Outlets

I have tried quite a few outlets in my system(s) from all the Oyaide outlets including the R1, PS Audio PP down to the Arrow Hart's and have to say that the Oyaide WPC-Z wallplate mounting system is an essential part in dropping the noise floor and allowing the outlets to really be heard for what they offer.

With system dependance being a huge factor in the outcome of how each outlet could be characterized, the Oyaide R1/WPC-Z has smoked all other outlets in sheer musicality. The PS Audio PP have a much tighter bass but their foward mids and prominent grainy highs held it back. The Arrow Harts do not even begin to compete. They are however, better than the .79 cent outlets that usually come stock in homes.

I have not tried a Porter Port and from the comments posted here, I just might to see how it stacks up against the R1. As to the SR Teslaplex, I don't share the enthusiasm that others do as I was able to hear it head to head in a setup that allowed almost instant outlet changeout in a high resolution system and compared to the R1, it lacked the sheer musicality of the R1 and it also cast what could be descibed as a "haze" over the music. The soundstage also shrank by a small degree with the Telsplex which I found quite odd. Of course, others who have installed the Teslaplex in their systems are more than happy with the results so again, system dependancy is highly at play here and it may not have been fully broken it at that time. I plan to revisit the Teslaplex in my own system here in the future and will report out what I find.

Cheers

The Teslaplex does take a few days to brake in. At least 3. It sounds closed in at first and then opens up beautifully. It does not sound its best right out of the box.

If you have some sort of surge protection between the outlet and the component, does that mean that the quality of the outlet is less important? I live in a heavy thunder storm area (lots of big booms). I'm getting some sort of whole-house surge protection, which will be before the outlet, but I'm still wondering whether these posts assume that the component is connected directly to the outlet, without any intervening surge protection.

You will not be completely protected against surges and distant lightning strikes with just a whole house protector. You will also need something in front of your electronics, or unplug them every time there is a threat. Unless you are able to claim them under insurance, you will have to buy a surge protector for the electronics. There is controversy about the effect on the sound. I figure I would rather have some effect of the sound than dead electronics. I am not always home when the storms come. How much effect depends on the surge unit you buy. There will be lots of opinions on this topic. The type of outlet you use will be a part of the continuum from electricity entering your house, to the sound coming out of your speakers. I doubt it will be the deciding factor, but that's just my skepticism.

What is the general opinion here on the Shunyata SR-z1 outlets?

I am pretty much decided on going with either those or Porter Ports.

Have not had good experiences with Oyaide or PS Audio stuff.