November 2024

Furutech NCF Power Vault, Project V1 Power Cable And AC Duplex Wall Ensemble Review
Elevating the performance of my stereo sound system.
Review By Rick Becker

   I opened a promotional email recently for a $12,000 mountain bike. What planet am I living on? And yes, I've seen the drone footage of cyclists hopping along mountain precipices proving their immortality. Or perhaps the drone footage outlives them? But then I reflected on the $7,875 Furutech NCF Power Vault and the accompanying  Project V1 Power Cable for $9,550 I had opened up for review moments earlier. Expensive? Yes, for most of us.

As we get older our interests in life narrow to what becomes most important to us. My last bicycle ride up Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina was in 2018 when I closed down my retail furniture business. My writing for Enjoy the Music.com, already with a 19-year track record at that point, expanded to fill a void in my life, just as I imagine high-end audio becomes more important to many of us after we "retire." While the power conditioner and cable seemed priced beyond my comfort zone, Furutech has an esteemed reputation I wanted to explore. Why not? A visit to any high-end audio show reminds me that I am far from the wealthiest player in this field. People are willing to spend large for quality products.

The only other products I had tried from Furutech were the modest  NCF Clear Line Mini Power Optimizer which still graces my basic video rig and a right-angle plug I installed on the captive cord of a power strip – both fine products.

In addition to my curiosity about these two new products, I have long been convinced of the importance of an excellent power source and vibration control, which is much what the NCF Power Vault is about. Additionally, Scot Markwell of Elite AV Distribution sent along their top AC outlet kit to enhance the connection to the wall. This was something I also have experience with. My rig starts back at the breaker box where a 30A breaker connects to an Audience Hidden Treasures dedicated line, which proved to be impressively superior to my 20A Romex dedicated line.

I've also reviewed the numerous Synergistic Research duplex outlets, as well as their carbon fiber covers, and a range of their power cords and power conditioners. Most recently, I reviewed their new PowerCell 8 SX and gave it a Blue Note Award. Additional tweaks including Synergistic Pink fuses, a mid-level Synergistic Active Ground Block, and LessLoss BlackGround and BlackGround For Speakers also significantly lower the noise floor and enhance the music. I've got all the bases covered. But I was also excited to learn if these more expensive components from Furutech equated to significantly higher sound quality and greater enjoyment of the music.

I had seen the previous iteration of Furutech's Pure Power 6 NCF power distributor on display at a show once. It was about a foot square with an outlet on each side for power cords to emanate horizontally like the legs of an octopus. It was superbly finished and built like a vault but it failed to gain traction in the marketplace. I never saw one in use at any show. The form factor of the NCF Power Vault was a lot more user-friendly.

Nano Crystal Formula (NCF)
Furutech is widely known for variations of what is now the  e-TP609 power distributor. They also call the NCF Power Vault a power distributor but the line between a "power distributor" and a "power conditioner" becomes blurred when they introduce their NCF technology into the game. Here's how they describe their Nano Crystal Formula (NCF):

"NCF is a special crystalline material that has two ‘active' properties. First, it generates negative ions that eliminate static. Second, it converts thermal energy into far infrared. Furutech combines this remarkable material with nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder for the additional "piezoelectric effect" damping properties. The resulting Nano Crystal Formula is the ultimate electrical and mechanical damping material."

I can measure neither negative ions nor infrared, but I can use my ears to evaluate musical performance, and the NCF Power Vault sure sounds like a power conditioner to me. To lift it, you would think it was a Class A power amp. To look at it you would think it was a high-grade medical instrument or something destined to perform in outer space for decades into the future. A third initial impression came from plugging in a power cord. The four top-of-the-line GTX-D NCF receptacles feature a spring-loaded grip that is unmatched by all except the Audience duplex in my experience. These are just the obvious impressions.

A major focus of the design is on damping vibration at both the macro and micro level. The body is CNC machined from high-grade billet aluminum that is then treated with their Alpha cryogenic and demagnetizing process and then finished with a hairline anodized surface. Dare I call it erotic to touch it? The sheer mass of the unit, more than 23 lbs., acts as a vibration sink. Their Alpha-12 stranded 12 Ga. OCC internal copper wiring also receives the cryogenic and demagnetizing Alpha process. The NCF Power Vault is rated at 15A 125V though I expect it will sometimes see duty with more than 15 amps passing through it. The duplex outlets are rated at 20A 125V. A chassis ground post is mounted above the 15A IEC input. If you're buying a product at this level, chances are good that you've also invested in a system grounding device to further lower the noise floor.

