by J. Dan Daniell
Furutech Company Ltd. has released the Flux-50 In-Line Power Filter. I received two Flux 50 Filters to audition. When holding one in your hand the weight is surprisingly heavy. The premium materials and finish relay a genuine sense of quality before you even put the Flux 50 into service. The beauty of the connectors is museum quality. The Flux-50 features Furutech’s Piezo Ceramic body, rhodium plated (Alpha) non-magnetic, pure copper conductors FI-50R connector on one end and incorporates the Furutech GC-303+EMI Filter, AC-1501R Rhodium plated (Alpha) non-magnetic, copper alloy conductors connector on the other end. Between these two highly specialized connectors is a length of Furutech’s proprietary power cable that features an (Alpha) conductor shield to protect against radiated noise and incorporates 68 strand Onide Continuous Cast copper wire for hot, neutral, and ground conductors with a special grade PE insulation that contributes to a reduction in capacitance.. The three conductors are jacketed within flexible PVC that incorporates carbon powder and ceramic materials followed by a full braided copper shield and an outer PVC jacket that is surrounded by a nylon yarn braid cover. In addition, Furutech provides the Flux 50 with their patent pending metal cable clamps that improve grip and reduces mechanically and electrically induced distortion plus their patent-pending specially engineered pressure plate. The Flux 50 in-line power filter is an engineering marvel.
I began my evaluation by installing one Furutech Flux 50 on my PurePower 2000 that feeds the studio two channel system components, a McIntosh C1000C/P, Esoteric K-03, Olive 04HD, and a pair of McIntosh MC2301 power amplifiers. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect in the way of performance enhancement. I didn’t know if the PurePower 2000 AC regeneration process might negate what the Flux 50 had to offer, but it seemed like the most logical place to begin. What happened next was not even subtle. Instantly my studio system background grew blacker. I know you’re probably thinking. “Sure it did.” I am not exaggerating, plus the sound stage opened in width and depth allowing every instrument and voice more space to perform in, more air would be the audio term. I am hearing added clarity and improved accuracy in ambient cues coming from the darker background. This enhancement aids my ability to localize the position of instruments and voices. The zest of dynamics seems to have improved. The three dimensional aspects of the sound stage and the essence of live versus recorded is reproduced with a sharper focus. I can’t begin to explain the science behind these improvements to my sound system, but they are real and immediate. The Furutech Flux 50 is an astonishing product.
All of what I just said is taking place with only one Flux 50 plugged into the PurePower 2000. The entire studio two channel system is powered by the PurePower 2000. What's been especially helpful for the comparison of the Flux 50, both in and out of the system, is the PurePower 2000 transfers to battery backup as soon as I unplug the power cord so I don't have to turn off the sound system or stop playing a particular track to install or remove the Flux 50 from the power line, making A/B comparisons simple and quick. This is a great feature of the Purepower 2000.
Listening to Anouar Brahem - The Astonishing Eyes Of Rita, the instruments were literally floating in the air from left to right across the sound stage. The same was true listening to Alison Krauss & Union Station – New Favorite. Alison’s voice on “Let Me Touch You For Awhile” put her physical presence centered directly in front of the speakers. The sensation exceeded just her voice. There was a strong sense of a three dimensional presence. When I removed the Flux 50 Filter from the PurePower 2000 some of the air was immediately sucked out of the performance. With the Flux 50 installed it's like someone flipped on the 3D switch. Removing the Flux 50 returned the sound stage to a narrower and shallower event, not that I ever thought my sound stage was anything but completely satisfying. None the less with the Furutech Flux 50 in the power line the improvement in the system's performance was striking and the difference is not subtle. Some instruments that had previously appeared in the left or right speakers moved outside the extreme left or right of the speakers. You won’t have to merely hope to experience something beneficial. No sir! The improvements in blacker background, enhanced micro details and a more three dimensional sound stage happens immediately. I expect the Flux 50 will show improved performance as the break-in progress continues. I am at a complete loss to explain how the Furutech Flux 50 does what it does. It seems like magic to my ears and mind. I don't have a clue what is going on with this technology but it is good, really good.
I may or may not try both of the Flux 50's just on the two MC2301 amps. Why? Because if I like them there I will be driven to want the Flux 50 Filter on the C1000C/P preamp, the Olive 04HD, and the Esoteric K-03. I already want to keep the one Furutech Flux 50 on my PurePower 2000. This single addition has me in awe of what I am hearing. I believe all of my components are benefiting from the single Flux 50 installed on the PuerPower 2000. I admit it is unusual for me to be so quickly overwhelmed by a power conditioning product. I tend to have more skepticism with power conditioning products than other audio related components. Often I will spend days or weeks listening. Sometimes it is only when I remove a power cord or power conditioning product that I become aware of the difference I was experiencing. The gains are often subtle. This was certainly not the case with the Flux 50 Filter. I am impressed enough with its positive impact on my studio system that I purchased one of the two review samples. After experiencing what the Furutech Flux 50 did for the system’s sound stage and overall presentation there was no way I was letting this special product slip through my hands. The Furutech Flux 50 retail price is $1249.00. That puts it on par with a premium power cord but not astronomically out of reach for high-end systems. It has increased my listening pleasure more than any power cord upgrade I have ever done. I realize this seems like a lot of gushing over what appears to be an expensive system tweak but I assure you the Furutech Flux 50 delivers the goods. If you have followed my component and cable reviews through the years you know I have no vested interest in blowing anything out of proportion. I do my best to relate my experiences exactly as I hear them. Such is the case here. I believe that anyone with a high-end system will hear a remarkable improvement in focus, air, sound stage width and depth, and a darker background by installing one or more Furutech Flux 50 Filters between their power cords and components. I could probably go completely overboard and plug a Flux 50 into both MC2301’s, the C1000C/P, the Esoteric K-03, and the Olive 04HD, but I have already reaped such a wonderful improvement from a single Flux 50 installed on the PurePower 2000 regenerator powering all of the system’s components that I think I’ll stop with just one……for now. The Furutech Flux 50 Filter is an outstanding power conditioning product. It gets a big thumbs-up from me.
Review update at post #39