Synergistic Red Fuse ...


I installed a SR RED Quantum fuse in my ARC REF-3 preamp a few days ago, replacing an older high end fuse. Uhh ... for a hundred bucks, this little baby is well worth the cost. There was an immediate improvement upon installation, but now that its broken in (yes, no kidding), its quite remarkable. A tightening of the focus, a more solid image, and most important of all for my tastes, a deeper appreciation for the organic sound of the instruments. Damn! ... cellos sound great! Much improved attack on pianos. More humanistic on vocals. Bowed bass goes down forever. Next move? .... I'm doing the entire system with these fuses. One at a time though just to gauge the improvement in each piece of equipment. The REF-75se comes next. I'll report the results as the progression takes place. Stay tuned ...

Any comments from anyone else who has tried these fuses?
oregonpapa

Showing 2 responses by jafreeman

Al, thanks for your response to my question on "pushed-value" SR Blacks in my AC input.  Of note, the front-panel display on each amp now reads at 120-121V, whereas at lower fuse ratings, the line voltage was at around 117V.  The operating range of the ARC 210's is 105V-130V.  
I'm glad you asked about the REL subs and Neutrik SpeakOn wiring.  The Neutrik plug is the NL-F4C, a four-terminal plug supplied with the REL's.  When I went to mono block amps and a sub for each amp, I followed the advice of my High-End retailer here in Mpls. For Magnepan speakers, I am using the 4 ohm speaker output terminals on the ARC 210s. I have connected both SpeakOn red and yellow (+) wires onto the 4-ohm (+) terminal of the amp and the black (-) wire to the 4-ohm (-) terminal on the amp. I left these wires in their original places on the Neutrik plug end. And where do I have the Neutriks on the REL input terminals?  I have left them in the unbalanced high-level inputs a long time ago.  This is the input recommended for a stereo amplifier.  The balanced high-level input is described in the REL manual as being used for  bridged-mode amplifiers. Thinking this was not my situation, I have ignored that input all these years. although the REL manual goes on to say, "Monoblock amplifiers may or may not be bridged output." Perhaps I should be using the balanced inputs on the REL's?
Regards, Joe 
 While this is as patently exciting as watching paint dry, may I get back to Al on my REL subwoofer hookup?  
Al, thanks for your research into REL's instruction manuals for the proper wiring of a mono block amp to the sub's balanced input.  I have not experienced any adverse effects from my equipment by combining the yellow and red wires onto the (+) speaker output terminal and the black onto the (-) terminal, and I hope this is because I have been using the unbalanced input on the REL all along.  On the Bryston 4BSST stereo amp I used to use with only one REL Stata, the yellow and red were each attached to the left and right (+) speaker output terminals respectively, and the black was attached to one of the (-) output terminals, user's choice on that one.  With going to a mono amp for each channel, I was told to combine the red and yellow as first described, but as you have informed me, this does not account for the full amplitude signal from the (-) output.  I am hoping the unbalanced input on the REL does account for it, as the system does sound very pleasing as is, but I am interested in revising the hookup to the balanced input, as well, per your invaluable advice. 
Regards, Joe