Furutech FP-TCS31 power cable and FI-28/FI

FURUTECH
Hifi-advice.com
Furutech FP-TCS31 power cable and
FI-28/FI-38 connectors Review
2016 Netherlands
Link: http://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/furutech-fp-tcs31-power-cable-and-fi-28fi-38-connectors/
FurutechFP-TCS31powercableandFI-28/FI-38connectors
Christiaan Punter
ComparingthenewcableandconnectorstotheAlpha3andFI25/FI35predecessors
FurutechintendedtheunshieldedAlpha3powercabletobeusedwithpoweramplifiers,leavingthedigital
sourcedutiestotheirmoreaffordablebutscreenedcables.IfoundhoweverthattheAlpha3soundedmost
excellentwithjustaboutanyaudiocomponent,andIhaveuseditwithgreatsuccessincombinationwitha
largenumberofDACsforseveralyears.Itismyexperiencethatshieldinginitselfdoesnnotgreatlyinfluence
thesoundofacable.Shieldingcaninfactaltertheperceivedlowleveldetailingofacable,butit’sthe
geometryandinsulationmaterialsthanmostinfluenceitscharacter.
TheAlpha3hasnowbeenreplacedbytheFP-TCS31,whichisactuallyalsoascreenedcable.Also
discontinuedaremyfavoriteFurutechconnectors,theFI25andFI-E35.
NaturallyIwasnowcurioustoseehowthecablesandconnectorswouldcompareandIfiguredthatanice
comparativereviewwasinorder.Thiswouldhoweverrequireseveralconnectorsandseveralmetersofcable.
UponcontactingDutchcompanyAudio-Life,Casparwasenthusiasticaboutmyplanandmorethanhappyto
providetherequiredproductsforreview.
ComparingConnectors
Alpha3+FI25/FI35goldplatedconnectors&
Alpha3+FI28/FI38goldplatedconnectors
FirstcandidatesforcomparisonarethenewFI28/FI-E38connectors.Inpreparation,Ihavemadetwocables
ofidenticallength,onewiththeoutgoingFI25/FI-E35connectorsandtheotherwiththenewFI28/FI-E38
connectorstoenabledirectcomparisons.Bothcableswereruninthesameamountoftime,andconnectedto
thesameextensionblockoutput,withthesamephase.FirstcomparisoniswiththeWadia25DAC.Thisisa
trueoldiebynow,butbecausetheAlpha3matchessowellwithit,andIamverymuchaccustomedtothe
combination,I’mstartingoffwiththisclassicDAC.IwillmakethesamecomparisonsusingaMeridian818as
DAC,whichisacurrentlyavailableproduct.
Construction
Bothconnectorshousingsaremadefromahybridofnylonandcarbonandtheconductorsarepurecopper
withpuregoldplating.There’sgoodnewsforthepeoplewhohavehadtodealwithbrokenstrainreliefpieces
astheyarenowmadeofnon-magneticsteel,andimpossibletobreak.Therestofthedesignisalsosubtlybut
meaningfullychangedforthebetter,withnewsolidscrewterminalsfortheschukoplugthatallowthebare
wirestobeclampedinbetweentwogold/rhodiumplatedmetalpartsinplaceofbeingscreweddowndirectly
withascrewaswiththeinitialFI-E35versions,sonomorecrushingofthelitzeintheprocess.Alsothereis
newlydesignedearthingofallmetalpartsandanewclassierlookinggreenhousingpart.Overall,thenew
connectorsnowlookandfeelevenmorehighend.
Aboveleft:anearlysampleoftheoutgoingFI-E35withnormalscrewterminals,topright:thenewFI-E38with
solidclamps.NotethatthemostrecentversionoftheFI-E35alsohadsimilarclamps.
Aboveleft:newFI-E38housingwithnon-magneticmetalstrainreliefinplaceoftheplasticonesofthe
outgoingmodels
Wadia25
TheAlpha3withFI25/FI-E35connectorsmatchesverywellwiththeWadia25,enhancingtheDAC’sinherent
qualities.LikemostWadias,theDACishoweverquitedryinthetrebleandnotveryfluidoverall.Thiscanbe
fixedtosomeextentwithwarmandsmoothsoundingcables.IhavetriedsuchcablesasHarmonicTechnology
ProACII+withWadiasonvariousoccasions,butthisalwaysseemstodiminishtheareasinwhichWadiastend
toexcel.
