Country of Origin
Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (4GHz quad-core with Turbo boost, 32GB RAM, 3TB FusionDrive, OSX Yosemite. iTunes 14.4), PureMusic 3.02, Audirvana 3, Qobuz Hifi, Tidal Hifi, Denafrips Terminator, Soundaware D300Ref SD transport & USB bridge; Preamplifier: Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature with WE VT52/300B or Elrog 50/300B; Power amplifiers: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos; Headphone amp: Kinki Studio; Headphones: Final D8000; Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Codex; Cube Audio Nenuphar; Aurai Audio M1 [on loan]; Cables: Complete loom of Allnic Audio ZL3000; 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; Room: 4 x 6m with high gabled beam ceiling opening into 4 x 8m kitchen and 5 x 8m living room, hence no wall behind the listening chairs
Second system: Source: Soundaware D100Pro SD transport; DAC/pre: COS Engineering D1; Amplifier: Bakoon AMP-13R; Loudspeakers: Acelec Model One w. Franck Tchang magnesium 360° super tweeters, Zu Submission subwoofer, LessLoss Firewall for Loudspeakers; Power delivery: Puritan Audio Lab PSM-156; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Room: ~4x6m
Desktop system: Source: HP Z230 work station Win7/64; USB bridge: Audiobyte Hydra X+; Headphone amp: COS Engineering H1; Headphones: Audeze LCD-XC; Powered speakers: Fram Audio Midi 150
Upstairs headfi system: Source: Soundaware A280 SD transport; DAC: Auralic Vega; Integrated amplifier: Schiit Jotunheim R; Headphones: Raal-Requisite SR1a
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; DAC: Kinki Studio; Preamp: Wyred4Sound STP-SE II; Power amp: LinnenberG Audio Liszt monos, Pass Labs XA-30.8; Loudspeakers: German Physiks HRS-120; Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: $1'200
GC-303 crystal-composite mat plus NCF incorporated into the sockets, carbon-fiber plates and IEC power inlet.
Thankfully Clint Eastwood's dirty Harry roams the streets no more. Furutech's GTO-D2 NCF does. One look and its intent is clear without a butcher knife or that other thing: to save you money. Is your intent to put its savings toward the Red Cross? Even Harry Callahan couldn't have said.
These savings are relative to two other power distributors in this portfolio which carry the NCF suffix: the $2'100 e-TP609 and $4'000 e-TP809. Junior eliminates a pair of their outlets. It also makes do with a simpler case which instead of fat aluminium or carbon-fiber plates is topped by 106-D NCF carbon-fiber wall plates fitted with GTX-D NCF rhodium-plated phosphor bronze duplexes.
Now the question you gotta ask yourself is not whether you feel lucky but what NCF is. Why'd you want it? Short for Nano Crystal² Formula, it "incorporates into select Furutech products as a special crystalline material with two active properties. It generates negative ions that eliminate static and converts thermal energy into infrared. We combine this remarkable material with nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder for additional piezoelectric damping."
Having just reviewed Furutech's Clear Line which plugs into an unused power receptacle to expose its AC line to NCF, I was curious to hear what a higher dose across four receptacles could do. I could have asked for the e-TP609 or 809 but two of our systems don't need any more than four outlets. Certainly none of them need chassis bling by hiding behind a rack out of sight and mind. The GTO-D2 NCF—doesn't that sound like a souped-up Subaru—would do just fine. For the same reason it might have your attention?
The concept of a crystalline compound for EM/RF absorption isn't exclusive to Furutech. We've already come across it with Akiko Audio, DR Acoustics, Shunyata and Verictum. They all exploit their own formulations either with devices that plug into the power line in parallel or series; or influence it by proximity. This differs from proponents of active power filtering or regeneration. This Furutech shuns all coils, capacitors, circuit breakers, MOV and other parts of the active art. Like my first encounter of a serious unfiltered power distributor from Walker Audio, the GTO-D2 is purely passive. There's no surge protection, sequential power-on, polarity checker or power light. All there is are top-quality conductive materials and connections for unhampered current delivery. Enter another Dirty Harry quote.
De Georgio: "Illegal entry, no warrant."
Callahan: "Looks like we climb."
De Georgio: "Uh-uh. Too much linguine. I'll find another way."
It's why many critical listeners prefer passive power distribution. To them, the other kind had too much linguine. It's too lazy and poncified. It won't climb as high on speed and dynamics. If you want maximally fit energetic sound with its original attitude fully intact, they believe that passive is the way. That's where we're headed today: passive; but with Nano Crystal² Formula and GC-303. It should be a very different movie from leave the gun, bring the cannoli.
