2. misc-audio
  3. 166612-1565

So done with audiophile fuses

The journey started with a medium priced ($50) fuse in my power supply.  A failed rectifier tube blew that one out.  Not a fuse problem.  Next up was a blue fuse in my pre amp.  It blew and was not caused by a pre amp problem.  Apparently they sometimes are more sensitive and it was replaced by an orange fuse two values higher.  Things were going along fine.  I replaced the pre amp with a newer version of the pre amp and it has the same fuse value.  Five months latter (today) I turn on the pre amp and nothing.  it's a five month old pre amp so I suspected that it was the fuse.  Sure enough, I replaced it with a ceramic Littelfuse of the lower correct value it works fine.  No more wasting my money on unstable fuses for me.     
goose

Showing 6 responses by goose

goose OP
670 posts
 
Tried the orange fuse as an experiment.  Yes there was a minor change in the sound but it wasn't earth shaking or as profound as others have experienced.  I do like some of their other products along the HFT line and they are a noticeable positive improvement.  
goose OP
670 posts
 
I may give the Hifi fuses another swing.  The only reason it blew was because of a bad rectifier tube in my power supply.  It also took out the original glass fuse.  I will say that it seemed to be more stable than the blue or orange fuse since it was working fine at it's stated value.  Just my experience, others have had better results.
 
goose OP
670 posts
 
jimob,

The first failure was with a fuse in a pre amp that I bought at the stated value.  After that on failed I installed a fuse that was two values higher in the same pre amp.  It worked fine until I sold it (about 6 months).  I removed the fuse before I sold it and installed it in my new pre amp that had the same value.  It worked for about 4 months and failed.  So my test was with two different pre amps from the same manufacture.  I never had an issue with the stock fuse for years in the original pre amp.  
goose OP
670 posts
 
Several have commented on the "sound improvement" fuses can make.  Regardless of that point, if a manufacture cannot provide product stability in this case of a fuse used at the amperage recommended by the hardware manufacture why use it?    
goose OP
670 posts
 
Out of curiosity I peeled the label away on my blown SR orange fuse.  It looks like a ceramic fuse with modifications was used.  I don't know what brand it is and am not bashing SR.  Others may know what it is.  Pictures on my virtual system.
goose OP
670 posts
 
edgewound, there are no markings on the end caps.

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