PROTOTYPE FUSES - NEW THREAD

Here is my guess and think it's the right guess/ conjecture ;-)
Just read the Link hint hint (Purple)
https://www.synergisticresearch.com/fuses/purple-fuse/

Fuses don’t belong in speakers poor designs especially for example maggi 
fuses are bottle necks Period ,that’s why I like more companies like Bricasti ,
pass labs ,even Denafrips  not using fuses but thermistor,or  a breaker type 
that is far more pure then a fuse. But in many cases afuse is there for safety 
of the circuit ,the closer to a direct wire the purer the circuit .
I still have 2- 16 amp T 🍊  fuses in my Coda integrated amp and ,,and  my Bricasti Dac-Streamer No Fuse.

@tommyu 
I called that out last week, plus he has had a relationship with them for years starting back to the original SR fuse thread.  I guess we will see.  

I still have the same question.  In your 5-hour marathon listening session, did you listen to the same songs with both the Orange and Yellow fuse.  

I’m also speculating that this is a Ted prototype but it’s a win win situation either way. If this is not an SR product, that means we have at least 3 high quality competitors because I guarantee you Ted doesn’t want to lose market share and is furiously working on his own successor to the Orange.

willgolf ...

• "I still have the same question.  In your 5-hour marathon listening session, did you listen to the same songs with both the Orange and Yellow fuse."

Good question. The answer is no. There really wasn't any need.

All of the a/b/a/b comparisons between the SR Orange, the QSA Yellow, and the prototype fuses were done the other day with my friend Dave. Dave's conclusion was that the prototype fuses were at least equal to the PPT Gate in what they were doing for the system. Those fortunate enough to be using a "Gate" in their circuit breaker boxes know what kind of improvement these new prototype fuses offer. And for those who aren't aware ... The Gate retailed for $5000. 

The friend that was over yesterday for the five-hour session had the SR Orange fuses in his own system. He swapped them out for the QSA Yellow fuses, found them not musically satisfying, and went back to the SR Orange fuses.

I offered to do an a/b/a/b comparison between the QSA Yellow fuses, and the new prototype fuses and he declined. He knows my system very well. The last time he was over, I was running the SR Orange fuses. We used the prototype fuses all during the five-hour session yesterday, and he clearly heard the advantages of the prototypes over the SR Orange fuses. And considering his experience with his own system and the QSA fuses, what would be the point?

That five-hour session was all about the music and not about equipment or fuses. 

Frank

I did mean to say SUBJECTIVE listening impressions are not scientific in that they can can be influenced by placebo effect. Maybe it’s more accurate to say they are not CONCLUSIVE proof of anything. They would need to be paired with objective measurements and data.

So far no one has been able to describe to me exactly how a fuse affects the audio signal. The audio signal does not pass through the fuse.

elangley01.
For 75 years (-ish), science couldn’t figure out how bumblebees flew.
Yet flew they did.

I can’t explain how/why fuses change the sound.
But I can assure you that they do.

I used to be very skeptical of these kinds of things, because they didn’t really make sense, on a scientific level (and my low-level understanding of AC current). A fuse is there pretty much to be blown, as a safety device.

On a whim, and because it comes with a MONEY-BACK guarantee, I bought 2 SR Orange fuses for my (relatively) new-to-me Classe Amp and Preamp. I popped the first one into the preamp. (I was smart enough to change them one at a time, because I was going to get my money back if it didn’t make a difference!).

My mouth hung open.
I was astonished......to the point of being a bit flabbergasted.

After a couple of days, I popped the other fuse into the amp. Not as big of a difference, but I did hear a difference.

YMMV, and I can’t tell you how or why they make a difference, but in my system, they ABSOLUTELY make a difference. Not sure I would want to live without them moving forward. I have gone back and forth with stock fuses and the Orange ones (simple to change out on the back of the preamp and amp), and the difference is absolutely demonstrable.

I guess not everything is measurable.

Double yawn. Lay intuition. None of the great things humans have done were done by mystics. They were done by educated people using science the correct way.

If you are going to believe that fuses make a difference regardless of anything you are told to the contrary then your believe means nothing.

Fuses are an intentional bottleneck. If the unit draws more current than it was designed to, the fuse blows. If the unit is running within parameters, OPERATING NORMALLY, then the fuse dose not blow. Until the fuse blows it does not change or modify anything, nothing, nada, zilch, zero.

Anyone who thinks unblown fuses modify the sonic performance of an audio device has limited self awareness or rather does not understand how their CNS can modify data so as to improve their performance in the jungle. This is not an insult. It is true of all of us which is why we have to be so careful with assessments like this. These comparisons have to be set up to avoid unintentional bias. There are no exceptions to this. Nobody is above their own physiology. Thinking you are is sort of arrogant. It also makes any advice you offer suspect. 

@coralkong

Some members are not worth debating with. 
Ignoring does wonders for sanity.

