Furutech Daytona 303 / 303E : High-end performance multi-mode electronic power filter and surge protection unit
The Daytona is a sophisticated, luxuriously made single-chassis power distributor and filtering unit that eliminates many common problems caused by massively contaminated electrical power lines.
How can you tell you’re a victim of polluted AC power? Listen and look for these symptoms: Flat, hard, grainy high frequencies, a thick and bloated midrange, fat, uncontrolled bass, and loss of air and soundstage stability. On video displays the picture resolution is less than sharp, with “ghosting”, color shift, “snow”, or vertical and horizontal lines.
If this looks and sound familiar, you need Furutech!
Furutech Daytona 303 / 303E : High-end performance multi-mode electronic power filter and surge protection unit
Item Codes:
– Daytona 303 – US version
– Daytona 303E – European version
Features:
The Daytona: 24 Hour Protection for Pro A/V and High Performance Enthusiasts
All enthusiasts are looking for the same qualities: Verisimilitude to the original event, a sense of engagement promoting suspension of disbelief, an immersion in audio and video experience. To engage without effort requires meticulous preparation of the entire playback chain especially including the AC mains supply.
The Daytona is a sophisticated, luxuriously made single-chassis power distributor and filtering unit that eliminates many common problems caused by massively contaminated electrical power lines. The AC mains waveform is heavily distorted by ground noise, voltage spikes and sags, high frequency power supply noise from other components in your own system, plus high frequency digital noise radiating from processors and digital interconnects.
There are also distortion products at the top and bottom of the AC waveform created by switch-mode power supplies in small electronics and charging devices on the same circuit. Additionally, you’re never alone; your residential AC supply is shared with other apartments, homes, and businesses on the same utility transformer. That’s why many audio and video enthusiasts notice their systems are more enjoyable late at night or on weekends!
Under the Hood
Like a Daytona GT racer, the Furutech Daytona is purpose-made to comprehensively protect your audio and video system with 5250 joules of surge protection plus 3 types of filtering that dramatically reduces induced, radiated and ground-borne noise. Micro-circuits monitor line voltage and disconnects instantly if dangerous over- or under-voltages occurs, then reconnects once the power returns to safe levels.
The Daytona also features three ultra-advanced isolating filter sections including two analog, two digital, plus another pair of ultra-high-current audio filters. The Daytona also sports 10 surge-protected AC outlets, 6 Digital filtered outlets (Filter 1, 2 and 3), plus 2 ultra-high-current, 4 unfiltered outlets (Direct 1 and 2). Also 3 pair of protected coaxial connections and 1-in/2-out fully-protected phone line connections.
On the Track
The Daytona relieves your system of flat, hard, and grainy high frequencies, a thick and bloated midrange over woolly bass, a loss of air, detail and soundstage instability. On video displays the picture resolution is sharper, with no ghosting, color shift, snow, or vertical and horizontal lines to spoil the view. If this sounds familiar, you need a Furutech Daytona!
Specifications
• Featuring Resonance-Damped Receptacles and Locking Plates and EMI-Absorbing Formula GC-303
• Daytona 303 outlets:
— 4 unfiltered US outlets: Power amplifiers (Direct 1) (2 x FT-D15A (R)), Preamplifiers, analog devices (Direct 2) (2 x FT-D15A (R))
— 6 Digital filtered outlets transparent cover: DVD and DVR (Filter 1 / Zone 1) (2 x FP-15A-N1(R)); CD, Cable and SAT (Filter 2 / Zone 2) (2 x FP-15A-N1(R), TV and Projector (Filter 3 / Zone 3) (2 x FP-15A-N1(R))
• Daytona 303E outlets:
— 4 unfiltered SCHUKO outlets: Power amplifiers (Direct 1 / Zone 3) (2 x FI-E30 (R)), Preamplifiers, analog devices (Direct 2 / Zone 2) (2 x FI-E30 (R))
— 4 Digital filtered outlets: DVD and DVR (Filter 1 / Zone 1) (2 x FI-E30 (R)), CD, Cable and SAT (Filter 2 / Zone 2) (1 x FI-E30 (R)), TV and Projector (Filter 3 / Zone 3) (1 x FI-E30 (R))
• All Furutech Pure Transmission Receptacles feature nonmagnetic rhodium-plated α (Alpha) phosphor bronze fittings
• Beautifully-crafted highest-grade aluminum panels and painted steel chassis
• A layer of Formula GC-303* bonded to the bottom plate effectively shields against EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference)
• Internal wiring: Furutech Alpha-10, 5.5 sq. mm (10 AWG) for low electrical resistance
• Conductors insulated with resonance-absorbing tubing
*Formula GC-303 is a special material that Furutech layers and bonds to the interior bottom-plate of the chassis. It actually absorbs EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) generated by the internal fittings of the unit. GC-303 absorbent filtering ensures that AC resistance is kept to a minimum, allowing a more resolving, powerful, dynamic, and colourful performance from your components.
