Furutech NCF Booster : High-end performance power cable/connector holder & dampener
The Furutech NCF Booster is a multi-functional device:
– It lifts power cables off the ground, thereby minimizing electromagnetic/static interference and interaction with the surface of the floor/carpet. Lifting cables off the ground (or off solid surfaces) minimizes capacitance coupling between the cable and the surface; which would otherwise negatively impact on the capacitance of the cable and its sonic performance.
– It provides superior damping support (caused by electrical-, mechanical- and acoustic vibrations) for power connectors at points of connection with equipment and at AC wall outlets and power conditioners.
You can expect improved clarity and detail in sound, extended bass and soundstage; and better musical coherency.
Furutech NCF Booster : High-end performance power cable/connector holder & dampener
Features:
The Furutech NCF Booster is a multi-functional device:
– It lifts power cables off the ground, thereby minimizing electromagnetic/static interference and interaction with the surface of the floor/carpet. Lifting cables off the ground (or off solid surfaces) minimizes capacitance coupling between the cable and the surface; which would otherwise negatively impact on the capacitance of the cable and its sonic performance.
– It provides superior damping support (caused by electrical-, mechanical- and acoustic vibrations) for power connectors at points of connection with equipment and at AC wall outlets and power conditioners.
The construction of the unit contains Furutech’s patented NCF* technology capable of eliminating static build-up and providing superior damping via nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder.
*NCF: Nano Crystal2 Formula, i.e. 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.
Meanwhile in Japan – The Furutech NCF Booster is awarded the prestigious Pure Audio Division Gold Award at the VGP awards and the Grand Prix Award from Audio Accessory Magazine!
Top Japanese Audio Commentators report on the NCF Booster performance:
Masamitsu Fukuda
…Blur and muddiness lifted, resolution improved
Chitake Inoue
…Improvement in the entire system
Masanori Hayashi
…Improved clarity and detail, depth revealed
Tomohiro Kaiyama
…Immediate stabilization of sound on fitting the NCF Booster, resounding improvement
Akira Sumiyama
…It doesn’t matter how many you use, a saturation point is never reached
In short, everything in the signal path does indeed make a difference. Hear and see the difference that the Furutech NCF Booster can make in your system.
Specifications
• All metal parts treated with Furutech’s Two Step Cryogenic and Demagnetizing Alpha Process
• Multi-material hybrid construction – a Furutech original design.
• Support unit: audio-grade ABS resin and NCF nylon resin to eliminate static charge.
• Top clamp unit: stainless steel block and audio-grade NCF nylon resin.
• Base unit: audio-grade ABS resin body with slip-proof, shock-absorbing plate with counterweight.
• Overall dimensions: 94mm (W) x 99.7 mm (L) approx. Height: base level 80 mm / extended level 140 mm approx.
• Net weight: Base level 580 g / extended level 630 g approx.
Additional NCF Booster extension shafts sold separately (10pcs set)
Audio Accessory (Japan) – 2017
“First listening impressions after setting the NCF Booster….something has changed dramatically…muddiness gone…clarity! Increased sound to noise ratio, strengthened contrast and definition, response speed improved, transparency increased and distortion reduced…improved space, depth and imaging. So surprised by how much of an effect this product brings. Once set on your system, you won’t remove it. A completely new audio accessory has arrived. ” – Masamitsu Fukuda
“The audio world is littered with weird accessories that cost a bomb and do little. One could be tempted to categorise the Furutech NCF Booster as one of those – but as it turns out, there’s more to this support/damping system than meets the eye….I have to conclude that, in this particular system, the power feeds benefited most from the NFC Boosters’ presence – and more so than I would have believed. Clearly, the NCF resin’s damping properties and anti-static properties aren’t only significant, but also benefit ultimate sonic performance. Of course, the NCF Boosters also tidy up cable runs, and ensure more secure power cord connections at the component receptacle end. And their adjustable height means they can adapt to a wide range of applications. In that context, the Furutech NCF Booster represents a fascinating and effective upgrade to high-end systems.” – Deon Schoeman
“Our conclusion will be short but sweet: the Boosters worked and obviously so. Especially when the space heaters are on, when humidity is low, when static is abundant and our floor boards repurposed from a previous Swedish church have shrunk, our floor does add itself to the loudspeakers’ cable signal. We now know this because with the Boosters in place, the musical picture gained in overall transparency. This helped lower the listening strain even more and make long sessions more refreshing than before. There was less clutter to be listened through. For their results and flexibility of use, the asking price for these Furutech solutions seems fair. For a set of 10 to cover most areas of a typical system, the total cost should be equal to or less than a normal cable loom. And you get a free dopamine boost, too.” – Marja & Henk
“I’ve said it before: No matter what type of audiophile you are, Furutech probably makes a product you’ve lusted after. The NCF Boosters’ effects were immediate and unmistakable, particularly with digital sources, but were audible pretty much everywhere: greater transparency, faster transients, sharper focus, greater solidity, more detail, less noise; overall, music sounded more refined, less grating.” – Howard Kneller
“In my system, the NCF Boosters increased resolution of detail and air at the upper frequencies and reduced noise and distortion. The effect was reduced fatigue and a more pleasant listening experience with digital media. The soundstage appeared to have greater volume with improved depth and somewhat better localization of instruments on the stage. There seemed to be less emphasis of the recording technique and more emphasis on the instrument. The lowering of distortion was initially heard as a slight softening of highs and leading edges; however, listening over time convinced me that the sound was more consonant with what I hear at live performances…..I purchased the review samples and then turned around and ordered additional units. Very highly recommended ” – Dan Rubin
