McIntosh fuse changeout to make better sound

Hate to brake the news, but audio fuses and fuse holders have the same function and basic design as they have had for the past 40 years and any contact connection that is made to be removed or replaced is susceptible to oxidation and corrosion, including your cables, cords, wall plugs and switch contacts. Not sure where you're coming from on this one nonoise......Jim

@audio2design

You're right, a good connection is important. A hospital grade outlet receptacle is designed and built under strict  quality standards and made to provide a secure and lasting contact. A hospital grade receptacle costs around $20.00, not $500.00. There is a point where claims of grander goes from function to plain BS.....Jim

Interesting scenario, not a fuse, but the same point.

Was just out watering and the hose connection, at the outdoor water faucet, was leaking - in spite of making sure the hose was screwed on tight. My wife brought me a new rubber washer, worth maybe 25 cents. I said this will never do, go to the HW store and see if you can find a really good one, costing maybe $50. or $100. She rolled her eyes, shook her head and said "just put it in". I pulled the old one out, put in the new 25 cent washer and voila, no leaks, not even a drip. I guess I’ll never know if a $100.00 washer would have made it not leak even more....Jim

Replacing a fuse or even twisting the existing fuse back and forth in its holder will make a difference, if the component has ben in service for a long period of time. As George pointed out, after many cycles of off and on, the electrode can burn and weaken. Also, after time, the contacts (just as with speaker cable connectors and IC cable connectors) may also become a bit oxidized or corroded and need cleaned, or at least twisted in the holder, to remove oxidation and improve contact.
In most cases the difference you’ll hear by replacing old burned fuses with standard new replacement fuses or cleaning contacts, would be the same as putting in a $150.00 super fuse, but without the cost....Jim

@nonoise
I never said or implied that anyone needs regularly change out their fuses, but that if you changed out your old fuse and by some miracle heard a starteling difference by putting in one of the magic fuses. you would have heard the same difference by cleaning the contacts and putting in a standard new fuse and saved $147.00.

v@millercarbon
Have been at this game longer than you and I put my store in my own ears and in those on here who have actually spent their life/lives building and repairing electronics and those who have spent their lives in the recording and production business, who wouldn’t dream of spending $150.00 for a magic fuse or $1K+ per foot for any kind of cord or cable. Those who make a living at actually producing the music don’t have the time or money to waste on con games. So whatever it takes to please your super hearing - go for it....Jim

Also, nonoise, in case you haven't noticed, the other components in your audio gear are Soldered at the points of connection or are printed circuit boards. Anything that is made to be removed, including the pins on your tubes, can become oxidized over time....Jim

WOW millercarbon - sorry to bruise your tender ego.

Still, I’ll stick with the opinions and sound advise of those on here who actually build audio components (not $5K IC cables and power cords or $150.00 fuses and outlet covers) and the opinions of those who spent their lives in the studios and stages to make and produce the music we enjoy....Jim

+1audio2design