Anyone compare outlets?

In my modest system, I've compared some older orange isolated ground Levitons and Bryants, the Pass and Seymour 5262, the Arrow Hart 8200 and the Hubbell 8300 (the P&S is and industrial grade plug-the Arrow and Hubbell hospital grade). In my system I prefer the Arrow Hart and have replaced all the receptacles (at the wall and line coniditioner) that the system draws from. As Albert says, the Hubbell 8300's are built very solidly, but I actually prefer the AH 8200. If you were to try something else, you might want to try the ACME outlet over at Audioasylum for $25 to $35 (depending on cryo or no cryo I think) with one outlet to see if you get an improvement. Lots of hype on that one being great-I'd be curious to see if it was significantly better than your Arrow Harts, but I think you've got a pretty good receptacle in those.

Good outlets ARE important, but I agree with Albert and Hdm above re going "overboard". I personally use Hubbell audio grade from the Cable Co. @ 2/$25., Leviton hospital grade, and I have 2 Acme w/o cryo treating. The Acme's initially cause a significant brightness in the mids and low treble (they are a Pass & Seymour that has been silver plated), but that goes away in 2-3 weeks. I tried them 'cuz it's a local company (to me), and the guy offers your money back after 30 days if you're not satisfied-- I have been satisfied. Cheers. Craig.

On the "Audioasylum" site under cables... find a lot of talk on how the "orange" Levitons gradually make your system sound terrible. I too put one in my wall and gradually the sound went to hell. I couldn't figure out what was wrong.. But realized the the only thing it COULD be was the outlet! I changed it and the sound went back to "normal". Then on the Audioasylum site others confirmed my experience.
I broke the one I had in my wall apart and it was all oily inside... ??? ... I do NOT understand why the Orange Levitons go bad , but can testify that in fact they DO!

Elizabeth: I may have been one of those poster's. It took me quite some time to figure out what had gone "sour" in the the system (with the outlet being the very last thing that was checked). The sound gradually degraded over a period of 60-90 days with a recessed midrange being the most noticable aspect. I broke the outlet in with my old Kirby vacuum (huge motor on this one) which may have accelerated the process. Had I not seen the other posts @ AA (as you did), I probably would have tried another Leviton (thinking the one in use to be defective).

........a mistake re my above post. I've used Pass & Seymour hospital grade (not Leviton) with success. They are very well constructed and have good grip. I'm surprised to hear of the apparent problem with the Leviton(s) though as I've mostly heard good things about them. Craig