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Is the Maestro AC outlet basically a cryo'd Cooper BR20 found at Lowes for $3.47?

Quote from an AA member regarding the Maestro AC outlet. 


Image: Cooper BR20 AC Outlet

I think it’s safe to assume the Maestro AC outlet is a Cooper brand product that’s essentially the same or similar to the Cooper BR20 Commercial Grade AC outlet available at Lowe’s for $3.47. If so, the Maestro AC outlet is nothing more than an ordinary hardware store product that’s been cryo’d and treated with a sweet smelling, sticky substance (snake oil?). Perhaps this unknown coating is what can supposedly make a $3.47 AC outlet sound superior to a Furutech or Oyaide product. Sorry for the snarky commentary, but this type of thing can affect the reputation of bonafide Audio Grade AC products. I’m sure you will fully enjoy the new Furutech GTX-D(R) AC outlet, bcowen!

See link:

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tweaks/messages/20/202332.html

//

Here is the full Tweakers Asylum thread.

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tweaks/messages/20/202315.html

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jea48

Showing 2 responses by lcherepkai

lcherepkai
126 posts
 
Greetings  jea48:

Thank you for the input.  My response, more than anything else, was to defend the sound quality of the Maestro outlets.  The original post seems to suggests that the Maestro doesn't compete with the Oyaides  (and the Furutechs, of which I have no opinion as I have no experience with them).  I've had the R1 and the SWO -GX and the Porters as well.  For transparency and detail, just getting out of the way and letting me hear the most, the Maestro is better than the Oyaides and about the same as the Porters but has more control than the Porter.  In my system(s), the Maestros are at the top.  So, if the Coopers are the same, then surely they must be excellent outlets.  If the Coopers aren't anything special soundwise, then either they aren't the basis for the Maestros or the work that Cruze Audio did/does on the outlets is truly transformative.   The Maestros probably aren't the best sounding outlets on the market but they are fine sounding and won't break the bank like some of the others indicated.  OK, many thanks for you time.
lcherepkai
126 posts
 
That's certainly disappointing if the Cruze Audio Maestro is simply a Cooper BR20 outlet, cryoed and nothing more but.... actually, I wouldn't mind at all.  I would buy a nice stash of the Coopers and send them off for cryoing and then have several of these fine outlets for very little $$$.  I have a few of these, a few more Porter Ports, and had the Oyaide R1 and SWO-GX.  The SWO-GX was hugely outclassed by the other three sounding opaque, slow, bloated... not only nothing special but a hindrance to clarity, transparency, and pacing.  The R1 was nicely detailed with a clearly defined soundstage and excellent control but both the Maestro and the Porter were obviously less colored and more transparent.  I think the Porter may be the slightest bit more transparent but it sounds less controlled, almost a bit loose compared to the Maestro.  I have no experience with the Furutech outlets so can't comment on them but the Cooper/Cruze Audio Maestros are legitimate, higher end outlets.  Buy them from Lowe's for $3.47?  You bet I'll check into that.  I agree the mark-up and deception in audio is B.S.  but don't dismiss the Maestros.  Just my 2cents worth...
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