ThebeautyoftheFurutechAlpha3isthatitenhancesfocusandlowleveldetail,providesgreatspeed,
dynamicsandPRATandaddsatouchofbodyandtextureintheuppermidbass/lowermidrange.Althoughthe
Alpha3isaveryneutralandhonestcable,itneverseemstomakethesoundinanywayhardorunpleasant,
andinthisimplementation,itcomplimentsthatWadia’sstrengths,ratherthancompensatingforits
weaknesses.
AsasourceIuseanAurenderN10musicserver.TheWadiaisconnectedviaS/PDIFusingaMadScientist
HDC+cable.
SwitchingtothenewconnectorsIamtrulyamazedatthelargedifferenceinsound.There’smorebodyand
timbreisricher,butwithoutmakingthesoundsoft.What’smore,notonlyfocusisimproved;thesoundstage
isalsowider.Rememberwe’reonlytalkingaboutachangeofpowerconnectors!Thecableisthesameand
hashadthesameamountofrunningin,isusedwiththesamepolarityandisconnectedtothesamepower
extensionblockposition. ListeningcloserIgetthefeelingthatalthoughthelargedynamicswingsareentirely
intact,transientssharpnessseemstobeslightlylesswelldefinedresultinginaseeminglylessimmediate
soundthanwiththeoldconnectors.Toconfirmthis,I’llgobacktotheoldconnectorsoncemore.
Well,maybetheoldconnectorsseemtobesomewhatmoredirectindeed,butthatisonlybecausetheyalso
soundquitedryincomparison.I’mnotevensosurenowthattheyareactuallymoredynamic,andwhat
predominatesisafeelingofhavingsteppeddownanotchinquality.PriortothiscomparisonIwasalready
awarethattheFI25/FI-E35connectorssoundmostdryofalltheFurutechconnectorsItried,butatthetime
theyalsoprovidedthebestlowleveldetailingofthemall,andsoIstuckwiththem.Listeningtothemnowin
comparisonwiththeirsuccessors,thereisnoignoringthatthefulnessoftimbreisreducedconsiderably,asis
thesoundstagewidth,comparedtotheirsuccessors.
Meridian818v3
TheMeridian818v3isamodernanflexibledeviceofferingDAC,preampandstreamingendpointfacilities.To
keepmatterssimple,itsuseforthistestisstrictlyasaUSBDAC.SourceisagaintheAurenderN10,connected
viaanAudioQuestDiamondUSBcable.ComparingbetweentheAlpha3cablesIhearsimilarchangesbetween
theFI25/FI-E35andFI28/FI-E38connectors:morebodyandrichertonality,alongwithamoreexpansive
soundstagewiththenewconnectors,withoutlosinganydetailorexpression.Thedifferenceisquite
staggeringreally,andalthoughitisalittleearlytosayforsure,IthinkIhavefoundmynewfavorite
connectors!
ComparingCables
Alpha3+FI25/FI-E35goldplatedconnectors&
FP-TCS31+FI25/FI-E35goldplatedconnectors
It’snowtimetocomparethenewFP-TCS31cabletoitspredecessor.Ihaveconnectedasecondsetofthe
outgoingFI25/FI35connectorstothenewFP-TCS31cablesothatwecanseehowthecableitselfcompares
withitspredecessor.
Aboveleft:newFP-TCS31cablewithscreening,right:outgoingAlpha3withoutscreening.
Above:FP-TCS31cablewithoutersleeveremovedandscreeningmeshcombinedintoastrand.
Construction
UnliketheAlpha3thatismadefromacombinationofPVCandPE,theFP_TCS31cable’souterandinner
insulationconsistsof“SpecialgradeFlexiblePVC”.PEisabitlikeTeflonandsoifthePEconductorinsulation
hasbeenreplacedwithPVC,Iwouldexpectthecabletosoundsmootherthanitspredecessor.Asalways,
whenattachingtheconnectorsIconnectedtheshieldtoearthonthesourceside(extensionblock/wall
outlet),butkeptitfloatingatthedestinationside.
Aboveleft:FP-TCS31,right:Alpha3.AsfarasIcansee,theindividuallitzeconductorsandthecombined
gaugeseemthesamesize.
