Upgraded AC outlets

I just got 4 wattgate outlets,and some plugs.. compared the wattgate outlets to ps audio power ports, and found the ps audio powerports are of a much higher quality, the contact prongs are heavly mis aligned in the the 4 wattgates i have. looking at the ps audio power ports, the contacts are truly even and aligned.
This is one main reason of buying these wall outlets is a perfect full even contact on the plug prongs. At the price of wattgate it is 3 times the price of a power port,tell me why?

Dear Chichiuno,
As a dealer of the Wattgate 381... let me answer a few of your questions regarding the 381 vs the PS outlet and hopefully help you with your concerns. This is only informational, and not intended to disregard your problems or the PS as a fine product...

Generally, the contact grips are in alignment on the 381 in the static condition. I have checked all of our stock and all are in alignment. Should you feel they are misaligned, contact your dealer to correct the issue. Should they be a bit out of alignment, once the plug blade is inserted, the spring loaded triple wipes have no choice but to align. Otherwise the blade could not be inserted. Wattgate is a fantastic company to deal with and I am sure they will correct any problems or issues you may have. Contact them with any concerns. They will help.

Take into account the oversized contact wipes on the 381 are a triple-wipe contact (they contact the top, bottom and side of the plug blade)design. The wipes, as every metal part on the 381, are of OFC Copper, followed by Nickel, and a final plating of 24K GOLD. No one else can match this expensive, effective process. The OFC copper is to improve conductivity, the Electroless Nickel plating prevents leaching, and the 24k GOLD improves conductivity and prevents corrosion. This multiple process is one half of the cost difference.

The second half of the cost difference is RAY KIMBER(Wattgate)and company. They set a design standard and came up with the Wattgate 381. It is NOT an over-the-counter outlet with Wattgate stamped to it's faceplate. It is a WATTGATE 381. The PS is simply the fine Hubbell 8300 outlet. There is a big difference in cost per unit between the two.

The final question should be... which performs best for you, not only now, but in years to come? The Wattgate is a great product!

Contact Wattgate if your dealer can't help you and discuss any problems you may have. Wattgate will stand behind thier product. I'm sure they would be happy to help and offer suggestions for correction.

Hope this helps and Happy Listening!

Dan
dedicated audio

Dan, Thanks for reading the posts and offering information that is helpful.

well , they should have hubble make the outlet for them. Out of 200 powerports I have, all of them are perfect.
the 4, 381's I have are mis-aligned, go figure...

Dan from Dedicated Audio: I think we've been through this before. If I was a betting man, I'd bet a lot of money that the Wattgate is indeed a re-badged receptacle. Take a close look at the Wattgate info, then go to the Leviton site and take a close look at the info on the Leviton 8300. The Wattgate has gold plating and a face that says "audio grade"; other than that the literature and claims for both receptacles are virtually identical, including Levitons claims of recently upgrading the ground, etc. Coincidence? I don't think so. I believe, if I'm not incorrect that someone here has also posted that their Wattgate (perhaps an older model) actually has "Leviton" stamped on it.

My take on this, after much experimentation, is this. The stock spec grade Levitons and isolated ground Levitons I have experience with are nothing special. The PS Audio is a Hubbell 8300 with supposedly 15 layers of extra nickel plating (the extra layers may even be detrimental to sound), the Acme is a Pass and Seymour 5242 (which in stock for is ok, but not, in my opinion anywhere close to the performance of the stock Hubbell 8200/8300) with silver plating. The Jena labs is a cryoed Hubbell 5362, selling for over $100, which you can purchase from Audioexcellence for $55 (or a cryoed 8300 for $60) with a very good cryo treatment followed by a cook on a cable cooker before shipment. The Audioexcellence/World Power outlets are exceptional, and great value, in my opinion of course.