The top section of the Power Vault houses deep padded wells to fully embrace the large AC plugs that are ubiquitous with most high-end power cords. This, combined with the top-loading orientation of the duplex outlets assures the power cords will not come dislodged. And in my experience, they didn't. I was also able to insert a large square plug on an Audio Sensibility power cord as well as a small two-prong plug for my Charisma Audio turntable. While the Furutech IEC inlet on the side of the unit didn't have the spring-loaded snap-in feature of the duplex receptacles, it had a firm grip on the power cord, regardless of which one I used. No problem there.

A lot more technical detail on all the products in this review is available on the Elite A/V and Furutech websites for those who wish to go into greater depth.

Another feature I didn't notice until near the end of my review was a set of four custom footers with a rubber washer on one side for traction and a smooth side if you are worrying about marring your furniture.

I installed them, intending to listen to a few cuts on my compilation CD, and ended up listening to music for the entire afternoon. They made a significant improvement. In the photo below you see I have the Power Vault resting on top of the LessLoss Blackground for Speakers as this location allowed for quick and easy switching of power cords. More likely, you will place it on the floor near your rack. The heavy weight of the unit facilitated the insertion and removal of the power cords.

The Listening
To establish a base level I listened to cuts 1 through 5 (of 18) on my compilation CD with the Synergistic Research PowerCell 8 SX and its Excite SX power cord plugged into the Audience 30A dedicated line. I left the MACO MACARIA speaker in the rig as that was the speaker I had been reviewing for the past six weeks and I was curious to hear if the NCF Power Vault might make the somewhat tiring treble more comfortable.

Being so familiar with the compilation CD, it didn't take more than time to return to my listening chair to realize something special was happening here. Thirty seconds in and I was already having a Wow! experience. And this was from just the electric guitar intro on a Buddy Guy tune. I was expecting some improvement given the large price difference, but I immediately recognized the improvement was worth every dollar. All that was missing was a "Welcome to the Big League" banner on the front wall.

The obvious big improvements were in resolution, the fullness of the instruments, the physicality of the singers, and the dynamics – particularly when they were extreme such as with drums and cymbals. Overall, the music had such a natural feeling that it lacked an electronic signature. At least it lacked the one it had before. Voices and instruments were more 3-dimensional. There was greater clarity in the instruments positioned deeper in the soundstage – I could hear right past the instruments in the foreground.

Drums were tighter, fuller, and more precisely positioned in the soundscape. The timbre was more convincing, particularly on the Chinese Drum cut. I could hear each pluck of the guitar string as it overlayed the decay of the previous note without erasing it. I still got tripped up on a couple of lines with James Taylor singing "Country Road" but most of the other cognitive stumbling blocks on my compilation CD were easily cleared with greater clarity.

Switching over to some LPs, Jackson Browne's "The Load Out/Stay" was never more musical with the newfound resolution and timbre – even on a well-worn garage sale record. No need to spend for a modern re-master. The falsetto cameos of the female backup singer and the male slide guitarist were easily differentiated and evoked so much more emotional response from me. The audience applause was pointillistic with a timbre that sounded like real flesh. I can't think of a time I've heard this song better, even on a mega-buck system at a show.

Back in the day, I was never a fan of metal bands. My mi-fi system smeared the rapid playing of multiple guitars, regardless of the playback volume. But High-End audio changes the game as we all know. Side One of a 1977 copy of Led Zepplin's eponymous LP exhibited supreme resolution, inner detail, and timbre that revealed all the subtle spatial effects they created with reverb. I was listening at a deeper level than ever before and it was better than a live concert because who performed with such power conditioning and high-quality cables back in the day? Not to forget the acoustically horrendous venues they played?

Switching to my early mono version of the Elvis Presley LP, I found the sound quality quaint with the vintage studio equipment of the day, yet the music had more presence and life than ever before. Certainly, it sounded much better than any equipment I was using back in the ‘50s. For a take on modern recordings, I listened to the remaster of Niel Young's Harvest Moon. "Old King" dredged up long-buried feelings for my dear obedience-trained Doberman pinscher, by-passing any awareness of the playback equipment. And "Natural Beauty" created an enveloping sense of space with its ethereal use of reverb. Long live the LP!

Power Vault With Synergistic Research Power Cord
The Furutech gear was scoring major points for value, but the power cord was giving me pause at $9550. The Synergistic Research Atmosphere Excite SX power cords that fire up most of my rig are about a quarter of that cost. How much sonic damage could I do with using one to feed the NCF Power Vault?

