Audiophile Grade Wall Receptacle

Starting with a solid foundation is likely the best thing you can do. I wired a group of dedicated circuits into my listening room. Six dedicated circuits. The lines are all exactly the same length and all on the same leg of the breaker box. That is very important to make sure they are all on the same side no difference in potential to ground. I had three of the circuits with hospital grade Hubbell plugs and the other three I had industrial grade levition plugs. Parts connection had a sale of the second best furutech receptacles. I thought I would buy two for the Levenson monoblocks. I had no base in my system and since the room was new I was getting ready to start messing with placement. I wired those single receptacles in two two of the circuits that the amps plugged into. One of my audiofile buddies was over not sure who was more shocked him or me. More bass like way more. Top to bottom more information was coming though smoother every area was better. That replaced the hospital grade plugs except the one I don't use there.  On the side wall I had the industrial plugs which were also about six months old my friend said I guess you are going to have to let the moths out of your wallet! Lol. Anyhow I bought the top of the line furutech receptacle one at a time. The first one I put in was for my DAC and transport I have the Sonic frontier transport and DAC three in that room. also a huge difference same thing more of everything. More detail more bass more top to bottom nothing was worse only better way more resolution. I order two more one at a time. Each time things got better my Ayre k1xe was next then the audio research phono stage and Linn. Each time same thing it was huge. If you are going to have more than one if try them one at a time. That way you will not feel so bad if it doesn't do the same thing for you. I have no trouble putting expensive extras in the drawer it I don't like them. As an example I bought one set of feet of silence so glad I only bought one set at a time and a set of discs of silence. Both items are not used and I have tried them in all but my av system I will eventually get there. Now to continue with furutech I decided I would try a set of there IEC and plug ends on one of my power cords. I talked to Chris Johnson before I bought them asked him if he thought I would be better off taking that money with the money I got selling my power cord and getter a way better cord from him or buying the top of the line IEC and plug ends. His answer was with the new ends I am sure you will get another fifteen years of enjoyment out of them with the new plugs. I did the same thing one at a time. At 425 for each end of the powercord I wasn't going to waste more money than one sets worth of cash. Everytime it was stunning the levels of resolution went up and the dynamics improved. I ended up buying a set of plugs for the Levinson 33 monoblocks and wow one last time. Considering that there is an onboard power regeneration in those amps I wondered if I would notice anything and same thing more of everything. Go at it slowly and listen carefully as you go. That way you will be sure you are not wasting your money. Don't forget receptacles are not showy and nobody will see them so nothing to show your friends nothing like a pair of monoblocks to show off with lol. That is what one of the things that I really like about them it just sounds better nothing for show just for listening to. As a side note I have had a half a dozen people come over to listen to my system in my new room two of them left in tears! That is the best review you can get ever. Emotion is one of the main things that I look for In a system as well as timing and resolution. Emotion and timing is what music is in my opinion. Resolution and soundstage makes you feel like the performer is in the room. When you have everything in your system that is reference grade the plugs are a huge improvement. I have started changing them on my Canary tube monoblock system in the upstairs and once again it gets better and better. Piece by piece I will get them all done. Sorry I have not tried any of the other brands there might be more available with them but I am happy with my first choice and have not gone any further. I have tried many different power conditioners over the years and I don't care for any of them. Seem to be Band-Aids to me some things better some things worse. Start with a solid foundation of dedicated circuits and great receptacles go one at a time and listen as you go. 

Regards

As expected, there are as many different opinions as there are people. There are those that view the receptacle as the last piece of the electrical supply to your system. If you consider that alternating current electricity does not flow in the way that water flows through a pipe but, more or less just moves back and forth on the wire (I know this is simplistic and I am not an expert on electricity) then the receptacle and/or power cord perhaps should be considered the first component of the power supply to the system (the cord is the first six feet of the power wiring that your system sees not the last six feet of the circuit and it is a circuit not a dead end). Therefore, in this view, the quality and sound characteristics of the receptacle are important enough to be willing to spend money on, at least to those who figure that every single thing matters in the system and can hear the differences.

Now, to narrow the choices you may want to consider what metal is used for the conductor. Is it basic brass or the higher level of brass known as phosphor bronze or pure copper? Each type has its own sound.

Next, do you want any kind of plating and if so what kind? Maybe, you want it to be un-plated? Again, each type of plating has its own sound.

My personal preference is for un-plated pure copper receptacles. I have used the Cruze First Maestro which is some form of brass alloy. To my ear, they are more neutral than plated receptacles but, bare copper sounds even more neutral to me. However, there are variations in the sound of bare copper from one brand to next also.

The Oyaide R-1 has been mentioned which has similar plating to their 004 cord ends.. Oyaide also has the R-0 which is un-plated copper. I have two of the R-0 in my main system. Interestingly, I prefer the Maestro in my second system.

There are many choices out there. You need to try several to figure out what combination of materials fits your preferences and works well with your system just as you have to do with power cords.

Then there is Cryo treatment, a whole 'nother subject.

I use the Furutech GTX-D NCF(R) Ultimate Nano-Crystal Rhodium-Plated AC Duplex Receptacle. However, any thing is better and will do better than typical cheap outlets. In other words any good one. 
 

Why? The whole power “chain”  is also equipment. Practically all replace power cords. So…..

My house and street has poor dirty power and after attacking that the system got noticeably quieter/blacker/defined. 

Running dedicated lines if possible is great but for many of us it starts at the wall. Getting a whole house surge protector is the first thing I’d advise anyone to get.

Hospital grade here

I’ve not tried Oyaide but think I will. Beryllium is an excellent material, hard and copper. I’ve found connectors are the weakest link. Thanks all