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Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Critic's Circle (Equipment Reviews) => Reviews of Accessories => Topic started by: Harmon on 29 Jan 2008, 11:06 pm

Title: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Harmon on 29 Jan 2008, 11:06 pm
                       I am writing a small review of an audiophile outlet called Porter Ports made by Porterhouse Audio, which can be found being sold on Audiogon for $36.00 each. Just write Porter Ports in the search window. These hospital grade Hubbell outlets are cryogenically treated.  I personally installed the Porter Port in my wall just behind my stereo system not expecting much difference: maybe 5% to 10% difference in sound quality.  As soon as the first disc started to play the difference in sound was absolutely jaw dropping.  To repeat, THE  DIFFERENCE  IN  SOUND  WAS  ABSOLUTELY  JAW  DROPPING!!! It is difficult to put a percentage on how much difference in the sound that there was before the Porter Ports versus with them, but conservatively it would be at least a 25% to 30% improvement.  If  someone listening to my system said that there was a 50% to 60% improvement it would be believable.  It was very hard to believe that a simple tweak like this could make such a huge difference. The bass frequencies seem to be more intense(louder), go deeper, and tighter.  The midrange frequencies were more detailed and realistic especially on vocals(i.e. Live At Blues Alley by Eva Cassidy). High frequencies seem to be significantly clearer. To summarize it is just a much more open and musical sound. This is no joke, this is one major tweak. If you decide to do this tweak have a professional electrician install the outlet just to be on the safe side. I am just a consumer and have no affiliation with Porterhouse Audio.

Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: DeanSheen on 29 Jan 2008, 11:19 pm
I installed some non treated Hubbell 5362 a couple weeks ago which I believe are the same model that he cryos.

I keep reading reviews like this and thinking I ought to have went for his. 

Mine were $50 out the door from a local electric supply place as I needed 3 for my system.  I just couldn't justify the added expense at those prices. That would have been $58 more dollars before shipping and without a contractor discount. 

Arghh.  Maybe I'll buy some more and send them out to be treated.

Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: poseidonsvoice on 30 Jan 2008, 12:40 am
Glad you like the Porter Ports. I know Greg Straley endorses them highly. He is the one who turned me on to them. Enjoy.

Best,
Anand.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: TheChairGuy on 30 Jan 2008, 12:43 am
Harmon, I have the Porter Ports, too, now.....I heard no noted difference in them and the PS Audio ports in before them, or the $9.00 Lowe's Hospital grade outlets before that.

Maybe my system is not resolved enough or my hearing is average, but.......

The move from $0.39 contractor special that came with the house TO the $9 hospital grade port was very LARGE...on the order you are speaking about.

Did you have a cheapie port in your room to begin with?  If so, I can imagine your shock...moving to a port with a tighter fit is a revelatory experience  :o

Cool beans - enjoy  :thumb:  John
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Danny Richie on 30 Jan 2008, 12:46 am
I have used them in my Dodd Audio balanced power supply. I recommend them as well.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Harmon on 30 Jan 2008, 12:52 am
Hi John.  The port in the wall before was just an average type of outlet but it was definetly not anywhere near the hospital grade quality of this Hubbell outlet. I am telling you the difference is like getting a new amplifier.  :D
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: TheChairGuy on 30 Jan 2008, 01:27 am
I am telling you the difference is like getting a new amplifier.  :D

Yeah, it's quite amazing what change is had from a cheapie port to something better.  After moving to a hospital grade one....the differences after that aren't so clear cut. 

You started with near the best, on your first foray on outlets - nuthin' wrong with 'dat  :thumb:

John
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Occam on 29 Sep 2008, 01:01 pm
........
Yeah, it's quite amazing what change is had from a cheapie port to something better.  After moving to a hospital grade one....the differences after that aren't so clear cut. 

You started with near the best, on your first foray on outlets - nuthin' wrong with 'dat  :thumb:

John

Hey John,

What you say may well be valid, in your system-
http://www.audiocircle.com/systems/index.php?systemid=774
In my system-
http://www.audiocircle.com/systems/index.php?systemid=771
there are significant perceived subjective differences among various industrial. hospital grade, and bespoke receptacles.
From your system description, I believe I've found a significant factor influencing your conclusions.
Quote
Power Cables  None at this time 
I believe your assessments might alter significantly if you used power cables to connect your components to the mains.  :P :lol: :lol: :lol:

Regards,
Paul
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: TheChairGuy on 29 Sep 2008, 01:20 pm
Paul,

I like fully passive systems.  My wife likes them even more  :lol:

Hey, you reminded me to update my system just now - thanks.

