Hospital grade receptacles? Or audiophile?

mikeyb128

My House isn't too old. Built in 2008. But in my home theater and 2 channel system, it seems the plugs walk out of the wall after a period of time. I will be running a dedicated 20 amp circuit to the theater. And would like to upgrade the wall outlets in the theater and 2 channel system. Would total 3 outlets. What I want is a tighter grip, should I just do a hospital grade outlet and call it a day? Or pick up something different? I have my b&k mono blocks plugged into one wall outlet with 2 signal cable magic cables, there is a little stress on the plug. The theater isn't as bad, but the house is fully developed, and the theater is easier to run a dedicated 20 amp circuit to. The 2 channel system will be explored another time. But thought I would upgrade plugs since it's easy. I have a friend that is a licensed electrician working for beer on this one.

Speedskater

Nothing wrong with hospital grade, but you pay a lot for documentation and other features that you don't need.
Just use the top shelf commercial/industrial receptacles from major manufactures.

F1nut

Upgrading outlets does not require a licensed electrician, but if you don't know what you're doing then it's probably a good idea.

That said, the base metal, the plating and the material used for the body all make a difference. Some are even cryo'd. If I didn't already have PS Audio Premier outlets I would use the Shunyata SR-Z1.

mikeyb128

Thanks guys. Hospital grade through my friend is about 15 bucks per receptical, versus 50 for an audiophile. We are running a dedicated 20 amp circuit to my home theater room. Since he will be here he's going to install the other recepticals.
What about

http://www.acoustic-tech.com/receptacles-inlets/fp-15a-cu-n1-15a125v-duplex-receptacle/

F1nut

I have no personal experience with that outlet.

mikeyb128

Thanks f1. Will do some research on the outlets you suggested.

fmw

I doubt the "grade" of receptacle will have any effect on "grip". When the receptacles wear out, just replace them with a new receptacle. I recently replaced the 30 year old receptacle for my home theater with a new one that cost $1.75. Problem solved.

tonyb

fmw wrote: »

I doubt the "grade" of receptacle will have any effect on "grip". When the receptacles wear out, just replace them with a new receptacle. I recently replaced the 30 year old receptacle for my home theater with a new one that cost $1.75. Problem solved.

They will, and it's not just the grip most worry about but the sound and lack of noise characteristics of better electrical outlets.

slbenz

In my home theater system, I replaced the old outlets (house built in 1979) with hospital grade plugs. Much tighter and secure connections with a noticeable increase in clarity and resolution.

F1nut

fmw wrote: »

I doubt the "grade" of receptacle will have any effect on "grip". When the receptacles wear out, just replace them with a new receptacle. I recently replaced the 30 year old receptacle for my home theater with a new one that cost $1.75. Problem solved.

Those that don't know, don't know they don't know.

Moose68Bash

mikeyb128 wrote: »

Thanks guys. Hospital grade through my friend is about 15 bucks per receptical, versus 50 for an audiophile. We are running a dedicated 20 amp circuit to my home theater room. Since he will be here he's going to install the other recepticals.
What about

http://www.acoustic-tech.com/receptacles-inlets/fp-15a-cu-n1-15a125v-duplex-receptacle/

@mikeyb128,

That's a 15-amps receptacle, which I would not advise using with a 20-amps dedicated circuit. You might want to use a 20-amps plug in that circuit someday.

My experience with receptacles has been that standard receptacles are OK, and if you've never used a better quality one, then you don't know what you're missing.

Commercial/industrial grade receptacles may be a bit sturdier and durable than standard, Home Depot receptacles, but I've never perceived much difference.

Hospital-grade receptacles last longer an give a more stable connection, Hubbell-made receptacles are my preference, and I believe Hubbell makes the receptacles for PS Audio, although these are "isolated-ground" receptacles. At least, they used to make them.

