A gushing ad for the WattGate 381, a $148 110-volt wall receptacle, is a masterpiece of misrepresentation, hyperbole, and mendacity that just could attract a starry-eyed Audio-Visual fan. And stupidity - just in case the vendors of this nonsense might believe they've actually created something useful. Read it, and see...
If you are building your own audiophile power cord to improve component performance, you need the WattGate 381 receptacle. Why build a performance power cable only to plug it into the same receptacle that's been in use for almost 100 years? WattGate's 381 is a no compromise solution for the demanding AV enthusiast. Construction of the 381 is top-notch and features glass-filled, nylon front and rear housings. Mounting strap, rivets and grounding strip are gold plated, solid brass for the ultimate in corrosion resistance and power transfer. Installation of the 381 is simple and efficient due to rear wiring and large, #10 brass terminal screws. Terminal clamps are gold plated, solid brass and shaped to better grip the conductors. Like the 330 and 350, the 381 leaves the competition behind with its contacts. Configured in a triple-wiper design allows the plug blades to be gripped at three separate points. Additionally, the heavy-duty contacts maximize the clamping spring-rate and ensure conductivity. A three-layer plating process is also completed on the 381: Oxygen free copper plating, electrolysis nickel, and finally 24k gold plating. Receptacle is cryogenically treated and rated at 125 VAC, 20A.
Cryogenically treated
Solid brass contact construction
Three step 24k gold plating process
Triple wiper design increases contact area
Superior performance over standard receptacles
Well, the JREF million-dollar prize can be won by anyone who proves the claim that this device can perform any better than a similar receptacle purchased from Home Depot -
Leviton ProGrade 20 Amp Outlet
Model # 05352R42000
for $6.48 at our local store. That's one-twenty fifth the price...
Let's just look at the terms and language used here. First, gold-plating does provide excellent contact, though any AV fan would not tolerate a corroded contact surface, and a triple wiper rather assures contact at that position, but there the possible advantages cease. All gold plating is a 3-stage process. As opposed to "solid brass" we can only have some other sort of unlikely alloy. And, in my opinion, a century of use rather validates the efficacy of the standard 110-volt fixture. What "clamping spring rate" means is lost to me, and all such fixtures are connected via "rear wiring" - there just isn't any other place! Also, just what possible good would cryogenic treatment do to this outlet, unless there are still dunderheads out there who still believe what Tice claimed - see www.randi.org/jr/04-20-2001.
Happily, the AV fans have rushed to ridicule this farce, as indicated by these comments in response to the ad:
AWESOME, I have been waiting forever for this product. Finally something to go with my custom vacuum sputtered unobtainium circuit breaker contacts and calibrated studio grade Romex. Now if I can just get the power company to get rid of those pesky scalar waves in my zero point energy transmission system, I'll be all set. Hey, if you are reading this maybe you have advice on how I can attach my holographic ear bud drivers to my tin foil hat?
Great product. Since I installed those outlets all over my house my electrical bill went down 0$ a month, this is so incredible those outlets conduct the electricity so easily.
I was about to upgrade my power amplifier because of lack of power. Holy macro this outlet make my lloyd 20 watts feels like a Crown Itec 8000 a piece of junk, bass is so much tighter and I'm not even talking about the tweeters, I blew all the windows in my living room, I have to consider to install armored windows now.
OMG - Finally, audio nirvana. As an audiophile, I've been a big fan of worthless add-on's and cash sucking doohickys for many, many years. I have an innate trust in the goodness of the market to guide me in making proper product decisions, such as my Shakti Stones and green ink CD marker pens that I keep next to the Tice Clock. An entire industry has been built on the backs of guys like me, and I'm damned proud of that. Damned proud.
But now I'm even more happy because the Wattgate has raised my audiophile experience to a whole new level of authority and acumen. After spending over $2,000 on new outlets, the difference I hear is nothing short of stunning and astonishing. Music sounds more like music. Quiet sounds more like quiet. The current flows so much more efficiently with these new outlets. Do they provide less resistance, less capacitance, and less inductance than my old outlets? No - but that is not the point. The point is that they sound SO MUCH BETTER.
Yes, these are heady times we live in. I'm so happy to have more stuff that greatly enhances the quality of our lives together. I just wish that all of you could HEAR what these outlets sound like.
Since equipping my bedroom with this Wattgate 381, I've experienced an erection lasting WAY longer than four hours. Truly this is a multi use product. Must stop the review now... blood is rushing....from my skull......feeling faint....
STUPENDOUSLY TERRIFFIC! This is JUST the thing to plug your Bose system into while using Monster cable! My music never sounded more garbled! Plus it made my wife go away so KUDOS WATTGATE!
WAY too efficient. Replaced my home theater wall outlet with the Wattgate and my TV EXPLODED from the inrush current that this product provided! Beware that some equipment may not be prepared for the undistorted clean power this outlet delivers!!!
Such a performer, this Wattgate! I cant believe the differnce!!!! WOW!!!! I just replaced every receptacle in my house with these, I cant believe how much better everything works, I especially notice a difference in the tone of the hum in my fish tank, and I get a lot more bass in the beeper on the alarm on my microwave oven!!! I have also noticed that my vacuum cleaner has better midrange now. My friends are impressed!!!!
You know, it just now occurred to me that maybe "Wattgate" is a take on "Watergate"...