With each passing year, we seem to be moving deeper into the realms of high-end, audio and accessories are not only becoming (we’re long past that), but they are already an integral part of the high-end audio system.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s an entry-level system or an end game where cost is no object. The fact remains that each of them is a completely different microcosm that can still be refined.
As almost a rule, modern systems are composed of diverse combinations of components from different brands, and each of these medleys makes them highly unique and usually prone to finding weak points and consequently, ways to improve music reproduction and performance.
The NCF Clear Line XLR and RCA optimizers combine and adopt Furutech’s multifarious technical prowess to provide enhanced music reproduction.
The Clear Line Optimizers were designed and depicted from the ground up with performance in mind, and special attention was paid on many levels to achieve the desired goal, resulting in a performance-oriented product that goes beyond creating just another high-end audio accessory.
As you can read in this review, the Furutech engineers have hit the mark with the optimizers without leaving the playground for nitpicking.
Technology
NCF Clear Line-RCA (NCF center pin multi-material hybrid structure)
A one-piece center conductor made of Alpha OCC with rhodium plating and injected with Furutech’s special antistatic damping material “NCF”. NCF consists of a special crystalline material that has two ‘active’ properties. Firstly, it generates negative ions that eliminate static charge. Secondly, it converts thermal energy into far infrared. Furutech combines this remarkable material with nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder, which have additional damping properties through the ‘piezoelectric effect’.
NCF Clear Line-XLR (F/Female)(Nano Crystal² Formula (NCF) Body material and Damping clips)
The contacts are housed in a casing made of NCF liquid crystal polymer resin. The resin contains nylon, fiberglass, nano-sized crystalline piezo ceramic particles, carbon powder, and Furutech’s special “NCF” anti-resonance damping material.
The NCF Clear Line-XLR also features special NCF material damping clips made from the same material. it generates negative ions that eliminate static charge and additional damping properties through the ‘piezoelectric effect’.
NCF Clear Line-XLR (M/Male)(Nano Crystal² Formula (NCF) Body material and Damping clips)
The housing is made of NCF Liquid Crystal Polymer Resin. The resin contains nylon, fiberglass, nano-sized crystalline piezo ceramic particles, carbon powder, and Furutech’s special “NCF” anti-resonance damping material.
The same special NCF damping material is injected into the rhodium-plated α (alpha) pure copper conductor pins of the one-piece construction of the NCF Clear Line XLR(M).
Furutech’s Two-Stage Cryogenic and Demagnetization Alpha Process
Using state-of-the-art technologies and materials, Furutech has developed a two-stage low-temperature process that significantly improves audio and video performance in every respect. The treatment begins during the manufacturing process with a deep, conditioning cryogenic freeze of all metal parts. Using high-end refrigerants — liquid N2 or He–
Furutech reaches temperatures from -196 to -250℃. The treated parts change their molecular structure at these extreme temperatures, reducing internal stresses. The molecules bond more tightly together and the overall structure becomes more stable. This improves electrical conductivity and therefore power and signal transmission.
In the second step of the alpha process, the same parts are subjected to patented ring demagnetization. Ordinary high-power magnets used for this purpose often amplify the magnetic effects, leaving some areas more magnetized than others. With this patented process, magnetization is eliminated through controlled attenuation, resulting in an immediate improvement in vibrancy and color. Ring demagnetization further improves the conductivity of all treated materials.
All metal parts used in Furutech products undergo the Alpha Process treatment to keep all connections, conductors, and metal parts in a perfect, stress-free, stable, and highly conductive condition.
Hybrid ceramic capacitors
Furutech uses audio-grade ceramic capacitors (passive type) to improve the acoustic performance of devices. The Furutech team has invested countless hours of testing to determine the perfect capacitor type and specifications to help achieve the ultimate sound quality.
They have coated the outer layer of our ceramic capacitor with a high-performance silver-colored special damping to suppress unwanted vibrations and improve sound quality. The ceramic capacitor also features advanced tuning technology that eliminates any noise from the output terminals of the device for an optimal sound experience.
NCF Clear Line-RCA (center conductor -Nano Crystal² Formula (NCF))
NCF Clear Line-RCA (CF-102(R) NCF RCA-P) α (Alpha) OCC rhodium-coated, one-piece conductor pin injected with heat-resistant NCF liquid crystal polymer resin.
NCF was designed to improve the depth and focus of the soundstage, harmonics, and tonal balance, and to offer clean Low frequencies and better definition due to a lower noise floor.
α (Alpha) copper alloy, rhodium-plated body
Housing: Multi-layer hybrid NCF carbon housing, consisting of an outer hard clear lacquer layer and another layer of forged hybrid NCF textured carbon fiber on a non-magnetic stainless steel housing. The best damping and insulation materials are chosen to improve frequency extension and tonal balance.
The NCF Clear Line cabinet body ring is molded from special resonance damping stainless steel and Furutech’s NCF material and the housing are made of 4 layers of special hybrid NCF-forged textured carbon fiber.
Semi-sealed air chamber – The internal air chamber is pressure-sealed for additional damping effects.
The NCF end cover is molded from special heat-resistant nylon and Furutech‘s NCF material for improved effectiveness – ultimate resonance damping for improved tonal balance.
