good sonic upgrade to even a basic captive power cord's performance. While an audiophile quality power cord is a more-optimum upgrade path (IMHO), all hope is *not* lost if one desires better performance by just a simple upgrade of a captive power cord's low-fi sounding stock AC plug.

I'm not the only one who finds this to be a valid thing. A fellow inmate's recent email described very good things when he replaced his preamplifier's captive power cord's stock AC plug with a Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug:

-snip-

"...I could not believe the difference it made... It was like adjusting the lens on a camera to sharpen a slightly blurred image.....all the edges of the notes finally became distinct - yet with less glare than I heard before, and a far deeper and taller soundstage. I'm still stunned at the difference..."

-snip-

I've also found the same results via a Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug when re-terminating a captive power cord, and there's also two other affordable Furutech models that perform very well for the purpose but with different sonic signatures to consider. With cost in mind; discount prices are offered by a4audio.com and is the only North American seller that I'm aware of that stocks all three models (Cryo-Parts sells the Furutech FI-11M(Cu)). So, here's is an overview of the three AC plugs, IME...

Note: All three Furutech models are cryo treated:

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1. Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug. Copper plated phosphor bronze (with copper-corrosion protective treatment). This is my favorite low-cost Audio Grade AC plug. Out of the three; it will provide the most transparent upgrade in terms of it's sonic signature. It offers a large and open soundstage, clean and detailed treble, and a full-sounding bottom end:

$27 via a4audio.com:

http://www.a4audio.com/cd-detail.asp?CatalogID=1648&Group=ByBrand&SGroup=Furutech

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2. Furutech FI-15ME(R) AC plug. Rhodium plated pure copper (not bronze nor brass). Great for bringing a more vivid and more forward (in a good way) soundstage presentation (not as large as the FI-11M(Cu)'s, but still open sounding). The bass presentation is tighter but less dynamic sounding than the FI-11M(Cu)'s:

$36 via a4audio.com:

http://www.a4audio.com/cd-detail.asp?CatalogID=1377&Group=ByBrand&SGroup=Furutech

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3. Furutech FI-15ME(G) AC plug. Gold plated pure copper (not bronze nor brass). Great for bringing more midrange presence and overall warmth and body to images. The soundstage presentation is not as large as the FI-11M(Cu)'s, and not quite as open sounding as either the FI-11M(Cu) or the FI-15ME(R). The bass presentation is richer in the mid-bass than the FI-11M(Cu)'s, not as tight as the FI-15ME(R)'s, and the treble is less prominent than either (perhaps good for taming a bright sounding component):

$27 via a4audio.com:

http://www.a4audio.com/cd-detail.asp?CatalogID=1376&Group=ByBrand&SGroup=Furutech

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Also something else to consider...

An affordable Audio Grade AC outlet upgrade tip:

I also highly recommend (while one is at it) an affordable Audio Grade AC outlet upgrade to better complement the AC plug upgrade. Furutech's FP-15A(Cu) is an outstanding lower-cost Audio Grade option that offers a more organic/musical presentation than any Hospital Grade (or otherwise) AC outlet in the lower-cost Audio Grade price range:

$36 via a4audio.com:

http://www.a4audio.com/cd-detail.asp?CatalogID=1682&Group=ByBrand&SGroup=Furutech

Cheers, Duster

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