• Front panel:
– 8 indicators for abnormal operation:
— Abnormal voltage indicator • Red
— Zone 1, 2, 3 • Green
— Correct path indicator for wiring • Green
— Breaker indicator • Red
— Digital voltage meter • Red
— Digital amperage meter • Red
• Rear panel:
—Attachable LED lamp for easy viewing
— Three sets of surge-protected coaxial terminals
— Surge-protected 3-way phone connections 2.5GHz coaxial connections — Input x 1 • Output x 2
— 3 Remote control triggers, AC 100~120V In/DC 3~30V In/DC 12V Out
—Sequence switch
—Display Dimmer switch for Display panel Light or Normal
• Standard rack mounting plates
• All metal parts are treated with Furutech’s Two Step Cryogenic and Demagnetizing Alpha Process
• Dimensions: 414mm (W) x 265 (D) x 149 (H)
• Weight: 9.5kg
• Rating : 250V 15A AC
“However, when the Daytona was removed from the system, it was as if someone had erased all the life and colours from the music, it was like moving back in time to a black-and-white TV set. While with the Furutech I received broad orchestrations, without it the score rushed towards its finale as if musicians wanted to be out of the stage as soon as possible. To sum it up, I missed (the Daytona) a lot. That much that the system virtually got ‘unlistenable’ – Which is already a pretty strong statement
considering the quality of the audio gear that was used…” – Marc Mickelson
“…..the Daytona303 / Flux system offers six key benefits that are simply addictive: (1) Unusually quite backgrounds. (2) Resolution sufficient to convey tons of low-level sonic detail. (3) Blazing transient speeds without apparent overshoot or ringing. (4) Clean, taut, articulate bass. (5) Superb high-frequency ‘air’ and extension. (6) Genuine neutrality.” – Chris Martens
“Altogether, I adjudged the installation of the Daytona 303/Alpha Piezo Powerflux power cables to be a real asset over the time it’s been in use here. Very intelligently designed, the Furutech 303 lives up to its claims to be a state-of-the-art power filtering/distribution center, and the synergy with the Piezo Powerflux power cables is obvious. I have come to consider this combination to be essential for home theater use. Very highly recommended, and both products are worthy of PFO 2009 Brutus Awards. So given!.” – David Robinson
…..perhaps the most important upgrade in the area of power conditioning (and without question, one of the most significant hi fi upgrades I have ever made) was my recent purchase of the Furutech Daytona 303 E Multi Mode AC Power filter/distributor. I purchased the Daytona 303, largely on the basis of an audition of the unit as installed in Jeandrés’ system some four years ago. What remained of this audition in my audible memory since that time was just how incredibly quiet his set-up was despite the fact that the components used were relatively modest – employing lower end cables – yet the music emanated from a dead quiet, jet-black background and in this regard, was certainly superior to my own equipment. It was probably at that moment that I truly came to appreciate that a top power conditioner like the Furutech Daytona would have to be a mandatory upgrade for my own audio system. However funding not being available at that time, I had to wait and only managed to spring for the unit relatively recently.
Once the Daytona was installed into my rig, I was even more taken with the result; there is no doubt that this upgrade provided the sonic equivalent of the spending of at least R100 000 on a major new component, whether source or amplification; it was hard to believe that a mere power conditioner (indeed, a ‘passive’ power conditioner!) could make such a difference. With the Daytona in my system it was evident that for the first time, I was truly beginning to hear the sonic merits of the Spendor SP100’s and all my other cables and components that I had added over years of upgrading: more detail, a clearer more focused soundstage and a finer, smoother delineation of the treble frequencies and so on.
In conclusion, I need to endorse all the Spendor and Furutch products stocked by Jeandré at AV Cables (The Audio Visual Boutique), not to mention the expertise and free advice which have been made available to me and many other audiophiles over the years.
Review notes from M Norman – August 2015)