I went from SR Black to Orange in my amp and Dac.

My thoughts at the time:
"Base stronger - seems to hang in the air.
Instrument separation more discernible.
Again, hearing things in tracks I'd never heard before.
Overall, a huge A+ in my view"

If Oregonpaps is right, I may have to upgrade.

@jerrybj,
I hear you.
I wasn't really trying to debate, more trying to figure out what the point of the posts were.
Now I know.

I am paying pretty close attention to @oregonpapa 's posts, as I, too am curious as to what's going to drop.

I am here simply because I am interested in another audiophile's opinion on them, and am curious to see what he has to say about them.

So far, unless the prototype fuses are WAY outside of my price range (enough to move up from the Orange SR's), I may have to upgrade, too. After all, I suspect they will come with a money back guarantee. 

Guess we'll see. 

mijostyn

Lay intuition. None of the great things humans have done were done by mystics. They were done by educated people using science the correct way.

Right. You reserve the practice of "lay intuition" exclusively for yourself. To your credit, you’re consistent in assessing the sound of equipment by solely looking at pictures and reading white papers.

Until the fuse blows it does not change or modify anything, nothing, nada, zilch, zero.

I’d ask you to share your data but - as you’ve demonstrated before - your "proof" always goes "poof." It’s really fine that you put faith in your intuition, but it’s a bit disingenuous of you to deny others the same.

I did mean to say SUBJECTIVE listening impressions are not scientific in that they can can be influenced by placebo effect. Maybe it’s more accurate to say they are not CONCLUSIVE proof of anything.

Observation IS conclusive proof. We know the sun shines because we see it. We did not doubt that the sun was shining for millennia until we managed to measure its energy, we knew it shone all the way back from our Stone Age days.

When multiple unrelated people make the same observation it is considered conclusive truth and on that alone a number of people have been sent to the electric chair.

So far no one has been able to describe to me exactly how a fuse affects the audio signal. The audio signal does not pass through the fuse

Really? So you’re the world’s smartest genius that would understand why everything would work? Really? You don’t know how a microprocessor works - yet your iPad works just fine right? You have no problems using that no?

It’s 40 bucks to test. You don’t have to understand how it works to get benefit.

" Double yawn. Lay intuition. None of the great things humans have done were done by mystics. They were done by educated people using science the correct way."

Triple yawn back at you. 

Educated people use scientific method. Something you clearly never heard of.

Scientific Method - Observe; develop hypothesis to explain observation; test hypotheses; end up with theory if hypothesis test true..

Your method - Don't bother to observe for yourself; when too ignorant and under educated to develop a hypothesis, claim observations as false; pat yourself on the back for being such a smart "scientist"; delude yourself that nothing in the universe is true unless you understand it; flaunt your ignorance of science on a forum. 

Did I miss anything?

So far, I’ve demonstrated the three fuses, The SR Orange, QSE Yellow, and the new prototype, to three of my audiophile friends. All three know my system well. All three were here on an individual basis. They were not a part of a group session.

All three friends are, like me, into this hobby for the music first, equipment second, and scientific measurements a distant 20th.

All three of these friends are experienced audiophiles of many years who own good to great systems of their own.

Every one of these friends could easily discern the differences between the fuses. ALL THREE have come to the same conclusions that I have regarding the fuses.

Counting myself, that comes to four sets of ears all arriving at the same conclusions which can be found by scrolling up in this thread, and the thread that preceded it.

All agreed that the SR Orange fuse is overall more musically satisfying than the QSA Yellow fuse. All agreed that the new prototype fuse was the best sounding of the three by far.

This is not meant to disparage the QSA people in any way. It is, what it is. Keep in mind that the only QSA fuse that I or my friends have heard is the Yellow one. Moving up the QSA line may be a different story. To jump up one level from the QSA Yellow fuse to the QSA Light Violet fuse will set you back $711, so it had better sound fantastic ... and cook your breakfast at the same time.

Frank

WOW!! So much anguish over a simple fuse.I'm happy to just enjoy my audio system for what it is...that being...a conduit for the music that I love most!

aolmrd1241 ...

• "I'm happy to just enjoy my audio system for what it is...that being...a conduit for the music that I love most!"

 
Same here. That is exactly why I am always on a quest to discover tweaks that improve the system. Each tweak that has a positive influence on the system also has a positive influence on the music. 

Whether it is an aftermarket fuse, Herbie's Tube Dampeners, the SR HFTs that are around the room, the Tube Trap room treatments, or more expensive tweaks like the four Shakti Holograms sitting in each corner of the room, they all get me closer to the music that I love so much. 

That was your point, was it not, aolmrd? 

Frank

Yes Frank...its all about "the music"... without the bitterness and resentment that all to often derails the intentionality of these type of threads...

@oregonpapa , 
Please keep us updated as events warrant.

Can anyone explain how fuses affect audio quality?