Wadia25
SwitchingfromtheAlpha3withFI25/FI-E35connectorstothenewFP-TCS31cablewiththesameconnectors,
againthereisamarkeddifferenceinsoundstaging.Aswiththenewconnectors,theFP-TCS31managesto
widenthesoundstageconsiderably.Alongwiththischange,theoverallsoundbalanceisalsochanged:bassis
fullerandfatter,midrangeiswarmerandmoreliquid,andtrebleismorefluid.WhiletheoutgoingAlpha3
cablecouldbeaccusedofsoundingsomewhatdry,thisisdefinitelynotthecasewithitssuccessor.OverallI’d
saythattheFP-TCS31soundsclosertotheglobalFurutechsoundthandidtheAlpha3,whichwassomething
ofadeviationfromtheirsmoothhousesound.
Thisbegsthequestion:isthenewcableaslivelyandarticulateasitspredecessor?Swappingbacktotheold
cableagainconfirmsthatthisindeednotthecase,theAlpha3beingmoreimmediateandarticulateandmore
forwardinthemidrange.Butincomparisontoitssuccessoritisalsotonallyalittledullandmatterof
fact.TheFP-TCS31bycontrastisawarmbathwithsmooth,fullandrichmidrange,and nodiminishingoffine
detail,butindeedacertainreductionofattackandclarityinthemidrange.
Meridian818
TheMeridian818iseverybitasdynamicallydifferentiatedastheWadia25,butdiffersintreblepresentation,
whichisquiteabitmorefluid,meaningthatdrysoundingcablessuchastheAlpha3matchverynicely.This
couldleadonetofearthatthemuchsmoothersoundingFP-TCS31cablecouldsoundoverlysmoothwhen
matchedwiththeMeridian,butthisisnotthecase.It’slikelypartiallythankstothe818’sexcellentrhythmic
anddynamicexpressiveness,thattheenergyanddriveiseffectivelyretained.
TheFP-TCS31iscertainlymorecreamysoundingthanitspredecessortheAlpha3,andshiftstheworking
pointfromtightandforwardtofluidandrelaxed,butmatcheswiththeMeridianjustaswellasdidits
predecessor.
AtthisstageIthoughtitwouldbeagoodtimetoswapbacktotheAlpha3cablewiththenewFI28/FI-E38
connectors.Interestingly,thisprovidesasomewhatsimilaroverallsoundaswiththeFP-TCS31cablewith
FI25/FI-35connectors,butwithmoredriveandpresence.Atthisstage,thiswouldseemtomeanthatthe
idealbalanceisobtainedbycombiningoldandnewelements,andinsomesituationsthismightindeedbethe
casebutlatercomparisonswithathirdsourcecomponentwillprovethatthisisalsorelative.
GoingbacktotheAlpha3+FI25/FI-E35connectorsonefinaltime,Idohearthatmidrangeisalittlebitmore
spritelyandmidbassalittlemorearticulate,butthesoundisalsograyanduninspiringincomparisonandI
can’thelpbutfeelingthatthisisquitealargestepbackoverall.
Itseemsthatthesenewconnectorsreallyaresomekindofmagic-inducers!
ComparingGoldandRhodiumConnectors
FP-TCS31+FI28/FI-E38goldplatedconnectors&
FP-TCS31+FI28/FI-E38rhodiumplatedconnectors
GoingfromtheAlpha3cablewithFI28/FI-E38connectorstotheallnewcombinationofFP-TCS31+
FI28/FI-E38goldplatedconnectorsitisinterestingtofindthateventhoughtheoverallsoundismorerelaxed,
itisplentypowerfulandthereisincredibledetailing,butpresentedinanaturalmanner,withoutanyetch.It
seemsthatthenewconnectorsliftthenewcable’sspirittoarriveatacombinationofeachofthecomponents’
bestfeatures,resultinginasoundthatissmoothandforgiving,butneutralandhighlydetailed.
Andnowforthepiecederesistance(forgivemylazynessofnotusingaccents):theRhodiumplated
connectors.PreviousexperiencewithotherFurutechconnectorshasinformedmeonwhatdifferencesto
expect,butgiventheincredibleresultswiththeFI28andFI-E38goldplatedvariantsIamexpectingevenmore
fromtherhodiumones.
