fuses - the $39 ones or the 85 cent ones

I have not read this whole thread so maybe some of this is redundant.

I would say the results vary quite a bit.
Obviously it also depends where in the circuit path the fuse lies as to how it will effect sonics (as well as the particular circuit as well) and the resolution of the system.

In my PS Audio Solid state control amp - the Hi FI fuses provided a nice improvement that was subtle but noticeable.

On my ATma amps the fuses (one of which is in the signal path to protect from tube blow outs) were a large improvement in inner detail among other aspects- and was not at all subtle. I have suggested these to other owners , one who thought it was a much bigger upgrade than going to better power cords.

I put them in my sub's amps and I can't really tell if there was an improvement (though I didn't then pull them out and listen again- so who knows.)

These companies should create a user database for people to fill in what component they upgraded and what the improvement was. I think it would help people to feel confident they were getting their money's worth.

But to me the cost is small enough that if it makes 50% of my components better - it's money well spent. This goes against the law of diminishing returns we often speak of. If $80 in fuses makes my 14K$ amps even 10% better, it's worth the trouble.

The audiotweek

Interesting finding - but of course we're talking fuses here, and your talking no protection at all.

Confounding this entire topic is the use of contact enhancers like Walker SST and Quiksilver on the end of fuses, both standard and premium variety.

This would also raise the question is a standard fuse with contact enhancer better than a premium fuse without?

I can try this test at some point since I have a jar of Quicksilver.

The problem is that according to the literature it takes some time to break in, due to the oil based carrier.

Having played with QUicksilver, I have not heard a difference once applying and listening again. But of course they back up their product with actual conductance tests, so I feel the science is sound.

A friend who made me some AC cables saw the QUicksilver I brought over to coat the ends of the AC wire before inserting into the AC plug, and he told me that gold paste is a commonly used item in high tech industries to enhance conductivity.

WIth that in mind, I don't care if I actually hear an immediate difference.

The theory is sound and makes intuitive sense.

If a tweek or series of tweeks in inexpensive enough (relative to the high cost many of us have invested) then I don't mind if say out of the 10 tweeks I do, 3 of them may be excellent, 4 of them may yield moderate to small results, and 3 don't work at all. I'm still ahead of stock form, and the cumulative effects add up to nice gains.

I will say this. Using the Cleanwave function of my PS Audio powerplant has always yielded results on the subtle side, so I often don't use it. I tried it the other night after many months, and with the recent tweeks I have done, (positioning, room treatment, and tube rolling) the effect became quite noticeable.

My point being the sonically useless tweek of today, may tomorrow yield results as more attention is paid to bottlenecks further up and downstream.

I have another point to make about listening in general.

Often when I hear a truly excellent system, I am not immediately able to
discern all it's positive qualities.

It's only after hearing it for quite a while, and with different recordings that all of a sudden I hear a vocal (for example) that is much cleaner or more natural, or easier to hear reverb or mic coloration) than I am used to.

Many times in the past I have found systems to be better performers than my hearing is acclimated to. I liken it to a novice wine conneseaur's tastebuds/brain not being refined enough to tell the difference between a fine bottle and an average one. Does it mean that the difference doesn't exist? No, only that the observer couldn't discern a difference.

And that is how my ear has become refined to the State that is is now.
Dougdeacon probably hears subtleties of VTA and timing that would elude me (at least until he pointed them out (or the lack of) in various examples to let me experience it for myself)

So just because a tweek doesn't appear to help, doesn't mean that it isn't having a positive affect.