The Excite SX produced a more liquid sound with a bit more tonal color (timbre), and more dynamic contrast. The space between instruments was more differentiated from the instruments themselves and the decay of notes was a bit more prominent. The music hung in the air a bit more and it was more emotionally engaging for me. All of this suggests there was a blacker background which was especially noticed with cymbals exploding on rock music.

For the very first time ever, the second time the line "with every wish there comes a curse" appears in Sprintsteen's "With Every Wish", I heard what sounded like a delayed "…ss" on the word ‘curse' – a consonant he either swallows or was turning his head away as his voice dropped. And on "57 Channels" his refrain from the back left side of the soundstage came through the best I've ever heard it. The Chinese Drum cut was even more palpable. On the Wilson Phillips' cover of Elton John's "Daniel," the instruments were more sorted out on the soundstage and the voices of the three women were more distinct and further separated at the front of the stage.

On more modest equipment this song can sound completely congested. And finally, Bob Seger's smokey voice became as transparent and resolved with as much inner detail as the instrumentation in the background. All these years, I thought his voice was being intentionally smoothed out at the mixing board.

I was truly climbing into the movie frame with this comparison because I've never had a chance to experience a power cord in this price range. The differences were small, but significant in the context of the rest of my rig which was mostly connected with a loom of Excite SX power cords and interconnects. The open baffle MACO speaker is very revealing of resolution and transparency and the silver conductors of the Synergistic cables (vs. the copper conductors of the Furutech power cord) play right into those strengths. In a blind test would I notice much difference? Without the rapid direct comparison I went through here, I'm not sure.

As the days passed, I began to appreciate the additional sound quality of the V1 cable, but if someone switched cables while I was asleep, I'm still not sure I would recognize the change the next day. In my review of the MACO MACARIA speaker, I suggested copper cables might ameliorate the tiresome treble. It seems like the NCF Power Vault was up to that task by itself and the V1 put some tasty icing on the cake.

Adding Furutech GTX-D NCF R Duplex Outlet
Scot Markwell wanted to send along the Furutech duplex outlet, outlet plate, and metal outlet bracket to give me a chance to experience the complete Furutech experience right from the wall to the Power Vault. Normally we frown upon distributors piling on extra gear to review, but my experience with other brands, coupled with my curiosity resulted in a resounding "Yes!"

I'll speed through these and refer you to the Furutech website for technical details. Basically, this duplex outlet is their top model with Rhodium plating, pure copper terminals, and their NCF treatment. It is the same model used in the NCF Power Vault and it has the same fierce grip. While I didn't use it mounted vertically in a wall, I doubt you will have trouble with sagging power cords pulling loose. And if you do, Furutech has a cable support solution for that and I have a couple of other solutions in my reviewing cue. Note in the photo above the "wing" on the side of the duplex is a cover that slides securely over the binding screws to further isolate the cable connections.

My Audience Hidden Treasures dedicated line terminates in a free-floating junction box designed for outdoor exposure. I've used a variety of duplex outlets from Synergistic Research, culminating with the Purple, which has progressively improved over the years. Most recently, I've favored the Audience Hidden Treasures duplex topped off with a Synergistic Research Carbon Fiber duplex cover.

To start, I simply installed the Furutech duplex and kept the Synergistic cover. Immediately, and over the first five cuts on my compilation CD, there was greater transparency, resolution, dynamics, and inner detail. Somehow, the attack seemed completely instantaneous with no sense of lag. It was as if I had slipped my speedy AGD GaNFET Class D monoblocks into the rig, except I was getting the benefit from tubes with my Manley Mahi monoblocks in triode mode. The Bruce Springsteen "cur…se" I talked about above was more discernable and the "57 Channels" refrain hit a new high point. The improvement in the Chinese Drum cut felt like a speaker upgrade. The bass was very forceful. James Taylor's live "Steamroller Blues" now had PRAT (pace, rhythm & timing) that made it sound even more like live music.

Had I still been working on the MACO speaker review I would have given it an even greater rave review (A follow-up on that speaker, after I've heard the Quartz and Maple versions at Capital Audiofest, is planned.) It was obvious that at $249 this was a very high-value product for all but the very entry-level of high-end audio and a no-brainer for anything above that. After all, with a little effort, you can take it with you when you move.

Adding Furutech Outlet Plate
Next, I replaced the Synergistic Carbon Fiber duplex cover with the Furutech. The NCF Damper Outlet Cover 106-D Plus NCF is Furutech's Newest "Top of the line" Receptacle Cover. The Synergistic cover, available in duplex and quad versions, is a high-tech cover with its UEF treatment to reject EMI and RFI, and foam on the back to dampen vibrations. The Synergistic cover sports a gloss finish, in contrast to the flat finish of the Furutech with its suede-like feel from the NCF treatment. The graphic below illustrates the multiple layers (on both sides) of the Furutech outlet plate.