At the very least every audiophool should get a $10 hospital grade outlet from Lowe's...it's quite a jump in performance from the $0.39 contractor specials that came with the house.

Hey, I JUST read that PS Audio introduced their new Power Port Premier now, too: http://psaudio.com/products/powerportpremier.asp

Not dirt cheap at $100...but less than a lot of competing stuff in the market today.

John
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Browntrout on 10 Oct 2008, 12:29 am
Hello, is there an equivalant wall socket for the British market? I've never seen a proper audiophile wall socket available over here, would be nice to try one.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: cryoparts on 10 Oct 2008, 01:50 am
I haven't seen any of the "audio grade" three blade UK standard receptacles.  However, Furutech makes a nice Schuko receptacle, if that meets code in the UK:

http://furutech.com/a2008/product1.asp?arr_cata=EU.UK.AU%20High%20End%20Performance%20SCHUKO%20Wall%20Sockets (http://furutech.com/a2008/product1.asp?arr_cata=EU.UK.AU%20High%20End%20Performance%20SCHUKO%20Wall%20Sockets)

Peace,

Lee

Hello, is there an equivalant wall socket for the British market? I've never seen a proper audiophile wall socket available over here, would be nice to try one.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: cryoparts on 10 Oct 2008, 01:53 am
Albert has the Hubbell 8300HI cryo'd.  It's a non-plated brass, small bodied, hospital grade receptacle.

Peace,

Lee

I installed some non treated Hubbell 5362 a couple weeks ago which I believe are the same model that he cryos.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: John Ryder on 25 Oct 2008, 11:09 pm
Quote
Item Description:
The Power Port Premier is a custom built, hand crafted 15 to 20 amp AC receptacle of the highest quality. The internal contacts are machined out of pure copper, polished and then direct gold plated. The Power Port Premier will make a major improvement in the performance of connected equipment and will provide a life-long level of excellence.

So I guess it's safe to say (based on the company claims) that if I connect for example my PC to this $99 outlet (vs. a $2 one from Lowes), my PC will run better, faster, smoother....and if I connect say my alarm clock, it will keep better time or the radio sound will be clearer, fuller, my natual....or if I connect my toaster oven to it, my toast or pizza's will cook more evenly, and taste "excellent" compared to my standard plugs??

That's what he says in his ad, "Port Premier will make a major improvement in the performance of connected equipment "....


SO who's gone ahead and bought a 5 pack and used them with their PC and other none A/V equipment?  What were your results....?  Did the items connected feel like there was a $400 level of excellence added to things..food flavors etc?

Now on the flip side and most important of all, if the above examples I gave would show no differences (EX: faster, better cooked, smoother, more accurate etc) can someone please explain why?  Why would ONLY A/V equipment perform better than originally intended with these and any other electrical device connected yield the same exact results like they were connected to a $2 Lowes plug?

For $99 each I sure hope I'd see results like the A/V equipment appears to get from them.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: maxwalrath on 25 Oct 2008, 11:27 pm
...and if I connect say my alarm clock, it will keep better time or the radio sound will be clearer, fuller, my natual....or if I connect my toaster oven to it, my toast or pizza's will cook more evenly, and taste "excellent" compared to my standard plugs??...

...would show no differences (EX: faster, better cooked, smoother, more accurate etc)


I get where you're going, but those devices are either off or on, no in between.  Maybe your refrigerator would cool quicker upon delivery of it, but rather than debate or try to measure it (maybe if you wanted to cool the food as quickly as possible and maintain a constant temperature within 0.1 degrees with as little motor noise as possible.....but it's a silly apples to oranges comparison), I'd guess it would be easier to take other people's reviews into consideration.

Better yet, if you buy a Porter Port off Audiogon for $36, and if you don't like it, post your review of it here on AC, and I'll promise to buy it off of you for full price if you don't notice/like the effects.  That would be a better test than most people here (myself included) trying to talk about the effects it might have without trying it.  Personally, I don't have a clue why it would improve sound...but I'll trust the ears of others rather than try to display my lack of knowledge on the subject.

