NCF Clear Line
AC Power Supply Optimizer
Srajan Ebaen of 6moons.com says:
“…once you’ve heard it then heard it taken away, you won’t want to deny yourself if you can at all avoid it..”
“…you won’t be able to remain a tweak cynic when you hear this!”
Full review HERE
Leading Japanese Audio commentators give their opinions:
Masamitsu Fukuda (Japanese Audio Commentator)
Transparency increased, high frequency noise reduced, better punch in the mids
Overall greater contrast and clarity
All pluses, no negatives
Yoshio Obara (Japanese Audio Commentator)
This product is fantastic! Of all the products Furutech has introduced these past years, this might be the most effective.
Performance on CD/SACD playback:
・Incredible improvement in signal/noise ratio bringing more detail in increased nuances
・Sudden increase in sound stage
・Reduction in noise boosts resolution
・Tighter bass
Performance on Analog playback:
・Takes dynamic contrast to another level
・Increased dynamic range
・Deeper and more power low end
・Improved clarity in sound and intonation
Performance on Video playback:
・Greater contrast
・Extension in highlights
・Greater image depth
・Crisper color reproduction
・Greater texter and image detail due to lower noise
Customer feedback:
MCRU customer review by Craig Cook (verified owner) – 29th October 2020
Excellent “inexpensive” boost in SQ for all High end systems who do not have the benefit of a stand alone mains power supply. Definitely lowered the noise floor in my system which had the effect of deeper more articulate bass lines, much wider soundstage and more space between the vocalist and instruments. Give it 24 hours to “break in”. I just plugged mine into an empty socket on my Nordost QB6. Highly recommended.
★★★★★
Furutech NCF Clear Line
Tweekgeek.com review by Harold
I have just bought a second one of these, based on the positive effects of the first one. I now have one plugged into the wall outlet and a second plugged into a Furutech e-tp 309 power distributor (older version without NCF outlets). What I am hearing is a better sorted soundstage. Voices and instruments appear from more distinct locations. The second Clear Line has increased the apparent depth of the soundstage. I listen to CDs, and the improvement in sound is more apparent on discs made in Japan, but even discs from the 1980s sound better. Put simply, the music sounds more lifelike than before. I’m using gear from Parasound, Oppo, and Harbeth, none of which is terribly expensive, along with Audience and Furutech cables and power cords. If you have a system that you’re happy with already, adding one or two of these may save you from spending lots more on hardware upgrades.
★★★★★
Furutech NCF Clear Line
Tweekgeek.com review by Keith Dinsmore
This is the best low cost tweek going. Everything you’ve read is true. Out of my Chord Hugo TT2, Meze Empyrean rig a wider sound stage, better imaging. Everything is brought up a notch. Originally I thought I’d try it and if it disappointed I just eBay it. NOPE. I’m keeping this. Excellent!!
★★★★★
NCF CLEAR LINE FURUTECH
Tweekgeek.com review by ROY ROCHELLE
This plug-in to your power conditioner(s) optimizer is startling. Playing The Saint of Lost Causes by Justin Townes Earle with this, there was improved clarity. I could far better understand his words/drawl. General coherence of the presentation and soundstage depth were also improved. I have 2 in my main system and one in my headphone system. Two friends were stunned by my A/B demos. Easily appreciated and worth the price. A relatively inexpensive item to improve the sound of your system.
Instructual video:
Does Power Matter for Sound Quality ?? Furutech NCF Clear Line Review
-Awards-
-Reviews-
RATING
AC Power Supply Optimizer
NCF Clear Line-US (NEMA AC male version)
NCF Clear Line-EU (Schuko version)
NCF Clear Line-UK (UK version)
NCF Clear Line-AU (AU/NZ version)
FEATURES
Why just a moment?
Furutech’s Nano Crystal² Formula, also known as NCF, has resulted in a number of truly innovative and effective products over the past few years. NCF features a special crystalline material that has two distinct properties—it generates negative ions that eliminate static, and it converts thermal energy into far infrared.
When combined with nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder, these crystals become the ultimate electrical and mechanical damping material. Created by Furutech, NCF is found exclusively in Furutech products and nowhere else.
Now, Furutech has introduced perhaps the simplest way to implement NCF technology into your home—NCF Clear Line.
NCF Clear Line is an audio grade passive AC optimizer, small enough to hold in your hand, that instantly enhances the quality of your power supply. Simply plug the NCF Clear Line into any vacant receptacle on either a power distributor or wall outlet. For best effect, use the NCF Clear Line on the same AC line/supply as your system, preferably at a receptacle adjacent to your system.
It only takes a moment to hear the improvement in the sound. You won’t have to switch back and forth repeatedly in order to “discover” an improvement. It’s right there.
You’ll immediately notice improvements in the depth and focus of the sound stage, harmonics and tonal balance with NCF. Low frequencies are cleaner, with a greater sense of definition made possible by a lowered noise floor.
Then unplug the NCF Clear Line from the power receptacle. You’ll immediately miss those sonic improvements. You’ll want them back.
In home theater applications, you will also hear these same distinct results. Just as importantly, you’ll see the difference in your video quality. All you need to do is plug the NCF Clear Line into your home entertainment system and the improvements will be instantly noticeable.
Sharper. Clearer. Yet more natural and easy on the eyes.