PDF Multi-Layer Structure Description
With the Furutech plate, cymbals sounded a bit more resolved and a bit less aggressive. The torque applied to the screw that attaches it can be significant and when I tightened it a bit the midrange became slightly more present and resolved. Overall, by itself, the Furutech outlet plate was just a little better than the Synergistic one, but in relation to anything else, it is a big step up – and I've used everything from plastic to generic metal to stainless steel to the Synergistic model. If all you intend to do is add a duplex plate, either one will be appreciated – more so when you get it tightened down just right. The price difference is minimal. But if you want to take it up a notch, let's take a look at the Furutech metal outlet bracket.

Adding Furutech GTX Wall Plate
The Metal outlet bracket is designed to be mounted on the wall directly in front of the outlet box. The duplex outlet attaches to the outlet bracket, not to the outlet box in the wall. Multiple threaded holes are available for attaching different brands of duplex outlets. Two drywall screws are included to mount the bracket to the wall but were useless with my free-floating junction box. To get the review done before the upcoming Toronto and Capital Audiofests, I simply set the duplex outlet into the box and let gravity and the weight of the power cords hold it in place. For permanent installation, I will scare up some longer machine screws to attach it firmly to the outlet box and it will be fine.

With the Furutech Duplex Outlet, Furutech Duplex Plate, and the Furutech Wall Plate, the cymbals were even better resolved and in the midrange, James Taylor's voice was smoother, along with better spatial resolution on the soundstage. In general, everything was a bit more resolved and realistic. And the MACO speaker was even less aggressive. I have every reason to believe that mounting the GTX Wall Plate to the wall would make the results even better. After all, that's what happened when I built a wall-mounted shelf for my unsuspended Charisma turntable.

Adding Furutech Power Cord
To complete the circuit with Furutech products for Scot, I inserted the Project V1 power cord between the outlet and the NCF Power Vault and hit Play on my CD transport. James Taylor's live "Steamroller Blues," a loud and brash song by his standards, seemed a touch more natural and a touch more dynamic. "Daniel," sung by Wilson Phillips, in three-part harmony, became more holographic with better spatial relations of both the female voices and the instruments, and was much better resolved. Bob Seger, with "Turn the Page," was musically richer, as was the Fourth Movement of Mahler's 1st Symphony, particularly the timbre and spatial layering of the instruments on this otherwise rather flat CD recording. Bass was more natural with both Chinese drums and kick drums and it was noticeably strong. Overall, adding the Project V1 power cord elevated the value of the MACO MACARIA speakers.

Switching from MACO to Acora Speakers
It had been weeks since I had heard the Acora QRC-2 speaker so I channeled my best Arnold Schwarzenegger and parked the MACO aside. Switching quickly from an open baffle to a ported dynamic box speaker was a shock. The bass felt bloated and soft and the music seemed damped, despite the quartz cabinet. Perhaps I had misjudged the position I originally had them in. I gave them an hour or so, figuring I would fine-tune them the next day. When the next day arrived, having not heard the MACO in about twenty hours, the Acora seemed fine…almost as I had remembered them, yet in some way which I couldn't put my finger on, better. For sure, there is a significant difference between the two speakers.

Value
At almost twice the price of the Synergistic Research PowerCell 8 SX I had recently reviewed very favorably, the Furutech NCF Power Vault easily delivered what seemed like more than twice the improved sound quality. This was quite unexpected in a field where we typically find diminishing returns as prices grow astronomically higher. Given the superb fit and finish, I expected the price would be in the $10-$12k range of other top-shelf competitors. It wasn't until I had nearly finished the review that I learned the MSRP of these products.

In so many ways, the NCF Power Vault made the MACO MACARIA speakers sound substantially better. This suggests that if you're looking to spend big bucks on new speakers to improve the sound quality of your system, perhaps you should maximize your AC power delivery to discover the untapped quality of what you already own. Spending large on a top-flight power conditioner could be more cost-effective and ear-opening than spending two or three times as much on new speakers – or any other major component. The assumption is that if you are spending this kind of money you have been around a while and have refined your listening skills sufficiently to appreciate the improvements they bring.

The Project V1 power cable was a different story. It is clearly a top-flight power cable but its return on investment is not as generous as the NCF Power Vault. It has a price that puts it in a range where you should very carefully audition it before buying. The difference between the V1 and the performance of my Synergistic cables at close to a quarter of the cost amounts to fine-tuning so you probably want your rig to be fairly well sorted out before you start spending very large sums like this on power cables. Like all things Furutech, the fit and finish were superb.