I'm serious about buying it off of you, btw.  I'd like to see a skeptic review it and you'd have no risk.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: MaxCast on 26 Oct 2008, 12:06 am
John, I put one on my microwave and the food did taste better.  So much so that I put one in my stereo system.  Haven't you been in this hobby long enough that some things are subjective and if you don't have something constructive to say, move along?
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: mmakshak on 22 Feb 2009, 08:42 am
  I guess that I should mention that when I had dedicated lines installed by JSWhitlock(Audiogon), he used Porter Ports.  That was done a couple of years ago.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Ern Dog on 1 May 2011, 06:34 am
I finally got my hands on one of these and I was not prepared to hear such a dramatic improvement.  This is my first venture into audiophile receptacles, so I'm upgrading from the cheapo one's.  This is a no brainer and I can't believe I haven't done this simple inexpensive tweak sooner.  Your mileage may vary.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Big Red Machine on 1 May 2011, 12:25 pm
Albert has the Hubbell 8300HI cryo'd.  It's a non-plated brass, small bodied, hospital grade receptacle.

Peace,

Lee

Brass outlets are, well, brass outlets.  Some form of copper or high copper content will give a better throughput and sound in my experience.  I have used the Power Ports and heard no improvements.  I now use the Maestros and I can say they do bring about a more 3D sound.  I tired a few on the most utilized outlets and then went back and added them to all the outlets once I heard the improvement. 
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Quiet Earth on 1 May 2011, 02:22 pm
Hey, another golden oldie . . . .  resurrected from the depths of the nether world!

I find this excellent comment to stand the test of time :

Yeah, it's quite amazing what change is had from a cheapie port to something better.  After moving to a hospital grade one....the differences after that aren't so clear cut.

I think the same can be said for AC power cords too.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: MttBsh on 1 May 2011, 11:33 pm
Here's a dumb question: If the power to my audio system already goes through a great power conditioner and top grade power cords, is the outlet back at the wall going to really make a difference? Seems as though the downstream conditioning would render any benefits from the outlet negligabe. I think of a washing machine - whether I threw in dirty clothes or already clean clothes, both would come out equally clean. That's the way my brain thinks.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: TheChairGuy on 2 May 2011, 01:46 am
Here's a dumb question: If the power to my audio system already goes through a great power conditioner and top grade power cords, is the outlet back at the wall going to really make a difference? Seems as though the downstream conditioning would render any benefits from the outlet negligabe. I think of a washing machine - whether I threw in dirty clothes or already clean clothes, both would come out equally clean. That's the way my brain thinks.

Ya' gotta' hear for yourself but my mind thought kinda similarly to your thoughts above....and I was, frankly, gobsmacked by the benefit that the hospital grade port for $10 from Lowes provided  :o

I later 'upgraded' to a Porter Port a little later on - with nuanced benefits only after the original hospitl grade one. So the jump from $0.39 to $10 outlet was ENORMOUS for me; the jump to $36 Porter Port was more dubious/nuanced for me.

In fact the benefit was so large that i began to hear the falseness of most power conditioners in my system (and the benefits of anything more sustantial than a $29 Iron Lung Jellyfish power cord) and questionable benefit of power cords.  Now, i use an active / balanced conditioner only on my digital player as it acts as a wastegate for digital hash polluting the rest of my system.

A $10 port saved me a whole bundle of extraneous add-on doo-dads like conditioners and pc's.  A nice port is as an example in audio of 'well, whaddya' doggone know!' as any ive experienced.

Go get one - its cheap enough to try despite your logical determination - and report back here on it  :)
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Elizabeth on 2 May 2011, 02:25 am
I have various powerline stuff in my setup.
I would agree the Porter ports are a good deal at $35 each.
Many of the various specialty ones that range from $50 up to $300 are more tricked out, with special plating, and materials. But the porter is just a basic good outlet. I do NOT own any Porter Ports, I have a pair of similar priced cryoed outlets from someplace? they also were $35. each.
I then have a mountain of conditioners, and cords.
My Furman REF20i for the Bryston 4B-SST2 am and all the video and plasma TV.
Then a PS Audio P600 i just bought used to replace a Monster 7000SS, I wantd it beccause it can be set to output an A/C at various freqencies besides 60 cycles. So right now I have it set to regenerate the A/C at 110hz. That conditioner is mostly for the digital stuff.
Then i have a PS Audio PPP I use in the "Multiwave" mode for the tube stuff.
All my cords are Pangea, Either the 9 gauge, or the 14SE.
I use the 9 gauge on a few items that are not big electricity users if I want more low frequency emphasis, and the 14SE if i want the clarity.
The big thing lately was sticking Quartz crystals around the A/C stuff. Then pigtails off the neutral on the A/C incoming lines.

