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Attn: Duster - Furutech FI-11M (CU) Plug

24.21.110.29
Posted on May 3, 2017 at 15:57:58
The Dill
Audiophile

Posts: 2197
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: July 1, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 3, 2016
 Hello Duster,
If you don't mind, I would like your opinion on this. I just purchased this plug from a seller on AudioMart in good standing.

His description: For your consideration, one of the best after market AC plugs. I bought this a few years ago and tried it on one of my cables. This plug does make a difference. In like new condition. Buy with confidence.

It is my understanding, after doing research, that this model has (3) versions: (CU) bare copper - (G) gold plated - (R) rhodium plated. The photos show the item I received and my concerns are, it is not copper, the shell is clear when the (G) version is black. Also the label on the plug itself says " Audio Grade Power Connector", while others I have found say " High Performance Power Connector".

Could this be a fake or in the wrong box?

Thanks for your input.














 

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RE: Attn: Duster - Furutech FI-11M (CU) Plug, posted on May 3, 2017 at 17:08:28
wood1
Audiophile

Posts: 125
Location: northeast
Joined: March 8, 2012
 Duster will be the absolute authority on this but I have 3 new in
box that I bought from Cryoparts before Lee's untimely passing.
Mine also say "Audio Grade" but the three prongs exhibit a medium
red copper plating. From the pics yours appear to be unplated
bronze. High quality phosphor bronze was the base in a FI-11M CU
but it was then plated in copper.

 

RE: Attn: Duster - Furutech FI-11M (CU) Plug, posted on May 3, 2017 at 17:25:04
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 I'm not Duster (and I'm sure he's very glad to learn that) :), but what you appear to have is a genuine outer shell for an FI-11 Copper plug and the innards from something else. I have both the gold and copper versions of the FI-11, and you are correct that the gold plated version has a black outer shell. Beyond that, the gold plating on the FI-11M G is far shinier and mirror-like (even after 2+ years) than what's shown in your photo, which looks like brass (the FI-11 Copper plug is NOT a copper plating over phosphor bronze, it is pure copper).

Looks like someone has played a switcheroo with the guts of the plug, as what's shown in your photos is NOT a genuine Furutech FI-11, either gold OR copper.

 

RE: Attn: Duster - Furutech FI-11M (CU) Plug, posted on May 3, 2017 at 17:55:17
The Dill
Audiophile

Posts: 2197
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: July 1, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 3, 2016
 bcowen: The black insert with the prongs have Furutech and 15A - 120v embossed on the bottom and the plug was sold as used.

 

RE: Attn: Duster - Furutech FI-11M (CU) Plug, posted on May 3, 2017 at 18:49:29
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 Perhaps you got one of the ones as sold below. To my knowledge (which isn't all-encompassing), that is not a genuine Furutech plug but rather a knockoff. The genuine FI-11M CU has solid copper blades and internal contacts, and the blades are a reddish color. There is no plating. The "G" version is a gold plating directly over solid copper.

Not sure how much you paid for it, but you can get the genuine plug (new) from Sonic Craft for $35 if you can return that one to the seller. He may have acted entirely in good faith and just didn't know it's not a genuine Furu plug.





http://samtechonline.com/fufichipepoc.html




 

looks fake to me, posted on May 3, 2017 at 20:33:51
madisonears
Audiophile

Posts: 1587
Location: midwest
Joined: September 6, 2006
 Furutech metal parts are scrupulously polished, not the dull, scratched blades shown in your excellent pics.

Sorry.

Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9

 

RE: looks fake to me, posted on May 3, 2017 at 21:39:57
The Dill
Audiophile

Posts: 2197
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: July 1, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 3, 2016
 The plug has been used and is over 2 years old, that was disclosed. I only paid $25.00 for it. I used some Flitz metal polish and it cleaned up nice. The discolor in the photo is camera related and does not show up to the naked eye.

It now looks like the photo bcowen posted.

Thanks everyone for your input.




 

RE: Attn: Duster - Furutech FI-11M (CU) Plug, posted on May 3, 2017 at 21:46:01
Tweaker456
 I'll weigh in on the side of it not being copper. As stated before the real one is bare copper and is copper colored, as it should be. Send it back. Hope it works out. Can't get a better deal than the ones from Sonic Craft if he still has them. Your not alone. I bought a used one from ebay before I saw the Sonic Craft sale price. He sent me a unit without the proper screws and gave me a hard time about taking it back. Ebay took care of it. T456

 

Your Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug is genuine., posted on May 4, 2017 at 13:18:10
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Without a doubt, it's the older version Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug with an anti-corrosion treatment that looks a bit like a very thin gold plating. The newer version has a treatment that appears more like a reddish-looking copper color. Everything else about the AC connector including the look of the termination screws and the transparent polycarbonate shell and markings show the distinct characteristics of the original Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug, as well as the original box with foam pads. It's definitely not a fake.

 

RE: Your Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug is genuine., posted on May 4, 2017 at 13:47:42
The Dill
Audiophile

Posts: 2197
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: July 1, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 3, 2016
 Thank you very much Duster, you're the man!

 

RE: Your Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug is genuine., posted on May 4, 2017 at 14:58:23
Tweaker456
 I stand corrected.

 

RE: Your Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug is genuine., posted on May 6, 2017 at 14:17:26
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
 Duster,

Not questioning your comments on this as your experience eclipses mine substantially, but one of the reasons I questioned the authenticity was the rough, grainy surface of the prongs and ground pin as shown in the OP's photos. I know the plug in question was used, but that should show up as linear scratches (if anything) rather than the rough, pitted appearance. The metal surfaces on my FI-11 gold is shiny and devoid of any surface imperfections as viewed with the naked eye. Mirror like. The FI-11 copper is not shiny, but the surface of it is as smooth and glass-like as the gold. Perhaps the polish and smoothness has improved with the newer plugs?

 

RE: Your Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug is genuine., posted on May 6, 2017 at 14:43:24
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002



Image: Cardas GRS Stamped Bare Copper Spade

The copper blades of the FI-11M are not polished like Oyaide AC plugs are. Since the bare copper FI-11M(Cu) does not have a thick plating like the other FI-11Ms, the rough surface is clearly visible. The rough surface of the unpolished and unplated Cardas GRS stamped bare copper spade also shows the same type of rough surface.

 

RE: Your Furutech FI-11M(Cu) AC plug is genuine., posted on May 13, 2017 at 14:11:44
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 Rough surfaces such as this spade and the bare copper blades of the FI-11M would benefit from a contact enhancer such as Stabilant-22, whose viscosity would "fill in" the pits and valleys quite nicely, and greatly enhance the overall surface contact area.

 

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