What Is Wattgate? Audio-Grade Power Connectors and Receptacles Explained

Updated

Wattgate is a brand of audio-grade power connectors and receptacles — the AC plugs, IEC connectors, and wall outlets used to deliver mains power to audio equipment. If you are building or upgrading a power chain for a hi-fi or studio system and want connectors marketed specifically for audio rather than generic electrical supply, Wattgate is one of the names in that category. The site organizes its offering around products, accessories, a connector comparison resource, metallurgy information, and a dealer network.

What Wattgate makes

The product line covers the two ends of an audio power cable and the point where it meets the wall:

  • Receptacles — the wall outlets that equipment plugs into.
  • Plugs — the mains-side connectors.
  • IEC connectors — the equipment-side connectors used on many audio components.
  • Accessories — supporting parts for building or finishing cables.

Model numbers referenced on the site include 330i, 350i, 390i, and 381, along with shuko (Schuko, the European-style mains plug standard) and IEC types. These designations distinguish connector families and formats rather than describing a single universal product.

What "audio grade" means here

"Audio grade" in this context is a marketing and design category, not a formal electrical standard. The site frames it around metallurgy — the metals and contact materials used in the connectors — which is the main lever a connector maker can pull to differentiate from commodity parts. In practice, that means the brand's pitch rests on contact material, plating, and build quality rather than on a regulated performance rating.

Two practical implications:

  • Fit and format still matter most. A connector must physically match your cable, your component's inlet, and your wall outlet standard (for example, Schuko versus other regional mains types). No metallurgy claim changes that.
  • Claims are hard to verify independently. Treat metallurgy descriptions as manufacturer specifications, and weigh them alongside the connector's mechanical quality and how it fits your specific gear.

Comparing models

Wattgate provides a connector comparison resource on the site, which is the right place to start when choosing between model numbers like 330i, 350i, 390i, and 381. Use it to line up the models on the attributes that actually affect your build:

What to check Why it matters
Connector type (IEC, mains plug, receptacle) Determines whether it fits your cable end or wall
Mains standard (e.g., Schuko) Must match your region's outlets
Metallurgy / contact material The brand's core differentiation claim
Physical fit Must match your cable gauge and component inlet

If the comparison page does not answer a fit question, that is a signal to confirm dimensions and standards with a dealer before buying.

Dealers and international availability

The site lists dealers and international dealers, which is the practical route to purchase and to confirm regional mains compatibility. Because connector standards vary by country, buying through a local or regional dealer reduces the risk of ordering a plug or receptacle that does not match your outlets.

When Wattgate is worth exploring

Wattgate is relevant if you are assembling or modifying audio power cables and want connectors positioned as audio-grade, with a documented comparison between models and a dealer network for regional standards. It is less relevant if you only need a functional, standard-compliant power connection and are not choosing based on contact material or brand.

Before deciding, identify three things: the connector type you need (IEC, mains plug, or receptacle), your regional mains standard, and your cable's physical requirements. Then use the site's connector comparison and dealer listings to match a model to those constraints.