Investing in the Furutech Duplex Outlet, Duplex Plate, and Wall Plate adds up to $541 which starts to look like serious money for a plug in the wall but in the context of a rig costing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, it is something that deserves serious consideration, particularly if you are unable to route a dedicated line to your system. If you are apprehensive, do it in stages. Start with the duplex outlet and progress to the duplex plate and finally the wall plate. And if you have multiple dedicated lines, start with the one for your low-powered source components where the benefits will eventually find their way to your power amps and speakers. For years, the word on the street was that Furutech duplex outlets were the best. The new GTX-D NCF R Duplex Outlet exceeded my expectations and is a very high-value product.

The Load Out
As the urgency of packing my bag for the Toronto Audiofest 2024 show looms, a feeling of contentment and valuable discovery comes over me as I look back upon this Furutech review. At the start, I wouldn't have considered spending what I thought the NCF Power Vault would cost. Now, having heard its performance and discovering its value, I can appreciate spending as much as I might spend on a preamp, power amp, or source component for a power conditioner. That it elevates the performance of the entire rig is a strong selling point. While I haven't auditioned other power conditioners in this price range, judging from the sound quality it brings to my rig, I have to give it my highest recommendation.

I've long been a fan of quality cabling, particularly in delivering AC to the rig. The V1 power cord contains a lot of technology and is very well made, all of which result in superior sound. Unfortunately, it falls outside my comfort zone, particularly if I were to buy enough of them for my major components. Those with deeper pockets may want to have a listen before buying. The duplex outlet, plate, and wall bracket, like the NCF Power Vault, serve the entire system and offer significant gains that are often overlooked, even by audiophiles who could easily afford them. I very highly recommend you consider them.

Finally, to answer the question I asked at the outset, was I enjoying my music? More than ever!

Specifications
Furutech NCF Power Vault

Chassis: CNC machined special-grade aluminum alloy with hairline anodized surface.

AC Input/Output: 15A IEC input/ 4 GTX-D NCF R Duplex Outlets

Materials Processing: Metal parts treated with α (Alpha) Cryogenic and Demagnetizing Process

Ground/Earth Connection: Chassis Grounding Post

IEC Inlet: FI-09 NCF (R) – α (Alpha) pure copper conductor rhodium-plated

Receptacles: 4 GTX-D NCF R duplex receptacles

Adjustable Isolation Spikes: Spike supports with special grade Anti-vibration rubber

NCF Booster Brace-Single: 8 Power Connector Damping Support

Internal wiring: Alpha-12 - Stranded α (Alpha)-OCC conductor wire treated with Furutech's α (Alpha) Cryogenic and Demagnetizing Process / UL compliant insulation: Special grade Flexible UL-CL3 PVC

Rated: 15A 125V A.C. 1875AV

Dimensions

Weight: 23 lbs.

Furutech Project V1 Power Cable: $9550

Specifications
Multi-material Hybrid conductor with special three-tier concentric design.

Sound enhancing, resonance damping double insulation, double shielded, three sheath design.

Dual insulation： Inner FEP (Fluoropolymer) & Outer high-grade polyethylene.

RoHS complaint Nano-ceramic and carbon powder damping material.

Cable Outer Siameter: 32.0mm

Length: 1.8 meters

Furutech GTX-D NCF R Duplex Outlet: $249

Specifications
Rhodium-plated α (Alpha) Pure Copper Conductor (0.8mm) Nonmagnetic stainless conductor spring system

Body material: Nylon/fiberglass with a special anti-resonance nano-sized crystalline, piezo ceramic particles and
carbon damping material

Cover material: Polycarbonate with a special anti-resonance nano-sized crystalline material (NCF)

Parts set with nonmagnetic 2mm-thick stainless brace plate

Specified for wire diameters of 4mm / 10 gauge (set screw) or with mini spade connectors

NCF Damper Outlet Cover 106-D: $145 

Furutech GTX-D NCF R Duplex Outlet: $249 

GTX Receptacle Wall Frames: $147 

Furutech NCF Power Vault: $7,875

Company Information
Furutech Co. Ltd.
Furutech Bldg., 3-9-1
Togoshi, Shinagawa-Ku
Tokyo 142-0041, Japan

Voice: +81-(0)3-6451-3941
Fax: +81-(0)3-6451-3942
Website: Furutech.com

USA Distributor
Elite Audio/Visual Distribution

Voice: (818) 245-6037
E-mail: scotlm@eliteavdist.com 
Website: EliteAVDist.com