I just have to agree the biggest change is to go from the stock cheap wall outlet to a better one. Even if all it is is a Pass & Seymour $3 Menards one.
I am more of a conditioner person than a powercord person. For my Thousand dollars i want a near-hundred pound chunk of stuff. Not a little extension cord!!
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: kyrill on 6 May 2011, 05:21 pm
thx  gentlemen

the upgrade i completely overlooked
and now I hear how important it it
thx again
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: kyrill on 6 May 2011, 05:23 pm
i understood that power cords pick up RMI and EMI and therefore should not be "just" be  parallel lined hot and neutral like stock pwc
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: tvyankee on 6 May 2011, 05:56 pm
hey,

just thought you guy's might like to read this. i have no opinion one way or another.

http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/power-cables

Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: kyrill on 6 May 2011, 06:05 pm
: )

read the article but it completely ignores EMI and RFI
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: tvyankee on 6 May 2011, 06:10 pm
my posting wasn't really meant for you to read about emi/rfi but more about just some lite reading about power chords since you guys were talking power.  thats all.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: woodsyi on 6 May 2011, 06:14 pm
The writer is the owner of Blue Jeans Cable, which is a no frills cable company.  He has a horse in this race.  I bet a Nordost owner would have a different view.  Just saying.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: kyrill on 6 May 2011, 06:23 pm
every metal wire in real world contexts is an antenna for RFI and EMI
unless  adequately shielded or in a way twisted, also pwcs
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: 50jess on 7 Jan 2012, 12:22 am
Has anyone compared the Porter Port to the Maestro?  I'm very impressed with the Maestro.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Harmon on 10 Jan 2012, 06:33 pm
50jess, can you be more detailed on what your hearing with the Maestro?  :)
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Big Red Machine on 10 Jan 2012, 06:49 pm
Quoting myself here.  The Porter's are decent upgrades but for twice the price you can have a Maestro which to my ears is definitely better.  Good to better, not bad to good in my experience.  Some may be very satisfied with just Porters.

Brass outlets are, well, brass outlets.  Some form of copper or high copper content will give a better throughput and sound in my experience.  I have used the Power Ports and heard no improvements.  I now use the Maestros and I can say they do bring about a more 3D sound.  I tired a few on the most utilized outlets and then went back and added them to all the outlets once I heard the improvement. 
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: 50jess on 10 Jan 2012, 11:32 pm
50jess, can you be more detailed on what your hearing with the Maestro?  :)
The Maestro provided a more 3D sound.  There is more details in the separation of the instruments.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Berto on 11 Jan 2012, 01:30 am
Has anyone compared the Porter Port to the Maestro?  I'm very impressed with the Maestro.

I compared both as  well as a Jenna Labs. The Maestro was my favorite. Combined the porters immediate presentation with the Jennas resolving power.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: jennaboca on 30 May 2015, 10:27 pm
porter ports definitely get my approval  :)
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: sherod on 29 May 2016, 06:57 pm
I have tried many outlets in my system over the last 10 years. Ultimately the Porter Port, or non-cryo'd version, Hubbell HBL 8300H( brass back strap) outlet sounded best in my system. I also have found that changing out all the outlets on the same line of my audio/video system made a huge improvement, even though some of the outlets don't have any audio or video plugged into them.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: Scroof Neachy on 29 May 2016, 07:35 pm
As soon as the first disc started to play the difference in sound was absolutely jaw dropping.  To repeat, THE  DIFFERENCE  IN  SOUND  WAS  ABSOLUTELY  JAW  DROPPING!!!

I am just a consumer and have no affiliation with Porterhouse Audio.

Ooops, sounds like a bogus writeup to me. Hyperbole plus the good 'ole "not affiliated" statement means BEWARE.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: sherod on 29 May 2016, 07:41 pm
As far as I know, Albert Porter, who sells the Porter Port, is a one-man show in Dallas. The Porter Port has been around awhile, so there are a lot of them in many audiophile's systems. Albert doesn't need anyone to promote these outlets. The outlet sells itself once you hear how it performs. Word of mouth from audiophile users is sufficient.
Title: Re: Porter Port Audiophile Outlets
Post by: ssglx on 30 May 2016, 03:38 am
I tried several wall outlets on my CD player a couple years back.
The worst sounding of them, to my ears and in my system, was not the builder specials, it was the PS Audio Power Port and the Porter Port. The best were the Oyaide and Furutech Gold Plated copper outlets. 
The Furutech copper was good, but I ultimately liked the gold plated better.