It only takes a moment to take your listening or viewing experience to the next level with Furutech’s NCF Clear Line. Find out for yourself.
- Improves resolution, focus and 3-dimensionality of performance
- Eliminates noise increasing signal to noise ratio boosting information and detail in sound reproduction
- Improves resolution, depth and dynamism of images and video
- Multi-material hybrid construction: Carbon fiber housing (shell) with superior resonance damping properties
- All conductor parts rhodium plated and treated with Furutech’s Alpha Process
Furutech’s Two-Stage Cryogenic and Demagnetization Alpha Process
Using cutting-edge technology and materials, Furutech developed a low-temperature two-stage process that significantly improves every facet of audio and video performance.
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 achieves temperatures of between -196 to -250℃. The treated parts change their molecular structure at these extremes of temperature, relieving internal stress. The molecules bond together more tightly and the overall structure becomes more stable. This improves electrical conductivity and therefore power and signal transfer.
Step two in the Alpha Process exposes these same parts to the patented Ring Demagnetization treatment. Ordinary high-power magnets used for this purpose often increase magnetic effects; they leave some areas more magnetized than others. This patented process uses controlled attenuation to completely eliminate magnetization for more vivid and colorful improvements to sound and picture quality. Ring Demagnetization further enhances conductivity of all treated materials.
ALL metallic parts used in Furutech products go through the Alpha Process treatment to keep all connectors, conductors, and metal parts in a perfect stress-free, stable, and highly conductive state.
How it works:
The NCF Clear Line is an entirely passive device that does not interfere with current (no circuit is formed between L & N) and it has no form of circuit filter inside.
What you hear is the NCF effect. The NCF Clear Line eliminates electrical and mechanical resonance from power outlet sockets and power conductors with Furutech's NCF (anti-static and resonance damping material) and with the help of NCF Clear Line’s Air Coils which damp and eliminate vibrations emanating from the power socket outlet electrodes.
The NCF material and the NCF line up of products are the cumulative result of Furutech’s 30 plus year efforts to help their customers understand the negative effects of signal and power conductor resonance on playback quality and to offer solutions to eliminate such resonance.
SPECIFICATIONS
1. The NCF Clear Line body is formed with nylon and glass fiber incorporating nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder for their additional “Piezo Effect” damping properties. As well as Furutech’s NCF (Nano Crystal² Formula) which eliminates static, “interconverts” thermal, mechanical, and electrical energy and damps vibrations.
2. Furutech’s NCF Clear Line utilizes enameled "α(Alpha)-OCC Air Coil" passive wire coils to improve power quality and system sound performance by eliminating radiated resonance from power electrodes. Each α(Alpha)-OCC Air Coil in the NCF Clear Line has been designed to complement the performance enhancing characteristics of Furutech’s unique NCF (Nano Crystal Formula) anti-static and resonance damping material. The results, Furutech’s NCF Clear Line will eliminate noise, remove static and improve the overall quality of your power, taking the performance of your system to the next level. (Passive: N & L poles are not connected and do not form a circuit).
3. The NCF Clear Line body and housing are secured with special T10 tamper-proof stainless-steel screws and washers. Factory tightened to the optimal torque value for best sound performance.
4. The NCF Clear Line housing lining ring has been formed from special resonance damping Nylon and Furutech’s NCF material and the barrel housing constructed of 4 layers of Furutech’s hybrid NCF carbon fiber
5. The internal air chamber is pressure sealed to for additional damping effects
6. The NCF End Cover is formed from special heat resistant nylon and Furutech ‘s NCF material with molded channels to increase the surface area of the NCF material by 76% for improved effectiveness – ultimate resonance damping for improved tonal balance.
Features:
1. NCF Body (multi-material hybrid structure): NCF formulated nylon resin
2. Coils: α (Alpha) Pure-Copper Rhodium-plated Conductor electrode contacts (L & N not connected - no circuit formed) and passive “Air Coils” constructed with α(Alpha)-OCC enameled wire coated a silver color resonance damping material.
3. The special T10 tamper-proof stainless steel self-tapping screws and washers
4. Housing: 4-layer hybrid NCF carbon housing composed of an outer hard clear coat over a NCF textured carbon fiber
particle composite layer with another layer of NCF and 3K carbon fiber layer beneath that. Inner surface is NCF Nylon
insulation. The best of damping and insulation materials improve frequency extension and tonal balance.
5. The internal air chamber is pressure sealed to for additional damping effects.
6. NCF End Cover (multi-material hybrid structure): Anti-static and resonance suppressing qualities with molded channels to
increase the surface area of the NCF material by 76% for improved effectiveness – ultimate resonance damping for
improved tonal balance.
Enhance the clarity of musical performance and stereoscopic sound field.
Eliminates noise increasing signal to noise ratio boosting information and detail in sound reproduction
Improve the depth of the picture and improve three-dimensionality and dynamism of video playback.
Multi-material hybrid construction: Carbon fiber housing (shell) with superior resonance damping properties.
All conductive parts are rhodium plated and have undergone the Alpha Process.
Specifications
Outward size: L 88.4 X W39.5 mm approx.
Net Weight: 69 g approx.
Suggested burn in time 24 hrs.
※The pattern for each NCF Clear Line housing (shell) is different. The unique pattern is due to the texture of the composite carbon fiber material used in its construction. The pattern has no impact on the performance of the product.