Country of Origin
Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (4GHz quad-core with Turbo, 32GB RAM, 3TB FusionDrive, OSX Yosemite. iTunes 14.4), PureMusic 3.02, Audirvana 3, Qobuz, Tidal, Denafrips Terminator+ clock-synced to Soundaware D300Ref SD transport/USB reclocker; Preamp: Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature with WE VT52/300B or Elrog 50/300B; Power amps: LinnenberG Liszt monos; Headamps: Questyle CMA-800r monos; Phones: HifiMan Susvara; Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Codex; Cube Audio Nenuphar; Aurai Audio M1 [on loan]; Cables: Complete loom of Allnic Audio ZL; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra on all source components, Vibex One 11R on amps, LessLoss C-MARC Entropic cords between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc Krion and glass amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, LessLoss Firewall for loudspeakers, Furutech NCF Signal Boosters; Room: 4 x 6m with high gabled beam ceiling opening into 4 x 8m kitchen and 5 x 8m living room so no wall behind the listening chairs
2nd system: Source: Soundaware D100Pro SD transport; DAC/pre: Denafrips Terminator or COS Engineering D1; Preamplifier: Passive Preamp icOn 4Pro Model 3 SE; Amplifier: Bakoon AMP-13R or Crayon CFA-1.2; Loudspeakers: Acelec Model 1 w. Franck Tchang magnesium super tweeters, sound|kaos Vox 3awf, Zu Submission subwoofer; Power delivery: Furutech GTO 2D NCF; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Audioquest Fog Lifters; Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~4x6m
Desktop system: Source: HP Z230 work station Win7/64; USB bridge: Audiobyte Hydra X+; Headamp: Kinki Studio Vision THR-1; Phones: Audeze LCD-XC on Forza Audio Lab cable; Powered speakers: Fram Audio Midi 150
Upstairs headfi system: Source: Soundaware A280 SD transport; Integrated amplifiers: Schiit Jotunheim R or Bakoon AMP-13R; Phones: Raal-Requisite SR1a, Audeze LCD-2, Final Sonorous X & D8000, HifiMan HE-1000
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; DAC: Kinki Studio; Preamp: Wyred4Sound STP-SE II; Power amp: Pass Labs XA-30.8; Loudspeakers: German Physiks HRS-120; Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: $1'200 for GTO-2D NCF, €206 duplex brace, €144 single brace
With/without. Two months after publishing my Furutech's GTO-D2 NCF review and having since tested their NCF Signal Booster, this arrived: "Frank Hayama, Furutech's founder and CEO, passes on his regards and appreciation for taking the time to look at our products and for the kind words. He noticed your thoughts in the NCF Booster piece about not being able to "isolate what Furutech's NCF might do" and suggested that we send you a special version of the GTO-D2 NCF with one NCF receptacle/faceplate, one standard. The receptacles would be the same design/build and only differ on NCF. This might offer an easy method to isolate the NCF effect. Would that interest you?"
Furutech's older rtp6 passive power distributor from the original comparison here enhanced with two NCF Clear Lines.
Absolutely. While I had Graeme Coley, I suggested that RCA/XLR connectors with built-in NCF would be the logical next step for their company. "True enough but we're holding off roll-out until the next Munich show." More applications for their Nano Crystal Formula² were in the air. It already features in select Furutech power plugs/receptacles, plug cuffs, power distributors/conditioners, parallel power cells and power cords. Furutech signal cables would be next to get their connectors upgraded. With the Munich HighEnd 2021 show provisionally scheduled for September 9th–12th, we'll just need to wait to learn more. For today, preview what to expect by isolating the NCF effect in a passive power delivery context by comparing with/without.
Here is the hardware context: Soundaware D100Pro SD transport ⇒ AES/EBU ⇒ Denafrips Terminator ⇒ XLR ⇒ icOn 4Pro Model 3 SE ⇒ 4th-order 40Hz high-passed RCA to Bakoon AMP-13R, 4th-order 40Hz low-passed RCA to Zu Submission subwoofer ⇒ sound|kaos Vox 3awf speakers. Given how this system needs three outlets for the gear on the rack—the wall wart for the passive's remote control plugs into the subwoofer spur—two Titan Audio high-current Eros power cords connected original and modified GTO to the wall. Now two components could subtract/add NCF at will. This would show the difference. Live 'n' learn. I had to do some living first before I could share any learning.
What if like a biker's go-faster mod, you want to bolt NCF onto existing cords or conditioners, be those Furutech's or from competitors? Hello NCF Booster Brace. It comes in duplex and single versions.
