SurgeX 1120-RT With Furutech GTX Receptacles & Upgrades - Brand New

I just purchased a brand new (not refurbished) SurgeX SX1120-RT power conditioner. My goal was to build a unit similar to the top of the line unit sold by Dave at ZenWaveAudio. His units have received excellent praise and have been a part of really expensive systems that have won numerous awards.

I'm an OEM and I build power amps, preamplifiers, power supplies and even speakers when I'm motivated to do so. Working with this SurgeX unit was a delight in spite of the fact that I needed to do some machining work to get everything to fit properly. I do not, however, recommend modifying something like this yourself. If you don't purchase this one, purchase one from Dave.d

My Selling Price = $ 950

I'll pay for Agon listing fee, PayPal fee, and actual FedEx shipping cost from me to you.

However, I'll only ship within the Continental US

I just completed this unit and am now putting it up for sale. I’m selling it not because it’s not good but rather, the opposite. I really like SurgeX technology and will now try to find a way to continue to use it with another one of their other products.

I’m an OEM and audio equipment manufacturer and have no problem working on a project like this. It was fun to do. I needed to find out if this power conditioner is a good as everyone says. Yes it is, but for me, I’m going to try another approach (keep reading) and is the only reason I’m selling this new unit.

My personal power conditioner for my expensive audio system is a Furutech e-TTP609 NCF. It has 3 double receptacles using the super expensive NCF outlets that are now top of the Furutech line. However, this power distributor is not filtered and does not protect an expensive audio system from surges or brownouts - conditions I always worry about particularly during a nasty thunderstorm.

The end result is that I still like my e-TP609 NCF slightly better (probably mostly due to the NCF outlets rather than the Furutech GTX R outlets that I used in the SurgeX upgrading. Unless I listen to these two units side by side and do a quick comparison, however, they do sound really close - sound quality wise. My e-TP609NCF costs $2,200. The SurgeX I just built has a total parts list cost of around $1800.

I’m willing to sell this brand new upgraded SurgeX unit for $950 to provide someone else a nice value. Because I modified this new unit, it no longer has the SurgeX warranty (of course but now it sounds much better and can be used in high quality audio systems). However, in stock form, the SurgeX sound quality isn’t adequate (too much grain due to cheap outlets, wire, and connectors, etc) and the new Furutech outlets, IEC module, wire, and connectors, are all necessary to bring this up to audiophile standards. Plus with the new Furutech IEC inlet, you can use a high quality power cable to connect it to your own power source.

If you’re interested in purchasing another one of these upgraded SurgeX units after this one is sold, contact Dave at ZenWaveAudio. You’ll pay close to twice the price I’m asking but in my opinion, this upgraded unit is well worth it!

CONCLUSION: If I was starting over, I’d probably purchase the SurgeX if it costs no more than the e-TP609 and I’d purchase it from Dave at ZenWaveAudio. However, I really like my current Furutech distributor and those NCF receptacles and don’t plan on getting rid of it.

I now plan on purchasing another standalone SurgeX unit (with one receptacle) that I’ll modify and then plug my e-TP609NCF into it instead of the wall outlet. Definitely an experiment but one that I sense will work.

If sound quality is close enough (I suspect that it will be), I’ll use the standalone SurgeX instead of the Furutech wall receptacle to plug in my e-TP609NCF. I want to have some protection for my expensive audio system and I haven’t found a better way to do it. I feel “naked” using a non-filtered power distributor and if I don’t do something, one day, I might suffer a serious financial loss. The SurgeX (modified) will provide both the peace of mind I’m looking for as well as the superb Furutech sound quality that I’m used to.

Here’s A List Of The Items That I Installed In This Upgraded SurgeX 1120-RT:

A new stock unit from Music Direct at $849

1 Furutech FI-09 Rhodium IEC Inlet $108.99

3 Furutech GTX-D Rhodium receptacles $249.99 each x 3 = $749.97

Furutech FT-210(G) internal connectors used to replace stock tinned connectors ($26/10)

Silver plated teflon copper hookup wire used to replace stock PVC copper wire ($10/ft)

Custom Front Panel Express IEC module plate used to replace ($41.32)

Dyed/Poly Finished Wood Case ($40)

Approximate Total Cost $1800

Furutech receptacles are mounted more securely vs stock using 3 stainless steel screws per receptacle instead of one.

I’ve built a wooden case and applied black wood dye and a couple coats of polyurethane varnish. I did this to be able to mount the rack mount ears on the front panel using 4 stainless screws with nylon washers. This provides a much more finished approach for those of us mounting this kind of power conditioner in an audio rack or system or in a tight space (vertically) on the floor).

This unit can now be used either horizontally with feet underneath (that you provide) or used vertically. If used vertically, I’d recommend attaching industrial Velcro to the case and the surface you would like to lean it against. Don’t use it vertically unless you design a means to keep it upright (Velcro works well).

Exterior measurements including the wooden case:

19.25” x 10.75” x 2.25”

For horizontal use, I highly recommend resting the wooden case I’ve built for this unit on Isoacoustic footers that you currently own or need to purchase. I’d use the Isozoustics OREA Bronze isolation footers (either 3 or 4 your choice). If using 3, put two on the side where the receptacles are mounted. One toward the front and you have good suspension. Personally, I like using 4.

Let me know if you have any questions. I’m looking forward to someone getting to enjoy the quality of this power conditioner as I’ve upgraded it. Thanks for checking out my ad!

Richard

Aum Acoustics