Power connectors and accessories

Furutech power cord connectors

A large improvement in sound can be achieved by changing the UK and IEC plugs on the end of any quality mains cord to those from the large Furutech range. This is easy to do and produces an immediate, and very cost effective, upgrade in sound. The sonic improvement with Furutech connectors is one of a larger sound stage, a more natural tonal balance and wider bandwidth. 

UK Mains Plugs

FI-1363 – gold – straight or right-angle £107

FI-1363 – silver – straight £117                                     
FI-1363 – rhodium – straight £130
FI-1363 - NCF rhodium - straight £161

IEC Connectors

C-15 IEC (10A)

FI-11-N1 – gold £72               
FI-11-N1  – silver £72               
FI-11 -N1 – rhodium £84
FI-12L - gold £80               
FI-12L - rhodium £96               
FI-15 Plus - gold £49               
FI-15 Plus – rhodium £56
FI-C15 - gold £55
FI-C15 NCF rhodium £75               
FI-28 – gold £100                             
FI-28 – rhodium £123
FI-46 - NCF gold £181

FI-48 - NCF silver £227
FI-48 - rhodium £245               
FI-50 – rhodium £283
FI-50 - NCF rhodium £347

C-19 IEC (16A)

FI-31 Gold £123

FI-32 Rhodium £164
FI-52 – rhodium £317               
FI-52 NCF - rhodium £373 

We strongly believe that the fuse in any UK 13 amp plug seriously downgrades the sound quality of the component the power cord is connected to. This is because the fuse is a thin piece of wire designed to fail; it really has no place in a an audiophile power cord made from conductors that are often capable of carrying 20A or more of AC current.

Furutech do have an audiophile grade fuse which can reduce this detrimental effect to some extent but it is relatively expensive. Far better results can be achieved by changing to Schuko European plugs that do not have fuses in them at all. This route would necessitate changing wall sockets (we can supply the necessary European back boxes) or using one of their Schuko mains distribution outlets described below.

There some truly expensive audiophile fuses available. We have listened to a good few and found that whilst they change the sound it is not always for the better. Some make the sound brighter and more "hifi". The restriction to dynamics and soundstage still exists. It is worth noting that the "best" sounding fuse is no fuse. Hence our strong recommendation to move towards a Schuko power distribution system. 

Schuko power cord connectors

FI-E11 Copper £57              
FI-E11-N1 Gold £84
FI-E11-N1 Rhodium £96

FI-E12L Gold £93
FI-E12L Rhodium £107
FI-E38 Gold £113
FI-E38 Rhodium £141
FI-E46 NCF Gold £212
FI-E48 NCF Silver £268
FI-E48 NCF Rhodium £289
FI-E50 Rhodium £326
FI-E50 NCF Rhodium £394

UK Wall Sockets

All significant conductor parts are made from solid copper, plated with either gold or rhodium, and the whole construction is of the high standard we have come to expect from Furutech. The cover plates are easy to fix to a standard UK in wall arrangement.

FP-1363-S Gold single top plate £103                                       
FP-1363-D Gold double top plate £165 
FP-1363-S NCF Rhodium single top plate £158
FP-1363-D NCF Rhodium double top plate £256

Schuko wall sockets

By replacing the wall socket with the Furutech Schuko versions, you eliminate the last fuse in a power cord connected from here to your power distribution block. If you combine this with the Schuko power distribution blocks and plugs as described below, you then arrive at the best sound from your investment in quality audio cables.

The benefits cannot be overstated. The soundstage become much larger, particularly depth, the bass is more extended with more authority, the highs are much smoother and more elegant. Most importantly the dynamics and transients are significantly faster making a large impact on the rhythmic aspects of the music. It is as if a dam is removed from a river.

You are fully protected by your circuit breakers on your consumer board which act much faster than fuses in the 13A UK plug anyway. If in doubt, please consult your qualified electrician or call us for more details as we have good experience here and many of our clients have pursued this route with great success.

Installation of these wall sockets should be done by a qualified electrician. To accommodate the different fixing positions required for Schuko wall sockets we can provide European back boxes, either in-wall or surface mounted variants, free with the purchase of a Furutech Schuko wall socket.

There are two type of wall socket. The FP prefix denoted the use of a standard off-white plastic surround. The FT prefix denotes the use of a carbon fibre surround that provides additional resonance absorption for a cleaner sound.

FP-SWS Gold single wall socket £83
FP-SWS-D Gold double wall socket £159 
FT-SWS NCF Rhodium single wall socket £198
FT-SWS-D NCF Rhodium double wall socket £280

FT-SWS-D NCF Rhodium double socket BOX £645

Fuses

If a change to a Schuko plug and socket system is not feasible (see above), changing the standard fuse in a UK plug is worth the effort. The benefit to sound is very audible; not as large as having no fuse but very cost effective. A more natural sound with more authority, but without the brightness and forward presentation that many of the competitive brands impart.

There some truly expensive audiophile fuses available. We have listened to a good few and found that whilst they change the sound it is not always for the better. Some make the sound brighter and more "hifi". The restriction to dynamics and soundstage still exists. It is worth noting that the "best" sounding fuse is no fuse. Hence our strong recommendation to move towards a Schuko power distribution system.

T-13A Rhodium - wall plug fuse £85                                         

NCF Booster and NCF BoosterSignal



Cable and Connector Holder/Elevator

The NCF Booster is a clamping device is designed to go around the IEC connector of a power cables at the point of entry into the chassis of a component. It has an adjustable height control so can lift and align the IEC optimally with the inlet of the chassis. As many will have noted, with audiophile cables of a certain thickness and weight these can bend the connection paint downwards and potentially distorting or damaging the rear chassis. This better alignment produces optimal transfer of energy through the IEC connectors.

The NCF BoosterSignal is similar in concept in that it has a flat surface that elevates speaker cables from the floor but has no top clamp. It can be adjusted to any height with in reason with extensions to the vertical structure. It also has NCF technology in the horizontal lifter, similar to the NCF Booster and is also slightly pressurised. Around 4 -5 devices will be required per 2.5 to 3.0 m run of speaker cable dependent on the stiffness of the cable.

These clever device also incorporated Furutech’s NCF technology (Nano Crystal Formula) which produces negative ions that reduce static charges and thereby improves clarity and transparency. In addition the nano ceramic particles have piezoelectric properties that provide additional damping properties.

Our experiments in a variety of systems suggest that different components respond differently to the NCF Booster and NCF Booster Signal. At best the sound is clearer and more transparent. The sound can appear to be louder and, in some cases, the height of the sound picture is enlarged. In other applications the sound can become a little compressed and the tonal balance shifts towards being a little bright. We suggest auditioning samples before purchase. which can be arranged by phone.

NCF Booster £310
NCF Booster Signal £185
NCF Booster Signal L £150

NCF Booster - Additional Top Clamp £130
NCF Booster - Additional Cradle £120
NCF Booster Signal - Additional Cradle £115
NCF Booster - Extension Rods 10 £35