I think many audio-grade receptacles are essentially hospital-grade receptacles with different plating on the conductors -- e.g., gold, rhodium. These plating materials resist corrosion, may improve conductivity, and affect the sound. You may or may not appreciate the effect on the sound quality, which is a attire of judgement and taste. [Any receptacle that is "isolated ground" -- e.g., PS Audio receptacles -- may not be a hospital-grade receptacle simply with different plating because isolated-ground receptacles may not be used in hospitals -- albeit that many aspects of the construction of these receptacles may be the same or similar.]

A lot will be determined by how "clean" your power is. When I added a Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One 5.0 in my circuit to my main system, the improvement in sound was dramatic, and I mean dramatic.

When I added a Furman power conditioner in the circuit for my second system (all but the amp), I noticed a significant improvement in the sound floor and clarity of the music.

Others on the Forum -- e.g., DarqueKnight-- have documented improvements with other system for "cleaning up" your electricity.

And others on the Forum, like F1nut, know much more about this than I.

mikeyb128

I have done a lot of research over the past week, on hospital grade recepticles, the consensus has been they do have a tighter grip. Seems only the people that haven't tried them, much like cables are the non believers. I would like a better grip outlet, and if I get better sound in the process then that's great too! I do t see 15$ for a hubbell outlet a lot of money. And I am ok with spending 50-60 on an "audiophile" grade outlet as well.

In my theater I use a Panamax m5400pm and in my 2 channel system I use a Nordost quantum power strip or otherwise know as a Q base.

Thanks @moose68bash the hubbells were the ones I was looking at. Always appreciate most people's opinions on here

pitdogg2

There is a good reason why Hospital Grade outlets offer a better grip.....think about it....That being said you get better grip with a lot of the upper grade outlets i.e. not the cheap dumped in the bin by the hundreds those are junk from the get go.

Moose68bash makes very valid points

fmw

Much ado about nothing.

pitdogg2

fmw wrote: »

Much ado about nothing.

padding your post count or do you feel like contributing ?

fmw

Sorry you misunderstood what I wrote. Let me translate it for you. Receptacles don't matter. Is that better?

F1nut

Nobody misunderstood you, your ignorance on the matter was obvious from the start.

mikeyb128

Off to a real good start there bud.

ZLTFUL

Registered in 2013...hasn't posted anything until now...sure stinks of a shill to me. Maybe Jinjuku or Habanero Monk reborn? Wouldn't be at all surprising.

fmw

Thanks for the insults. They are fairly entertaining. You people are like Democrats - fearful of opinions that dissent from what you view as the mainstream. Great fun.

cnh

fmw. Pretty good stand up comedy there if you think this SITE is populated by Democrats, you have NO idea! And are REALLY a NEWBIE! lol

Stick around, you might find that although your opinions on audio aren't shared by many, your "politics" might be at home here! You think? But then again YOU should KNOW that because you've been here for TWO years? How is that possible, since you only started posting yesterday?

motorhead43026

Stick around fmw, open your mind and expand your horizons.

polrbehr

@fmw , you are mistaken in thinking the people here are "fearful of opinions". But
you should have a few real life experiences to back your opinions up, maybe? Where most here get irked with people is when people simply dismiss things with a wave of the hand, without any first-hand knowledge to support what they state.

I mean, I KNOW a stock Camaro or Charger can't beat a Mustang in a 1/4 mile race. I've never driven any of those cars, and don't even have a license, but it just seems like that's how it would be if they raced. See what I'm getting at here?

Stick around, you will not be the first who doubted that something trivial could make a difference, but were pleasantly surprised that they were wrong.

SCompRacer

fmw wrote: »

I doubt the "grade" of receptacle will have any effect on "grip". When the receptacles wear out, just replace them with a new receptacle. I recently replaced the 30 year old receptacle for my home theater with a new one that cost $1.75. Problem solved.

I guess the NEC doesn't know this...;)

The primary reason to use a hospital-grade receptacle at a patient bed location is to ensure that a receptacle with a greater contact tension is provided to minimize possibilities that an attachment plug supplying medical or life support equipment may be disconnected because the attachment plug slipped out of the receptacle.

