FUSE BOX delivers perfect protection and superior sound


Encouraged by the improvement offered by the PURON plug-in filters, I spent some additional time reading 

 

I wondered if a second product, unrelated to PURON, can also raise the bar for recorded music?  FUSE BOX is a system that replaces a fuse in a piece of electronics.  A metal SLUGGO (insert either the brass or copper option) goes in the fuse holder.  The power cord you have been using goes into one end of the slim, lightweight BOX.  From the other end of the BOX, another power cord (quality counts!) leads to your power conditioner or to the wall.  Simply plug and play.

Each FUSE BOX is calibrated according to the traditional fuse it will be replacing.  By providing the amp value, fuse size, and slow/fast blow, a unit can be tailored to your specs.

I took the plunge by requesting a FUSE BOX to fit into two different systems.  I use a Black Ice FOZ SS-X Sound Expander in both a headphone (Synergistic blue) and main system (Synergistic orange).  This wonderful piece is in the middle of both systems, between the cd player and the amplifier.

Starting first in the smaller system, there was a break-in period of about 30 hours before the sound really took off.  A huge positive step (for me) was then replacing the copper sluggo with the brass version.  Now I heard the depth and warmth, in addition to the detail of the copper version.  The traditional Grado sound through the over the ear headphones (Prestige 125 model) was rich, detailed, and balanced.

I spend much more time listening through full range Martin Logan Expression ESL 13a speakers.  I recently added two PURONS to this system, plugged into a Synergistic Research Powercell 12 conditioner.  Even when (intellectually) I believed this combination had already taken me to the "top of the mountain," I was happy to be proven wrong.  With the brass sluggo in the SS-X, the "you are at the recording event" is very powerful, and in a way I had never heard before.  It's like I have the best seat in the house, for every recording.

For me, FUSE BOX offers the protection of traditional fuses, without fearing they may need to be replaced (since FUSE BOX can be easily reset).  With the two sluggos provided, the sound can be adjusted to one's preference.  And I still have the flexibility to change this arrangement in the future, as the sluggo is never permanently fixed to the fuse holder.

A big thanks to Mark Schifter at Vera-Fi Audio, for patiently helping me.  With a 30 day return policy, my guess is that many music lovers will be asking Mark to program a unit, so they can evaluate it in their systems.

My answer, to "how can the sound possibly get any better?" is FUSE BOX.  Highly recommended.

 

sgordon1

Thanks to the earlier adopters of this product for posting.

If anyone has a link to comprehensive product information, I’d love to have it. 


It sounds like the product comes with sluggo’s of brass and copper for the user to experiment with.  Is that correct?  

Wig, rareace….did you replace the stock powercord on the fusebox or are your positive reports based on the stock cord?
 

@rc22 

Yes, the Fuse Box does come with a copper and brass sluggo's. 

The Fuse Box is not shipped with any power cords and using PC's I currently have on hand.

 

Wig

Sorry for not posting for a while, I have had many personal items of late that took me away from listening to music.

I have had the fuse box(s) connected to my amps for about a week, probably have played music with them in the system for a total of 10 hours.

What I can offer is that there is no downside, I am hearing a calmness that is pleasant, perhaps my amps are finally playing as to the way they were designed.

I have only tried the copper slug thus far, but I will try the brass.

BTW, I did make a short 12" jumper power cord to use with my units. I think Mark will soon be offering a similar power cord to be used instead of connecting another long power cord to the Fuse Box.

ozzy

 

Mark was kind enough to send me 2 of the fuse boxes to try on my preamp and power amp.  I'll do my best to give my impressions, though I feel like the sound is still changing and improving.

Out of the box (copper sluggo):

Bass.  More in both quantity and definition.  I considered dialing my subwoofers back a few times in the first hours, but eventually decided it sounded 'right' with my original setting. 

I'm noticeably lower on my line stage's volume control.  Maybe 5 steps lower (out of 103 total).  I usually listen around 30 and am now listening in the mid 20s.

Instrument separation is better and the leading edges of notes are more clearly defined.

Soundstage depth is reduced slightly.  Soundstage width is unchanged but the outer edges of the stage are more illuminated. 

Complicated passages are congested.

Vocals and high frequencies sound a little etched and somewhat artificial like I'm trading some naturalness for additional detail.  

After a week (approx 25 hours):

Soundstage depth is back to where it was.  Improvements in width and illumination remain.

Congestion on complicated passages is no longer an issue.

The etched quality I noticed initially has settled down nicely and things are sounding natural again.

I like what I'm hearing.

Today:

I have lent the fuse boxes to a friend of mine for a couple of days to try on some other equipment.

Before I removed them from my system, I briefly tried the brass sluggo.  I think it is the better sounding choice for my system.  Tonality and texture on stringed instruments seems appreciably better.  High frequencies seem more natural and appropriately scaled.  I'm less confident in these observations because they were made in about a half hour but will follow up when I have had more time to compare.

Last night, I listened without the fuse boxes in my system.  It was a short session, not as engaging.  I'm looking forward to continued experimentation with the brass sluggos.

I'd also like to try polishing the sluggos and treating them with progold or bullfrog contact enhancer.

skucie,

Nice review. Interesting that you like the brass slug better. I still haven’t tried it yet, but I will.

I have also treated the copper fuse with Rick Shultz new "Pro" enhancer product that he kindly provided. His previous products were the NPS 1260, NPS Q45T.

First, I will try the brass au naturel.

ozzy

@ozzy I was also surprised that I prefer the brass.  Still trying to justify that to myself.

