fuse question

Perhaps, one way to upgrade the contact surface of a fuse holder is simply to use one of the new silver-containing contact enhancers, very sparingly. Then there is no need for delicate soldering technique.
By the way, what has been the experience of anyone who has installed audiophile grade fuses?

In medicine it used to be 'generally accepted' that blood letting with leeches and occasional tapping of stomache bile was a good idea, similar stuff remains widely acclaimed in cultures that haven't adopted scientific method (and in audio of course).
But in any case, if you want to chase the fuse thing soldering is probably a bad idea. Any resistance reduction you gained by soldering would likely be more than offset by heat degradation of the contact area between fuse cap and fuse element. If you are dead set on exploring you could jumper around the fuse for long enough to test the concept, obviously you would not have the fuse protection during the test period but the short term risk would tell you if it seemed worth further effort.

Performance wise, I think the gold-plated Isoclean fuse is worth the $25 price.

I agree that the apparent aluminum fuse holders at either end compromise the sonics. The best way around that is to take the fuse holder out all together, but it would induce a certain safety risk. Not to mention potentially voiding the mfger'er's warranty.

-IMO

It would also void your fire insurance policy...