Electrical outlet upgrade worth it?

Czbbcl, I settle with a Tice audio grade outlet eight years ago. I'm not sure if Tice is still producing this outlet. In those days I could only A/B outlets I could afford, hospital, industrial, and spec grade outlets, I still have no regrets on the $30 I shell out for the Tice, it has a blk background and lots of layering, and at least it was more musical than a $.75 Levingtion outlet.

I see the market now is flooded with many recomended outlets. I do agree with you that it is difficult to A/B outlets, and I offer at least a suggestion/luxury of having two wall outlets available for outlet comparision.

You guys shouldn't be so hard on 'old tin ears.' NataLIE is doing the best he can. Some people just don't have the hearing to appreciate good quality products and cost effective up-grades!

Jadem6,
I have been interested in hearing from someone who has tried both the WattaGate and the PS audio. Please fill me in on what you have found as these are the two that I have been most interested in. What is the difference that you hear between the two? The WattaGate can get to be real money if you start using many of them.

Czbbcl,
I have it a little better than the average audiophile does. When I finished my basement I had one room left over 15’ X 13’, (far from perfect but it’s all mine). Besides two regular in wall outlets behind my equipment I also installed four independent 20 amp dedicated outlets also located on the wall behind my equipment in exterior outlet boxes.
I can test different outlets very easily with very little down time. I’m still testing just for the fun of it.
In my system the Hubbell 8300 was good, the FIM 880 sounded better. The Wattgate 381 ($148) was an improvement over the two previously mentioned. The Hubbell 8300 cryogenically treated ($60) http://www.audioexcellenceaz.com/worldpower.htm sounded as good as the Wattgate 381, I could not hear a difference. With further use the Cryo treated Hubbell might sound better. I can’t tell because I’ve sent the FIM 880 and Wattgate 381 out to be cryogenically treated (-324 for 48 hours). When I get them all back and they settle in, I’ll post my findings. As others have asked me in another thread “where does the madness end"? …I don’t know, somebody help me!

Maxgain, The Hubble 8300, aprox. $20.00, the PS Audio power port $ 45.00 and the Wattgate $120.00. (These were the best prices I found new) My impressions were the Hubble and the Wattgate have very similar tonal qualities. Both have speed and bass control. Both are neural in there appearance, no discernable added sound. The Wattgate has an incredible smoothness and life like quality. It's as if the notes and images are less artificial and more liquid. Very hard to put my finger on other than the Wattgate is extremely musical. The PS Audio is a very different creature. It's very lively but etched and sterol. The entire presentation is more forward and brighter. I'm not saying it's bright, just more treble energy.
For the money the Hubble is a great outlet and will add say 10-15% to the systems capability. I'm not sure what that really means, only a point of reference. The Wattgate is far more refined and adds yet another 10-15%. If I were to put it in terms of dollars vs system cost, the Wattgate is giving me 30% more from my $5000 Plinius amp. Could I get that same 30% from $120 more expensive amp? I do not think so. I'm not sure I would receive that 30% from an $8000 amp. I love my equipment and how it sounds. With the Wattgate it simply makes the equipment I already love, better.
As for the PS Audio, I felt it changed my equipment, and I did not want it changed, just improved. If your system has faults by being a bit to warm, thick and muddy bass or needs more treble energy this may be a better outlet than the others. If you can imagine, another system dependant improvement.