The main body and shell of the product are secured with special anti-shock stainless steel safety screws. Factory set to optimum torque value for performance.
The Music
If music does not reflect accessory potency and insertion into the system in its designated place doesn’t offer something intangible, there is little hope that any particular product will work outside the realm of placebo.
In selecting reference music, it quickly became apparent that the Furutech NCF Clear Line Optimizers need not go to great lengths to present objective sonic variables and positive performance changes.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Bauhaus Staircase
With Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark – Bauhaus Staircase, the not-so-intricate further developments quickly became clear.
The Furutech NCF Clear XLR and RCA Line Optimizer helped to shape the music more seamlessly into a far sounder harmonic whole while fostering perceptible, musically pleasing sonic consequences.
There is something about the NCF Clear Line Optimizers that evokes the state of flow while addressing the lower levels of noise, distortion, and subtle influence on bandwidth and time domain.
This was very easy to recognize in another interesting record.
New Rhythms Of The South by Edmundo Ros, His Orchestra
Furutech NCF Clear XLR and RCA Line Optimizer embedded already exciting New Rhythms Of The South by Edmundo Ros, His Orchestra with a subtler, but more lavish sense of delicacy.
It was quite exciting to see what happened to the highs. They didn’t lose any complexity, no harshness was added, but a much livelier timbre without becoming brittle. A similar development took place in the lower range, which became more balanced without sounding goof.
With many accessories, these two sound variables cannot stand side by side, but the Furutech Optimizer had a favorable polynomial effect without taking away the complexity of the music.
No aural authenticity was taken away, there was no soft-purge effect, no exuberant sonic phenomena. The music was simply opened up by the newfound radiant perspective that draws the listener deeper into the music.
During the various music selections, the Furutech NCF Clear XLR and RCA Line Optimizers proved repeatedly that they do not need straw man arguments to justify their existence. They simply work across different devices.
Although they are literary plug-and-play devices, it is worth experimenting with the exact placement and number of optimizers to achieve the optimum result.
Conclusion
Furutech has long established itself as one of the major players in the high and audio accessories market. The sum of insightful, out-of-the-box thinking, ongoing research and development, and the distinctive Japanese laser-focused mindset that is a cornerstone of each of their products always delivers something completely different and helps drive performance.
Over the years I have tried many, probably hundreds of accessories, but what is special and unique about Furutech is the universal nature of positive performance change. Too often and too easily, with lots of accessories, everything can go in the negative direction, smearing the sound, blurring the sonic sphere, and changing the purity of the system signal. In contrast, Furutech always seems to find a way to focus on optimal operating behavior with its products.
It was fascinating to hear how the Furutech NCF Clear Line RCA and XLR optimizers contributed to the overall performance, not only at the component level but also as an important passive (virtual active) element in the system that defies esoteric theory and rather rests on a deeper and more elemental substrate of R & D that involves critical listening.
For many high-end enthusiasts, for example, an ideal preamplifier would have only one input and one output. Some purist designers do it this way to avoid open loops and the rest of the unwanted interferences.
Unused inputs on the back of electronic components will undoubtedly attract any kind of electronic noise, RFI, hybris, and all kinds of anomalies that can easily interfere with the operation of the components.
The NCF Clear Line Optimizers work in sync with Furutech’s unique enhanced consistency that can uphold the balance of the entire high-end audio system when used and placed strategically.
Furutech NCF Clear Line Optimizers let the music sound less dissonant and bring out the elemental truth at its best while escaping harmonic saturation.
They work like cool caviar, mastering the delicate balance of music and positively influencing the multifaceted sonic sphere without confusing, blurring, or muddling it, but providing evident, spot-on sonic results.
With the sheer complexity of the music, many accessories can start to be sonically degenerative and distracting to the sound, but as proven so many times over the years, Furutech always finds a way to remake itself anew with proprietary approaches, materials and out of norm thinking, that boldly operates and invents at the very fringe of the industry.
With Furutech NCF Clear Line Optimizer, performance amounts to factuality, escaping the persistent notion of accessory irrelevance. Furutech infuses logic and science into their products proudly solidifying their existence.
Most high-end audio accessories beg the immense question of their existence, their raison d’être, and their actual role in the refinement and fine-tuning of the high-end audio system. But this is where Furutech distinguishes itself, perpetually reentering the industry with its proven and renowned product content.
For what they represent in terms of acting as genuine universal accessories and potent system upgrades I am more than pleased to present the Furutech NCF Clear Line RCA and XLR Optimizers with the 2023 Mono and Stereo best by-product award. ❖
Price
| NCF Clear Line-RCA | Line (input/output) Optimizer | 297 | /pcs |
| NCF Clear Line-XLR(M) | Line (input) Optimizer | 412 | /pcs |
| NCF Clear Line-XLR(F) | Line (output) Optimizer | 412 | /pcs |
Contact
FURUTECH CO.,LTD.
Furutech Bldg.
3-9-1 Togoshi
Shinagawa-Ku,
Tokyo 142-0041
Japan
Tel: +81-(0)3-6451-3941
Web: www.furutech.com