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In Reply to: RE: Not quite.... posted by alan m. kafton on September 24, 2016 at 15:33:53
The bottom line is the terminology they use may be a misnomer or just sloppy hype. If one picks-apart the wording, the term "high-purity copper/brass alloy mix" would either mean a high-purity copper element is added to an undetermined quality brass alloy element as a special "mix" which would mean the result is some sort of exotic alloy, *-or-* the conductive path features both high-purity copper parts and brass alloy parts used in tandem, *-or-* what is being referred to is the copper content of the brass alloy is that of a high-purity copper element added to the zinc element, which would make more sense. However, one should find out what purity of copper is actually implemented by Cooper brand in terms of the actual copper they use to manufacture their stock brass AC outlet, since in my opinion, cruzeFIRST has no credibility when it comes to the apparent design of their questionable Maestro AC outlet to believe it's nothing more than a cryo'd and mysteriously treated stock Cooper brand product.
Follow Ups:
Duster,
Over the years, I have enjoyed your postings and feedback, but I do not understand your witch hunt on the Maestro outlet.
How are they any different than what Shunyata does with a Hubbell 5362 outlet or what Synergistic Research does with a Leviton outlet?
Have you actually compared the sound of the Maestro to a Shunyata or a Porter Port, or for that matter, the Cooper BR20 which it is based on. I have, and in my experience, the Maestro just simply sounds better than all of them.
All this discussion on the Maestro piqued my curiosity, so with outlet in hand I paid a visit to my neighbor down the street. I knew he was an engineer for an electrical component manufacturer and worked specifically on switches and outlets. Turns out he works for Pass and Seymour. I handed him the Maestro and asked him if there was anything special about it. He gave it a once over, then asked if I minded if he popped off the backstrap (sure). "Yup, it's a spec grade Cooper outlet," says he. Nothing wrong with it, but he thought (naturally) that P&S's comparable offering was better. :) I asked about the alloy of the contacts, and he said that he wouldn't know without the spec sheet for it but that it looked and felt (he bent the ground contacts back and forth) like pretty normal metallurgy for that grade of an outlet. Then I told him that it was cryogenically treated and had some sort of EMI/RFI shielding or absorbing substance applied to it. His comment on the cryogenic treatment was "whatever" (remember, he's an engineer), and then commented that if the EMI/RFI substance was in any way conductive, the UL listing would be void. He noted the UL logo was still intact on the backstrap, and wondered if Cooper knew this substance was being applied and the outlet subsequently being resold with their UL listing.
Then I told him the price of the outlet, and he cracked up.
So, what we have is a standard $4 outlet (probably much less than that when bought in quantity) that's given a cryogenic treatment and then has some unique mystery substance applied to it. On one hand, I don't see anything on the Cruzefirst site that is making false claims or stating anything that isn't true ("high purity" is obviously a subjective description that can't be quantified). On the other hand, the total cost of this $85 outlet must be somewhere around $5, FWIW.
....can be taken apart, then it would be easy to apply a contact enhancer on the surfaces that meet the wall plug's 3 prongs, including the ground. Some contact enhancers dry after application, others leave a pasty residue, but my favorite (Stabilant-22) leaves a micron-thin slick coating. I don't know about the others, but I don't believe that Stabilant is in any way conductive....but it certainly improves connectivity and conductivity.
Anyway, did you run your fingers over the internal contacts and feel (or see) any slickness, moisture, or residue?
I felt the safety ground contacts -- they are attached to the backstrap, and slide out when the backstrap is removed. Didn't detect any substance on them visually or by feel. The contacts for hot and neutral can't be accessed as they are completely enclosed in the housing, and the two halves of the housing are ultrasonically welded together (according to my neighbor). You'd likely destroy the outlet trying to separate them. I guess something could be put in through the plug slots, but I'm guessing that this EMI/RFI substance is applied to the exterior only.
That's an excellent follow-up on your part, bcowen!
While the seller may not have published the type of evidence that points to false claims based on factual data, the sales pitch is misleading and implies the product is a superior competitor vs. bonafide Audio Grade AC outlets. Based on a fundamental marketing perspective, it's unethical for a seller to take advantage of a niche market product category like Audio Grade AC outlets, which are comparatively far more expensive based on credible material costs, manufacturing costs, and performance levels vs. hardware store variety AC outlets. As much as some folks rant about the high-price of Audio Grade AC outlets, at least a buyer tends to get what they pay for, while the truly inferior product in question seems to be a classic example of a rip-off scheme. I imagine the seller laughing out loud whenever an $85 payment was submitted for their cheap AC outlet.
I'm in agreement with you on this, Duster. Had I known what I know now when I purchased the Maestro, I wouldn't have purchased it.
I should have investigated the product when it was first mentioned in Audio Asylum.
As I recall, I decided not to protest against discussions coming from people who advocated it, at the time.
I didn't want to appear combative in the forum, and would refuse to buy one in order to evaluate the product within my own audio system...
I am often astounded by you patience. Thank you for keeping things civil while still getting you point across.
Dave
Thanks for the kind words, Dave.
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