^That^ Seems like a great reason to get a Fluke clamp style ampere meter.
Audio Research and Acme Audio Labs fuse
I’m toying with the idea of going down the rabbit hole of upgraded fuses. Looking over the usual contenders I stumbled across Acme Audio Labs. Their philosophy of best bang for the buck certainly appeals to my wallet (@$20 a fuse). One caveat, however, is they warn that their fuses aren’t for all components. Specifically gear with “no inrush protection“ will cause their fuse to blow prematurely. So my question to those reading this: 1) Any experience with Acme Audio Lab fuses, 2) do they “play well” with ARC, and 3) does ARC gear typically have inrush protection? I’ll be experimenting with the fuses of a LS 27, PH 7, and a pair of VT 150 mono amps.
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The main fuse for VT 150 is Bussmann MDX/MDQ series dual-element, time-delay fuses. Most after market fuse will blow prematurely unless install one with much higher current rating than ARC specified! Dual-Element, Time-Delay Fuse https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjw... |
Yes the fuse, IEC and AC wire are all part of the power supply. Yes the power cord is part of the power supply. The quality of incoming AC impacts the sound and is indeed part of the signal path. If you don’t think so, then try playing music without these parts in place. Based on the Acme Fuse verbiage I would buy the QSA Light Blue fuse from the Tweak Geek. They are $70. You will hear a nice sound quality improvement. Use the same value as the one in there now. If you don’t hear the sound improvement after a week or so, then just return it for a refund |
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50 year audio veteran: We have set up a professional "blind test" asking this same question about fuses and it made no difference! A hundred audio professionals could not hear any differences. Many were embarrassed to admit the old snake oil sales pitch....... Most walked away with their tale between their legs.... If you want gold fuses, buy a can of Gold spray paint. |
ebm, I have’nt had a SR Orange fuse but I do have an SR Purple fuse on order and have been using QSA Lightblue and Black fuses from tweek geek. You know it’s really uncool to call a supplier/manufactures products ’Sound(s) like pure junk’. Have you tried the fuses? Of course not. Everyone has a right to make a living and your unfounded remarks just may cause a perspective buyer to think as such. Just saying. |
Some people may not need to try them.
That is like saying everyone has a right to eat, so if you are killed for your money, it is OK. Or everyone has a right to drugs, so if you are killed to fuel a drug addiction that is OK. When I say I am sceptical that it works, it is not me who should be proving it doesn;t work.,.. that has been done a thousand times, and no amount of plot and measurement will convince you and your's that there is some unmeasurable magic that is beyond science.
If I help a prospective buyer, then I would feel pretty damned good about it. If they could donate 10% of what they save to a charity it would be even better. |
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It’s called a return policy for a refund! Not only that, you can pay by using pay pal, some other payment system or a debit card to get your money back. This is an audio hobby! That has nothing, nothing to do with: quasi psychology drug addiction being killed plots unmeasurable magic alcohol charity blah, blah, blah, blah, blah WTF man?! Get a grip! It’s $17 dollars! These days, you can barely buy a family pack of toilet paper for $17 dollars! If it doesn’t work to your expectations send it back! But don’t trash something that you haven't even tried or used. |
Why don't we just defer to @cmcdaniel5 to report back as to whether he believe that they worked a treat on his ARC gear? Also we do not know if @cmcdaniel5 , or anyone else, even contacted ARC as to what they recommend. This is in spite of responses 2, 3 and 4 saying to call ARC and the 4th providing the contact details. My original post was how to determine whether inrush current was present on his amplifiers. Anyhow, do the fuses work for you? And what did you hear when you put them in? |
Well thought it time to report back. Tried the fuses in the pre and phono pre amps. No lightening bolts from Zoltan nor balls of fire upon start up. On the other hand really didn’t hear any night and day improvements in the sound either. Despite this I felt it was a worthwhile experiment with little financial risk. On the plus side am coming to the realization that my system as it stands is pretty darn good. Not to say that it’s perfect and a tweak here or there won’t yield benefits. I’m, however, coming to understand that attainment of aural Nirvana is a subjective personal quest, bought at increasing cost with quickly diminishing returns. Most importantly a rather unpleasant truth has come to the fore. IMHO the greatest limitation to wonderful sound is not our playback equipment, but rather the choices made in the recording studio. There are far too many mediocre recordings out there (both digital and analogue). With this realization I’m putting upgrades on the back burner. Instead I’m going spend time reading more record reviews, and best of all, sitting in the concert hall. |
@cmcdaniel5 I tried some Synergistic Research a couple time with different ARC amps and both times in the power amp the fuse popped upon power up. I hit the switch and it shut down 1 sec later. I was advised by both dealers to up my rating but chose to not take their advice and let it go. Sounds like you were able to avoid this at least. |
