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Iso Clean Fuses

I just installed the Isoclean fuses in my Marantz SA-11S1 SaCd player. This player has 5 fuses inside. Turned it on and boy did it sound bad. The worst tweek I have ever tried. The highs were gone. In fact the over all volume was reduced! My heart sank. Faintly remembering the info sheet says these fuses have a direction to them, I had hope. Out comes the player from the stand. Fuses pointed in the other direction, now towards tha front of the player. Back in the stand, all connections remade. When i turned off the amp I left the volume at the same level. Power on. Hurray! SET magic sound restored. The crystal clear mids are there and the delicate highs have returned.
These fuses are supposed to be placed following the direction of current. I do not know if I have each circuit fused correctly as I do not have a diagram of the current flow. But in the Marantz the fuse arrow sounds better pointing to the front versus all pointing towards the rear.
So if you try an Isoclean fuse, try it in both directions before deciding if it helps or not.
David Pritchard
128x128davidpritchard

Showing 9 responses by chashas1

chashas1
596 posts
 
Oh, I think you can hear this change regardless of your abilities or loves....
chashas1
596 posts
 
I love em.... a definite improvement, and not much money. I got mine from VHAudio, from Chris, great service.
and yes, they are most definitely directional.
chashas1
596 posts
 
I would guess it depends on what you think too much money, but, bicycle man and others who doubt, I think you are missing out. It's quite an improvement for the money, and made a believer out of me. Why it's not done more often is beyond me, but it does seem like it's catching on. What would you normally pay for an improvement in your sound?

As far as the power cords, one quick demonstration would show you the way. If you couldn't hear the change, then you've saved yourself money.
chashas1
596 posts
 
Now leave Bicycle man alone, he seems quite content, as do we who have upgraded our fuses. Investment is a good point, if someone only spent $20 on zipcord for speaker cable, they'll think it total lunacy to spend $40 on a fuse.
Remember the saying, you can sometimes learn by observing those that can't.
chashas1
596 posts
 
One thing I like about this hobby shows in this thread, everyone appoints themselves an expert, and objects to anything they don't have first hand knowledge of. Pretty amazing....
Bicycleman, I could shoot holes through your second paragraph and beginning of third, well,most of it. But you're resigned to your beliefs, so no need. I'm not remotely derogatory, unless you'd be a certain party who posts on here.
Like I said, if you were here, I could show you in the time it took to swap fuses the difference. I have no idea what system you have at home or what you are used to listening to/for, but, anyone can hear this difference, for the better I might add, not all changes are for the better in the long run. No rhetoric, no overpriced gizmo or snake oil. (I do serve great appetizers at my listening parties, though.) and lots of listening, and laughs...
Loosen up a bit, you're starting to sound like Julian Hirsh.
chashas1
596 posts
 
Hi Bicycleman, you have every reason to be skeptical, based on what you currently believe and on your past observations.
So tell us, what amp are you using now? and what value and type is the main fuse?

And I'll tell you a quick story:
A friend and I had swapped amps for a while, and while he had mine, he replaced the main fuse with an isoclean. When I got it home, I thought, sounds okay, I like his amp better. After he told me what he had done, I thought that's nice, but no great shakes at all. But then I got down and inspected it, saw the directionality arrow on it, and decided to place it the other way. Oila! The difference was amazing! It was gorgeous. Now, this is certainly better than tube rolling, because in the fuse case you either have greatness or you don't, not mere differences.
Surely a man of science can relate.
chashas1
596 posts
 
yet not in this case...calm listening will easily prevail.
chashas1
596 posts
 
Nice. Okay, David, one quick question which I should have asked from the nice folks I bought my fuses from, it's obviously easy (for us) to tell which direction the fuse is suppose to go by hearing it, but if you were to go by arrow only, is there any way to know?
Thanks...
and be nice to bicycleman, I think he's gonna buck for one sooner or later, elartford, well, i think it spells e oldfart, and he's thinking like one...:)
chashas1
596 posts
 
Not I! I was only trying to be funny, totally tongue in cheek.
As I've been trying to get across, if we could get together, it would be a simple demonstration, and very decent respectful conversation, at least at my house. And if there were folks that didn't get it or nor think it be worth the change, then that would be very respectfully treated, with snacks, no less.
Why do you think people like Julian Hirsch finally got drowned out by the likes of J Gordon Holt or Harry Pearson? Because his way of thinking was finally discredited in so many ways. Look at how audio has changed.
I'm not calling anyone Julian, not anymore. But you owe it to yourself to go find out the facts.
And you're welcome to come over for a fun listen.
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