Furutech Power NanoFlux NCF : Ultra-high-end performance power cable
The ultimate in refinement and extreme engineering….debuting Furutech`s Top-of-the-line ultra-high-end performance NanoFlux NCF power cable.
All audiophiles search for the same qualities: Verisimilitude to the original event, a sense of engagement promoting suspension of disbelief, a visceral immersion in the audio video experience.
They also know that everything in the signal path makes a difference, and that which we see, hear and experience is, in a very direct way the AC power itself…..
Furutech Power NanoFlux NCF : Ultra-high-end performance power cable
Features:
The ultimate in refinement and extreme engineering….debuting Furutech`s Top-of-the-line ultra-high-end performance NanoFlux NCF power cable
All audiophiles search for the same qualities: Verisimilitude to the original event, a sense of engagement promoting suspension of disbelief, a visceral immersion in the audio video experience. They also know that everything in the signal path makes a difference, and that which we see, hear and experience is, in a very direct way the AC power itself.
In fact, the AC supply is directly in the signal path. As amplifiers transfer energy to speakers it draws down storage capacitors by exactly the same amount. The capacitors try to keep fully charged by drawing energy from rectifiers that turn the AC into DC from the transformer that draws power through the wall. Ultimately everything you see, hear and experience is the AC that must be identical to let’s say an amplifier’s output, and that AC travels through the power cord! That’s why they’re as important as any cable in a system because they carry the same signal. Furutech has received enthusiastic reports of significant improvements with every type of audio, video and display device.
Furutech Alpha Nano-Au-Ag OCC is one of the best conductors Furutech engineers have found for sound reproduction.
The new technology used in the highly specialized manufacturing process of this ultra-high performance power cable combines Furutech’s world renowned Alpha-OCC conductors with Furutech’s extremely effective signal transmission enhancer, Nano Liquid, to create Alpha Nano-Au-Ag OCC conductors. Nano Liquid’s molecules are so tiny (8 nano-meters in diameter (8/1000000mm) they cover the Alpha-Nano-Au-Ag OCC surface and “fill up” any concave-convex sections left on the conductor surface during the production process, increasing the electric conduction area and debasing impedance. The very precise mix of gold and silver super-micro particles and amount of dispersing Squalene oil used on the conductor has great influence on the sound reproduction, and Furutech’s engineers settled on their exact ratio of gold to silver particles after careful audition of countless test samples. The resulting “tuned” cable offers superb overall balance of qualities that Furutech is known for that allows you to feel experience and communicate with music. The results are extremely fine resolution down and through the very low noise floor, improved sound staging and image palpability, a musical, attractive, “round” midrange, tight and controlled bass, plus power and dynamics to spare to set your music on fire!
NCF Piezo Ceramic Series Connectors – A Furutech First!
Furutech’s Pure Transmission FI-50 NCF Piezo Ceramic series connector bodies and housings feature several breakthrough construction techniques. A multilayer nonmagnetic stainless steel and silver plated carbon fiber shell incorporates a special damping and insulating acetal copolymer. Furutech settled on stainless and silver plated carbon fiber for the outer housing after extensive listening sessions with Japanese industry figures and audiophiles.
The body of the connectors incorporates an “active” damping material: Nano Crystal² Formula – Nano Crystalline, Ceramic and Carbon Powder. Incorporated into select Furutech products, Nano Crystal² Formula — NCF is comprised of a special crystalline material that has two “active” properties. First, it generates negative ions that eliminate static and secondly, it converts thermal energy into far-infrared. Furutech then combines this remarkable crystalline material with nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder for their additional “Piezo Effect” damping properties. The resulting Nano Crystal² Formula is the ultimate electrical and mechanical damping material – only found in Furutech products!
Nano Crystal² Formula eliminates static, “interconverts” thermal, mechanical and electrical energy and damps vibrations—all for the finest Furutech Pure Transmission signal imaginable.
All metal parts are treated with Furutech’s Two Step Cryogenic and Demagnetizing Alpha Process.
Specifications
• α (Alpha) Nano-Au-Ag OCC Conductor
• Double sheath construction for improved damping effect.
• Insulation: Special grade flexible PVC
• Connectors: Furutech-engineered nonmagnetic rhodium-plated Carbon Fiber finished FI-50(R) NCF / FI-50M(R) NCF connectors or FI-50(R) NCF / FI-E50(R) NCF with Floating Field Damper System
• Silver Plated Carbon Fiber finished Formula GC-303 EMI-Absorbent Modules surround the cable.
