Best Male & IEC plug for high current power cords?


What are the the best, most cost-effective MALE and IEC plugs for use in high current power cords, with tubes and with SS power amps? Detail, dynamics, balance and BLACK background! No hash or sibilance! ... Copper? Gold? Rhodium? Silver? ... Furutech? Oyaide? Wattgate? ... And the wires, shielded or unshielded?
pmboyd

Showing 4 responses by rja

IMO: Cost vs. performance, Furutech FI-11 terminations. Available in 3 flavors, bare copper, gold plated and silver plated.
I believe the Neotech terminations are identical to FIM.
The FIM label simply covers the Neotech logo molded into the plastic, at least on mine.
The FIMs I've seen are cheaper than $50 per.

I think if you compare the quality of the Furutech FI-11s I mentioned in my post to the Neotech, the Furutech would win hands down. IMO: The Neotechs are somewhat cheesy in overall build, especially the cable clamping mechanism. Have you actually compared the two?

I do like the Neotech bulk power cable though. Very nice quality!
I have found the Ohno copper great for the male end but it's a bit soft to provide a firm grip on the other end.

Also, I'm not sure that Ohno copper in itself creates a better termination. In fact very few AC terminations use copper at all, most are brass or bronze and there seems to be many satisfied users. There are probably fewer than 10 terminations that actually use copper. Same is true with AC outlets (even fewer copper IEC inlets, less than 5?).

The Furutech I mentioned uses copper for the male end and phosphor bronze on the other. Again my main issue with the Neotech is the mechanical design of the connection for the actual AC wires, adequate but could be better. The Furutech and Oyaide method is superior IMO.

As far as plating, for me a necessary evil to avoid oxidization although I don't like rhodium. I'm not sure about platinum and palladium either. A lot of these issues are probably system dependent so best not to make blanket statements. If you don't like plating, that's up to you.
A lot of this stuff is like splitting hairs, that is, the differences can be extremely subtle. Also, the AC outlet and IEC in your components can affect things.

Most audio components use crappy (read cheap) IECs. You might consider replacing those as well in your quest. What outlets are you using?

As to your last post, there are just too many variables involved to make a blanket statement. The bottom line is, whatever works for you. There's certainly nothing "wrong" with the Neotechs, just a few details I personally don't like.