I've got my polishing cloth and bullfrog standing by for when I get the fuse boxes back, but I'm planning to run them a few days before I try anything else.

Good to hear the Fuse Boxes are performing as advertised in your systems 😁... Will be implementing another one for my tube Pre-Amp and it's hard to unhear what you have heard after removing the Fuse Box.

Wig

It’s very interesting that thus far that most of you prefer the brass over the copper slug.

So, I’m getting ready to try the brass one. But I wonder if it matters as to what piece of equipment it is used in.

My Mono block amps have 2 fuses in each. One that powers the main power supply (6A) and the other the input section (1.5A).

I have the "Fuse Box (6A)" powering the main power supply and I am still using a SR fuse in the other fuse input section on my amps.

ozzy

Which statement is true:

If you can hear a difference, then there is a difference.

If you can't hear a difference, then there is no difference.

Post removed 

@steakster 

The holder itself is a main part of the problem -

I've worked this comparison 

Just my 02 cents 

 

Thanks - Mark

 

steakster, verafiaudio

I have thought of that too! Bypassing the entire fuse/holder would be the ultimate since the Fuse Box would protect the component. It will be on my future hit list to try. Although, the Fuse Box slug is the most convenient way to accomplish this.

ozzy

BTW, I just received the new short power cord to be used with the Fuse Box. Very nice, well made.

ozzy

So now I have tried both the copper and the brass slugs and I prefer the copper (with my equipment that the Fuse Box is used with).

ozzy

Over the weekend, I also tried the copper and brass sluggos but prefer the copper in my system.

Wig 

Guys,

Added another 1A SB Fuse Box to my tube pre-amp and noted the same outstanding attributes I discerned on my tube amp; tightening up the center image focus, more impactful bass, more nuanced texture, better soundstage separation/depth/layering, transparency/clarity...

Wig😁👍

Place an Alpha E-card (PerfectPath Technologies) on or under Fuse Box.  Amazing.

Appreciate all the feedback here and in other places

More and more manufacturers have taken serious note. We are helping where we can here.

We will have some optional Sluggos here this week. Will update once they arrive

Thanks to all of you for your Early Adopter Strength 

Here to help - or you can always e-mail at verafiaudiollc@gmail.com

Best wishes - Mark 

Good Morning and Happy Holiday


Our very simple web site has been a bit overwhelmed these last few weeks.

We are going to build a more sophisticated site with a better and more Full Service Shopping Cart with more payment options, etc.

If you are interest in Puron or FUSE BOX please try to connect with me directly

verafiaudiollc@gmail.com


I apologize in advance for this “commercial message”, but I want everyone interested to know that the site changes are moving forward quickly and we are ready for you.

Thanks -

Mark

I spent a few minutes polishing the copper sluggos with a connoisseur’s polishing cloth (gold) until they were visibly shinier and installed them earlier this afternoon.

My system is sounding better than ever with the polished copper, making the brass sound lifeless by comparison. I’ve had a list of errands to do today and it’s now 7:50 PM and I’m listening through my 4th album.

My Vandersteen speakers are producing bass I didn’t know they were capable of in my large listening room. Deep, tuneful bass I can feel in my chest. The impact is much more noticeable than it was before.

The soundstage is clearly defined from front to back and left to right, better than I’ve ever heard it. I feel like I’m hearing the rear corners of the stage with less distortion than ever.

related thoughts:

-The power cables feeding my best equipment (and plugged into the fuse box) are quite a bit better and more costly than the ones I’m running into the fuse boxes. I expect there is more to be gained there, albeit at a much higher cost than the fuse box itself. It’s worth doing though, the price/performance ratio on the fuse box is better than every other aftermarket product I have in my system.

-As someone mentioned above, I feel that the fuse holder in the equipment is, itself, a big part of the problem. A high quality jumper wire bypassing the fuse holder would almost certainly lead to a substantial improvement. I’m not comfortable doing that to my favorite gear (yet, anyway).

-My next step is to apply some contact enhancer and see what that does. I’m planning to use this, unless anyone has an argument for something else performing better.

Bullfrog:
https://www.theruststore.com/Bull-Frog-Electronic-Cleaner-P487.aspx

@skucie 

Thanks for going the extra mile. After you clean all your contacts (I used isoprophol) then use Mad Scientist Audio Graphene Contact enhancer SPARINGLY

I actually coated the copper slug with a new product (that I think is limited) by Rick Shultz called "Pro" that I was asked to try.

It seemed to add a little more in the way of quietness to the sound.

But I still think by-passing the fuse holder would be the best. I will try this soon.

ozzy

@skucie 

Good read here - thank you

We have some solid material samples coming as well as some electroplated samples that our team wants me to hear

Woefully behind on this - been promising groovy sauce on the Decware thread for weeks now. Did not realize that my vendor is sending all of these at once 

FB is making waves for real

Good Morning 

I am in receipt of an exceptional review that was posted on the Decware Forum.

I contacted the author and asked his permission to post a link to his thoughts here. He was gracious in allowing me to do so. 

Thanks - Mark

 

https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1677858218/54#54

 

PS - thanks as well to @gladmo for his post here and in the Members Review Section  

Laugh at the first couple comments calling it a scam. There’s a 30 day no questions asked money back guarantee. I ordered a pair and I have zero intent to go back to using an amplifier without the SDFB installed in-line in the power path. I am completely satisfied with the purchase and have no regrets.