• Neo-damper – Furutech’s highly effective vibration damping material incorporated in cable build – only found in NanoFlux NCF power cord.
• Carefully engineered cable clamp improves grip and reduces mechanical and electrically-induced distortion
• Dimensions: Cable diameter approx. 18.8mm • Overall length: 1.8M/set
Cable construction:
• α (Alpha) Nano-Au-Ag OCC Conductor ・3.8mm diameter
• Insulation: Audio grade Flexible PVC (Red/White/Green), 5.2mm diameter
• Inner Sheath: Flexible PVC approx.12.5mm diameter
• Shield: 24 X 9 X 0.12mm braided α (Alpha) Conductor wires
• Sheath: RoHS Compliant Flexible PVC approx.18.0mm diameter
• Outer Sleeve: RoHS Compliant braided Nylon yarn braids, approx. 18.8mm
During my 30 years that I played around with audiophile equipment and in the process built up a couple of reference systems for myself, I always had been extremely guilty of totally neglecting the power side of things. Understand me right, it is not that I do not agree to the importance of good power cables; it is more a case of the last priority that often got neglected. Furthermore, I always argued the point away by saying that I have the cleanest and most stable power in the country. How come? I am the only user in the whole area to tap three phase power direct from an ESCOM main feeder, using only the two “clean” phases for my sound rooms, leaving the dirty phase shared by the other users for my household stuff. This configuration also led me to the conclusion that power conditioners strip away some of the magic in the midrange and treble from my reference VTL Siegfried 400 power amplifier.
This was the case until early in January 2017, when I received a Furutech’s Power NanoFlux NCF EU (FI-50) NCF Power cable and a Furutech Flux-50 High End Performance Filter (FI-52) with NCF technology to be used to power the Siegfried power amplifier. I also changed my wall outlet to a Furutech High End Performance SCHUKO wall socket (FT-SWS NCF) – Carbon Fibre Finish (Rhodium) with NCF technology.
Everything about this fantastic power chord screams extreme – its sophisticated construction, geometry, and materials, pure silver and gold impregnated conductors, the best termination that I’ve ever seen, and, yes, breathtaking price. I am not going to bore the reader by repeating all the Furutech patent and white paper information. Since the cable was brand new, I expected some serious burn in time, so I left my system playing for 24 hours without paying attention. My first listening impressions were positive, purity of sound probably the best descriptor, but I also experienced some brightness. As time progressed toward 100 hours of use, I started to experience some extreme improvement, but also some ups and downs.
For this reason, but also in order to review the power cord on my Reference Halcro DM 88 mono block amplifiers, I requested a second 2.8-meter power cord from AVCables. This time a properly burnt in one arrived, and to my surprise, the improvement in sound quality was instantly evident, although the first cable by this time was also settling very nicely.
My first comment around these superior power chords are that they cannot be judged without allowing considerable burn-in and settling time. In this regard, I would like to thank AvCables for their patience and willingness to part with these very expensive products for almost three months. Definitely do not draw any conclusions before 300 hours of use. Secondly, during burn in, they definitely go through phases of improvement and deterioration, just like I’ve experienced with many of the other high end equipment that I’ve evaluated over the years.
My reference system is highly revealing, and the purist character of these power chords was instantly evident. I do not need to search for a lot of audiophile descriptors to explain the overall improvement in the sound quality that I experienced. More detail, and more detail, and more finer detail against a quieter background, deeper and wider soundstage, and a phenomenal improvement in the mid and lower base punch and detail. On the other hand, the upper mids and treble got so clean and pure, that I suddenly started to listen to less well recorded material – absolutely no harshness and distortion were evident in the high frequency notes.
One night I pulled out a very difficult CD (Telarc SACD-60579, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir with Orchestra at Temple Square), and was mesmerized by the unveiling of this very big choir in my listening room. This is a very difficult piece of music and most systems fail to fully and properly resolve the large choir and orchestra. My system however did it like I’ve never heard before. I’ve never expected that two power chords, connected directly to two Schuko wall outlets, and then to my house copper wire and circuit breakers, could bring out so much more from my Reference Halcro DM 88 mono block amplifiers and Vivid Audio Giya G1 speakers. The same applied when I switched over to the VTL Siegfried valve amplifier, with the second cable connected to my DcS Vivaldi DAC.
Going back to my standard power cables, was definitely a step backwards, and I miss the Furutech NanoFlux power chords to such an extent, that I’ll probably place an order in the near future. These power cables will add the final touch and finesse to any good audiophile sound system. To conclude, a must to have in any good system, with the degree of improvement a big surprise to me.
Review notes by M Cronje – March 2017