I unplug my gear when done listening cause I don't bank on lightning not striking in the same place twice. Hospital grade do last longer.


pitdogg2

SCompRacer wrote: »

The primary reason to use a hospital-grade receptacle at a patient bed location is to ensure that a receptacle with a greater contact tension is provided to minimize possibilities that an attachment plug supplying medical or life support equipment may be disconnected because the attachment plug slipped out of the receptacle.

BINGO there must be a concerted effort to unplug LIFE saving equipment.

mantis

When I built my house , I installed PS AUDIO 20 amp outlets at my Head end location.
They are Hospital grade and beyond from what I understand.
Audioquest finally decided to jump into the Outlet game and has developed 15 and 20 amp models. Looks like they only come in black with Non Decor style. Thats fine they come with their own plate.
I plan on switching out the PS AUDIO for the Audioquest model. I'm not sure if it will do anything in quality that PS AUDIO didn't already do. PS AUDIO does many things power and do a very good job at it. But Audioquest is completely into the details so I'm sure it will be at least of equal quality.
I don't mind spending the money on anything that relates to power transfer. If Audioquest came out with Romex, I would completely wire the circuit with it. It's something I'd like to see.

Moose68Bash

mantis wrote: »

If Audioquest came out with Romex, I would completely wire the circuit with it. It's something I'd like to see.

@mantis,

I believe Kardas markets a Romex cable for use with audio gear, but I've never read any reviews of it.

Do you have an opinion of Cardas, Oyaide or Acrolink v. Audioquest?

I've been happy with the quality of Cardas and AQ, as well as with PS Audio products. I've never used Oyaide or Acrolink, whose in wall wire is pricey for anything approaching a long run for a dedicated circuit.

This link describes some options:

http://www.audioexcellenceaz.com/products/in-wall-wiring/#tabs-374-0-1

Speedskater

Only Southwire manufactures Romex®, everything else is just a copy.

mantis

Moose68Bash wrote: »

mantis wrote: »

If Audioquest came out with Romex, I would completely wire the circuit with it. It's something I'd like to see.

@mantis,

I believe Kardas markets a Romex cable for use with audio gear, but I've never read any reviews of it.

Do you have an opinion of Cardas, Oyaide or Acrolink v. Audioquest?

I've been happy with the quality of Cardas and AQ, as well as with PS Audio products. I've never used Oyaide or Acrolink, whose in wall wire is pricey for anything approaching a long run for a dedicated circuit.

This link describes some options:

http://www.audioexcellenceaz.com/products/in-wall-wiring/#tabs-374-0-1

I own some Cardas stuff and think it's great quality. I also think they are on par with Audioquest on some things as the owner has the same level of engineering and sheer perfection Audioquest shoots for. They are very similar style companies and is a strong reason why I like Cardas stuff.
I will have to look into that, Thanks.

ibewbrother

I always hate to wade in to these posts....but I can't help it.

The audiophile "romex" may be better wire....but your breaker is still the same copper as any other. I will also bet that your panel has plain old copper buss bars that feed the breaker. And more than likely aluminum from the pole.

I work in an old factory...the way we get "clean" power is through transformers. Either isolation or step-down....put a line filter on it and even "finicky" things like computers and servo drives play nice with voltage variations and such.

Personally...I have a standard 20 amp double duplex feeding a Belkin conditioner. Would my stuff sound better if i rewired everything....? Sure....would I notice? Probably not. I say a good quality recepticle....with a nice conditioner plugged into it..is acceptable. I would add a whole house surge suppressor/lightning arrestor if the budget allows.

Just this electrician's opinion....no offence intended....


Kim

tophatjohnny

Maybe ya chased FM back to his FM stereo set up?? I finally am making this part of the set up a reality this week and am not skimping on outlets, that's for sure!