They do not.  It is all a placebo effect.  It is one of those chest thumping "my fuse is more expensive than your fuse, so it must sound better" kind of delusion.

Well, if the price listed is correct (*doing some sleuthing here*), that sounds like quite a bargain!

Gonna have to start budgeting.
These things are going to sell like wild-fire.

I have Synergistic orange will not invest any more on fuses I'm fused out.

Hello All - the QSA fuse that is better than sliced bread, and is "all that," is it this one that everyone is slack-jawed over?  :)  Thanks.

https://www.tweekgeek.com/quantum-science-audio-fuse-5x20mm-fast-blow-limited-availability/

The word is out >>>

https://www.synergisticresearch.com/fuses/purple-fuse/?fbclid=IwAR3f2tkEB3bxl7bNmubqzktqKLsPmrtzIVPH...

At $199.95 it is a BARGAIN.

Included is SR’s usual 30-day, no-questions-asked return policy.

Available mid-October.

Frank

Yeah, I'll be trying at least one of these out when they become available.
The Orange was an eye opener. 
Very much looking forward to the new purple ones.

coralkong ... 

The new SR Purple fuses made my SR Orange fuses sound broken. No hype, no joke.

Frank

Got a nimble today about SR Purple...Violet QSA for me is a step up from SR Orange.

cd45123 ...

I'd love for you to get a new SR Purple fuse and compare it with the QSA Violet fuse, and report your findings here.

David meets Goliath ...  $199.95 vs $711.00. 

Frank

@oregonpapa

Frank just to be clear….in your system, SR Purple performed better than QSA Black, Light Blue and Yellow? So around $200, SR Purple is the new benchmark, correct?

I wonder if anyone compared the SR Purple with QSA Light Violet?

@oregonpapa   Frank, how can something "sound broken" when ~yesterday~ [for emphasis] your system was sounding unbroken with them???

I personally find this type of statement problematic in the extreme. Can you clarify?

BTW, I use SR fuses and understand and appreciate the benefits.

Thanks. - David.

The new SR Purple fuses made my SR Orange fuses sound broken.

@oregonpapa I’ll definitely try it out at $199. If it bests the Violet, can’t really wrap my head around spending $1422 on the QSA red. 
I’ll say that Steven Tsang at QSA is a super helpful guy, despite somewhat of a language barrier. 

OP "The new SR Purple fuses made my SR Orange fuses sound broken. No hype, no joke"
All sounds like a joke to me! 
OP you never said your system sounded broken...well we did just have a full moon.

lalitk ...

• Frank just to be clear….in your system, SR Purple performed better than QSA Black, Light Blue, and Yellow? So around $200, SR Purple is the new benchmark, correct?

The only QSA fuses I’ve tried are the yellow ones at $213. I had them in the amp and preamp. The SR Purple fuses are, in my opinion, and the opinions of others who have heard the system both ways, prefer the SR Purple fuse by far.
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david_ten ...

Sorry for the confusion. I was just comparing the two fuses. No, the system didn’t sound broken at all. It was just a way to say that the SR Purple fuses are WAY better than the SR Orange fuses. Just a little hyperbole on my part, I’m afraid.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Honestly, I can’t think of a more cost-effective way to make this kind of an improvement in an audio system.

Frank

rsf507 ...

Your post from August 21:

• "I'll be more mindful as well. This is/can be a GREAT community if we all just try a bit harder and be respectful to everyone."

What happened? 

Frank

SR green fuses even better HO HO!!

I’m trying to respect my elders but it’s difficult when you say your system sounded broken over a fuse! Just has me baffled or to say it differently conFUSED

The problem with hyperbole is ya have to write ad copy a week or so later that exceeds it….

oregonpapa,
Thank you for your comparisons.

ozzy

rsf507 ...

• "I’m trying to respect my elders but it’s difficult when you say your system sounded broken over a fuse! Just has me baffled or to say it differently conFUSED"

Well Junior, if you had the reading comprehension of us elders, you would have noticed that I didn't say that it made my system sound broken. I said the Purple fuse made the Orange fuse sound broken. 

Here's the quote: " The new SR Purple fuses made my SR Orange fuses sound broken."

Dang, you kids are getting totally out of hand! :-)

Frank

Does SR offer a loyal customer trade in allowance or trade up program for those that purchased the previous color fuses and are now wishing to get the new best? 

What about if you mention "Frank sent you"?  LOL

Good one @jetter. If you’re using a SR Orange, now is the time to sell it before SR offers his usual sale on previous generation fuses i.e. Buy 1, get 2nd one half off :-)

@oregonpapa,  thanks for the clarification. 

The obsessed are always looking for something to "improve" the sound of their system. Fuses are tempting because they are affordable and easily installed. When more get involved it becomes an expanding cult. Something that the manufacturers/promoters welcome. Same thing for power cords, even though there is NO engineering data supporting said claims of superiority.

If you fellows think these colored fuses are so great wait till you hear what a Tice Clock can do!