Pursuit Perfect Systems – August 2018
“I wanted to start the testing of the NCF Boosters slowly so I could build a full picture of what each one did after I added it. I started by adding just one NCF Booster to my reference review system. Straight away I could hear a cleaner and purer sound from the review system, some haze and fuzz had been removed from the leading edges of notes. Cleaner leading edges of notes will always result in an overall sound stage improvement for space, clarity and definition.”– Terry Ellis
The Audiophile Man – August 2018
“I learn more about hi-fi every time I hit the power button but this test was a real eye-opener in terms of how cables work, how and where noise affects cables and how you can change that. From this test onwards, I look at cables in a whole new light. Bottom line? The NCF Boosters need to be in contact with mains cables. They are way too muscle-bound for more delicate items like speaker cables. The NCF Booster Signals are just the opposite, they don’t have enough oomph and power to affect mains signals but are perfect for cables themselves. As a whole kit working together? They both reduce veiling noise, push back the stereo image and enhance the 3D effect of the same while encouraging the music that’s already there to come forth and be picked up by the ear. Job done, then!”– Paul Rigby
Mono and Stereo High End Magazine – August 2018
“(The Furutech) NCF Booster is one of the most useful high-end audio accessories I’ve had the luxury to deal with over the years. There are alternative products on the market, that provides some NCF Booster features, but none of them appears to come even close to the wide array of functions and the interchangeable nature of Furutech high-end audio gizmo. There is no other device I know of that provides so much resilience and effective implementations. Period! Anyhow, to the final sum up. Better focus, clarity, objective hints of positive excitement and less hazy audio presentation”– Matej Isak
“With the NCF Boosters in place, I was simply happy with the way things were. The noise floor is lowered, allowing more music to flow from your system. Details in the music and clearer and more obvious. Imaging and soundstaging are more three-dimensional. Now that I’ve had the NCF Boosters in my system for a number of months, I don’t want them to go away.” – Marc Phillips
“I can say that their musical impact is consistently as startling as it is beneficial. My rule of thumb with devices such as these is simple: If I can demonstrate the effect to the missus, then I’m happy to write about it. The effect of the NCF Boosters is so dramatic and so out of proportion to their physical presence that I’ve gone way, way beyond that, demonstrating them to every visitor I’ve had through the house — and not a single one has failed to not just hear but be astonished by the results, including the painters and decorators who wanted to know what it was I did. With no hi-fi experience or sonic preconceptions to cloud their judgment, those guys got the musical impact immediately, recognizing both its scale and value without any need for explanation or justification. To them, it was simply better — and in many ways it really is that simple.” – Roy Gregory
“Life often contains hidden gems awaiting exploration. And if you’re an audiophile, like me, part of the “hidden” aspect is being willing to try different gear and accessories in pursuit of better sound quality and emotional connection to our favourite music. As an audiophile and later an engineer, I have tried to explore the many areas of sound capture and reproduction that result in the most satisfying and intense musical experience possible. Over the last 27 years, I’ve been lucky enough to keep testing different cables, audio and video gear, power supplies and filtration, and accessories in all areas; including wire management and system vibration tuning. This now includes cable Booster-Signal and vibration damping courtesy of Furutech of Japan.
Their attention to details that include field and proximity effects upon cable fidelity have lead them to develop materials (NCF – Nano Crystal Formula) and techniques (Cryogenic Temperature Treatment, Anti-Static, Anti-Magnetic, Anti-Vibration) that when used with most audio and video cables, not to mention power and data wires, make such an improvement in fidelity as to appear magical. Yet, they the effects are real and disappear just as fast when the Booster-Signal are all removed. What develops is an appreciation for what time and engineering in the hands of experts can do to make our daily listening a thing of beauty, again; worthy of taking time to savour and enjoy the experience of being an audiophile.
” – Jeremy Kipnis
“The benefits of the Furutech NCF Booster is far from marginal. Dramatic, even. The primary enhancement is in a quieter and more laser-focused sonic image. This, in turn, leads to overall more detail, larger scale, and a veil-less presentation.
The Booster unflattens, steadies, and promotes more gradations in the music. It “dehazes” while giving the music more confidence in its strides. Because of the nature of NCF, I feel it complements darker/warmer systems. Especially if you’re planning to install them closer to the components or mains. When spaced properly – it’s absolutely glorious. I could also see transparency chasers using plenty of these NCF Boosters.” – Jay Luong
“If we’re talking about speaker cables that slither across the type composite parquet our landlord favored, I’m sold on Furutech’s concept/execution. To a lesser degree, this extends to power chords. Without competing cable lifts on hand, I couldn’t isolate what Furutech’s NCF inclusion might do beyond mere mechanics. After all, breaching the domain of noise-attenuating signal conditioners is how they’re marketed. For today, think of our Japanese nano-crystal Signal Boosters as the final polish of an already well-balanced mature system. That system’s combined cost should be sufficiently elevated to render the not inconsiderable fee of these Furutech a palatable percentage. In the never-ending quest for higher resolution, there’s removal of interference/distortion in the electrical and mechanical domains. Here cable elevators minimize or eliminate capacitance coupling with the floor. If a system is of sufficient resolution, that reduction in cable capacitance becomes audible. It manifests as reduced time smear which previously masqueraded as faux warmth and mass. In their places emerge higher clarity and speed. That equals better separation, more specific depth cues and a quicker leaner more energetic sound. If you call that a bit of sonic rejuvenation, I’d not disagree. ” – Srajan Ebaen