In a high performance / high resolution audio system everything matters. Every link in the chain needs to be optimized to the greatest extent possible, including cabling and connections. Good power and signal connections require quality connectors. n my experience, connector quality is a significant contributor to good cable performance. Connection points can be sources of noise pollution. Even with similar metals at the connection points, some signal reflection is likely. These reflections can perturb the electromagnetic field surrounding the cable due to phase shift, among other things, and this can lead to noise pollution at the connections points. Obviously, proximity to noise sources is an issue under these circumstances.
One can attempt to minimize the number of connection points, but this is not usually practical. A typical interface point has several connections: the cable to connector, the cable connector to the component chassis connector, and the connection point on the back of the chassis connector. Speaker cables can be connected with bare wire and that eliminates one of these. Of course it's possible to hard wire cables to components but, again, that isn't especially practical in most installations.
Low level signals from a phono cartridge, for instance, are delicate and susceptible to noise pollution. That's why some tonearms have unbroken lines from cartridge pins to phono preamp. Avoiding connections avoids potential noise sources. However, there is an obvious practical limit to what can be done to eliminate connections, and that's why quality connectors are important. I will explore one such quality connector in this review.
The Audience Is Listening
In a typical home the duplex power outlets are likely Home Depot 98 cent units in white, almond, ivory, or black. If you are the guy who bought an $8000 power cord, are you really going to plug it into one of these? I think not. Or if you are in the process of building or remodeling a listening room, especially if you will be using dedicated circuits, you will want the best connections possible. Even if you have a small system that does everything from one power source, you may want to consider acquiring a high performance connector such as the Audience Hidden Treasure duplex outlet.
Quoting from the Audience website "…the very foundation of an audio system begins at the wall." Hidden treasure outlets use high quality rhodium plated copper and a body made of thermoplastic nylon. Contact points are engineered for extra tight grip for highest quality signal transfer and most secure connections. Audience calls its proprietary technology MORRE for "Musically Optimized Reduction of Resistive Energies," said to reduce electron scatter. The Audience outlet build quality is robust. Each outlet weighs a third to a half again as much as that 98 cent outlet.
All Audience outlets go through EHVP treatment, which applies extreme high voltages at specific pulse modulations, frequencies, and amplitudes in differing ratios. The intent is to produce predictable paths through the crystalline grain structure of the various metals, including connection points and connectors. In addition, nanoparticle damping materials are selectively applied to reduce mechanical resonances, along with EMI and RF electrical interference. This treatment reminds me of a burn in process.
(Interestingly, in Audience's description on the website it still mentions Hidden Treasure circuit breakers. When I inquired about these I was told that they had discontinued this product.)
Setup and Listening
In my listening room, I use five dedicated circuits. Two are behind each speaker and one is behind the source components. The four outlets behind the speakers were wired with Porter Ports, which are essentially hospital grade outlets that have been cryogenically treated. The outlet behind the source components is an Oyaide, though I forget which model.
I started by replacing only the outlets powering the left channel active crossover and power amps. I then played various music selections. When standing close to the left speaker the sound seemed slightly tighter and more coherent than the right speaker. The difference was subtle, but positive. At the listening seat the difference was very difficult to hear. I then installed Audience Hidden Treasure outlets in the other dedicated circuits. My impression of positive but subtle remained. The difference would probably have been more pronounced had I been replacing Home Depot outlets instead of already very high quality outlets.
Connection reliability and dependability were first rate, and there were no issues during the review period. The outlets provided a noticeably superior grip on the power plugs. I've been swapping review samples in and out a lot lately with absolutely no problems or concerns with these robust power connections.
Image courtesy of TweekGeek
Conclusions
Turns out it's hard to write a review of a duplex outlet. Feature set and operational concerns don't apply, so there's less to discuss. I really do like these outlets, even though they only come in one color. Don't tell Martha Stewart. If you are in the market for high performance duplex outlets, the Audience Hidden Treasure outlets should be on your short list. They are as good as advertised, and possibly as good as it gets.
Hidden Treasure outlets
Retail: $199
Audience