Andindeed,theRhodiumconnectorsreallydeliver!Comparedtothegoldplatedvariants,thesoundremains
smooth,butwithmoreexplicitdetail,moreenergetictransientsandevenslightlyincreasedperceivedspeed.
AfterawhilehoweverIdonoticethatthereisnowlessofthe“golden”shimmerthatthegoldplated
connectorsoffer,there’slessromanceintheair,inspiteoftheoverallstillwarmandrelaxedfeeling.But,this
isincombinationwiththeMeridian818whichisitselfnotasmoothsoundingcomponent.Remembermy
alwaysgoingonabouttheimportanceofmakingtherightcombinations?That’swhyIwillthrowone
finalaudiocomponentintothemix.
MarkLevinson390S
The390SCDplayerissomethingofaclassicbynow,butmyunithasrecentlybeencheckedcompletely.Ithas
beentreatedtoanewtransportandallitscriticalcapacitorshavebeenreplacedandafteraperiodofrunning
in,itnowsoundsasgoodasnew.Evenifyouwon’tfindmanyreviewscarriedoutusingthisplayerelsewhere
anymore,beingaconstantfactorthroughoutmanyofmyreviewshoweverhopefullyitisstillagoodpointof
reference.
FP-TCS31+FI28/FI-E38gold
MydefaultcableusedwiththeLevinsonforthelongesttimehasbeenaHarmonicTechnologyProACII+.This
cableisadmittedlyalittletoorelaxed,butitenhancestheplayer’sinherentsmoothnessnicely,makingfora
moreseductiveandrelaxedsoundthanisusuallyexpectedfromCD.
GoingfromtheProACII+totheFurutechFP-TCS31+FI28/FI-E38goldplatedconnectorsIamsurprisedto
hearthattheFurutechismuchmoreupbeatandarticulate,anddynamicexpressionisalsolotsimproved,
withafeelingofbetterPRATasaresult.EventhoughIclassifiedtheFP-TCS31aboveasasmoothsounding
cable,itisactuallyquitealotmoreneutralthantheHarmonicTechnologyProACII+,whichisnicelyoffsetting
myinitialimpression.TheProACII+doeshaveseeminglymorefluid(lessdry)treble,butdoesthisbyadding
considerablesmearingacrossthefrequencyband.Thiscanindeedameliorate“digital”soundingrecordings
butthepricetopayforthisforgivenessislessofthetoe-tappingqualityandatimbrethatislessthan
convincing.TheFurutech’stimbrebycontrastishighlynaturalandabsolutelyacousticallyconvincing.
FP-TCS31+FI28/FI-E38rhodium
GoingfromthenewFurutechFP-TCS31cable+FI28/FI-E38goldplatedconnectorstothesamecablewiththe
FI28/FI-E38rhodiumplatedconnectorsthebigsurpriseisthattrebleisnowmorefluidandrefined,but
withoutaddinganysmearing.Infact,thewholefrequencyrangeisspotonneutraltoptobottomand
transparencyseemsevenbetterthanwiththegoldplatedconnectors.
JustaswiththeMeridian,IcanhearthattheRhodiumconnectorshaveacleanersoundwhichmakesthe
musicsoundmoreupbeat,neutralandtransparent.TheLevinsonhoweverisquiteasmoothsoundingplayer
itself,andthecombinationstillretainsthewarmthandrichnessforwhichIliketheplayersomuch,andthere
isstillaseductivelyemotionalqualitytothemusic.Infact,thismaybethebestcableIheardwiththe390S
yet.
Conclusion
Newversionsofexistingproductsdon’tnecessarilyneedtobebetterthantheirpredecessors,certainlynot
foreveryoneandeverysituation.Furutech’snewFI28/FI-E38connectorshowevercandefinitelybelabelledas
alargeoverallimprovementovertheFI25/FI35Econnectorsthattheyreplace.ThenewFP-TCS31cableis
moreofadeviationfromtheAlpha3cablethatitsucceeded,butsoundsmoreinlinewiththeoverall
FurutechhousesoundaspresentinthemajorityoftheFurutechlineup.Whilelessarticulateandcertainly
morerelaxedandsmootherthanitspredecessor,theFP-TCS31cablemanagestoextractmoredetailfrom
recordingsandsoundsmorepowerfulandmorecolourful,withalagersoundstageasabonus.