Synergistic Red Fuse ...

Geoffkait, I take your challenge! , I know exactly what each and every piece of gear I have takes to burn in,  even my furutech gtx-rhodium outlet's , and yes, I do study and do critical listening with every piece,  I use straight music and patience to burn in everything,  sure it takes longer, and it's really unpleasant,  however,  I  assure you I can validate the time of burn in,  cheers 

Although I have not kept religious track of the hours on the SR Blacks in my CDP and pre, I figure I’m at or past the touted 75 hour break-in milepost. At this time I am extremely pleased to say that they are a significant improvement over both stock and Furutech fuses I’ve previously used.

The effects I notice are similar to the ones heard when I put the speakers and amps on Star Sound platforms: a quieter background, more precise placement and separation of players in the soundstage, and more heft and body to the music. As a bassophile, the lower end improvements are especially satisfying. Additionally, previously "hot" digital recordings are now more listenable, as there is less of a hard edge.

Lest anyone think these things have tilted the sound way over to the warm and soft side, these attributes come with no loss of detail whatsoever: the quieter background and more precise soundstage are bringing out even more detail from the recording. If using a stereo to listen to music is like looking out the window, it’s as though the view is even more clear.

Highly recommended.

@Limniscate,
Did you change all the fuses in your Magnepan 1.7i speakers?

p59teitel:

A very nice concise and articulate description of the sonic changes when using the Synergistic Research Black fuses.

What speakers are you using with the Star Sound platforms?

David Pritchard 

@lak, I am only aware of 2.  Are there more?

@limniscate,
I owned the 1.6 several years ago and now have the 3.7.
I thought there was more than one fuse per speaker, but I was wrong. Looks like one fuse per speaker, you are correct.
When I upgraded the fuses in my 1.6 and 3.7 I heard an improvement using the older Quantum SR 20 fuses. Maybe you just need some additional fuse break in time?

Thanks Charles.  I will certainly report back on my listening impressions.  I'm also now down to needing just one last 1a slow-blow RED (thanks Tom) to finish out my DAC's complement.  Please let me know if anyone has one they want to jettison.

- Chris

Just wanted to offer another endorsement of the blacks. I’ve had bad experiences with after market fuses in the past but I just installed a set of Blacks in my DCS Paganini stack (4 boxes) and in my ARC Ref 2SE Phono and 40th Anniversary Pre. Still early days on hours but my experience is a very consistent step up in line with all of the other power noise floor optimization moves I’ve been making (changing the MPCs on my SR power cords, most recently upgrading to a Transporter Ultra SE).

With every incremental step in cleaning I have noticed a similar change. At first it seems like a drop in perceived volume but as you listen in you realize the instruments are more whole and more distinct from one another as opposed to being "spotlit" previously. As an analogy imagine seeing a play in which the speaker is brightly lit by a spotlight, then when a new speaker comes in the spotlight shifts. You focus on the spotlit piece but have less of a sense of the whole. As you get the noise floor under control this spotlighting effect declines and you can hear the whole recording, and then "reach in" to pick out any instrument or voice you want. I find that after each change I find it beneficial to open up the volume control a bit more to levels that previously sounded loud and harsh. In fact it could be what we often perceive as loudness in audio reproduction is actually the cumulative noise in the system, as the noise is reduced we can open up the volume control and appreciate more of the dynamic range in the recording.

^^^
"At first it seems like a drop in perceived volume ..."

I've noticed that as well, folkfreak. You've put the experience into words very well.  It seems that right off the bat, with the first fuse change, the presentation is more relaxed, more musical and as you said, "a more sense of the whole." .

Nice system, by the way. :-)

Take care ...

I'd like try the SR RED fuse, but have a question. I've never used after-market audiophile fuses before; how do you know if they are made with the same tolerances as a stock or a Buss fuse for a given amp value?
 For example, previous posts of the SR fuses blowing in some amps; a 5 amp slo-blo would not work, but the Buss fuse was fine.

But an amp's a high-current draw component. Have you proponents of these fuses found them to be reliable in CD players and preamps? I'd like to start with a SR RED in my ARC CDP. I'm hestitant to use one in my preamp since it is under warranty, wouldn't using these fuses leading to a circuit failure void the warranty?

I’ve never used after-market audiophile fuses before; how do you know if they are made with the same tolerances as a stock or a Buss fuse for a given amp value?

The major manufacturers of non-audiophile fuses, such as Littlefuse and Eaton/Cooper Bussmann, provide detailed datasheets at their websites. Which among many other things specify a "nominal melting" parameter, which defines the combination of current and time that would "typically" cause the fuse to blow. That parameter is usually specified in terms of (amperes squared) x (seconds). The reason current is "squared" is that power, and hence heat, are proportional to current squared.

I for one have never seen any such detailed specifications for aftermarket audiophile-oriented fuses. So I guess it comes down to relying on a combination of reported experiences and faith.

Re your question about warranties, per the terms of most component warranties that I’ve seen a company would certainly be within its rights to deny coverage for damage that might not have occurred if the original fuse had been in place. And some warranties, as you may have seen, simply state something like "all coverage is void if the unit in tampered with or modified in any way."

So I guess it comes down to balancing risks that aren’t precisely quantifiable vs. reward, as is the case with many things in life.

Best regards,
-- Al

Thanks Al,
Yeah, I personally wouldn't modify a component under warranty.

I for one have never seen any such detailed specifications for aftermarket audiophile-oriented fuses. So I guess it comes down to relying on a combination of reported experiences and faith.

That's why I appreciate threads like this one. I think it's worth trying in my CDP, long out of warranty, and with such agreement on improved sonics.
But, it makes me wonder if I really want to replace all the rail fuses in my amp without knowing the tolerance of an expensive fuse.
 

There have been failures of electronics due to aftermarket fuses? When, where, who, how? Gee, you’d think it would be all over the boards. Are audiophile houses burning down even as we speak? Rome burned while Nero fiddled with his fuses. All I see on audio boards are heaps of praise on aftermarket fuses. Could there be a deep hidden dirty little secret here? Perchance an exploding transformer or two.
 ;-)

David, I have Revel Salon 2s.  The Star Sound Apprentice XLs really took them to another level.

Lowrider57,
You raise very reasonable points.  I say if you have any reservations about premium fuses in your components still under warranty, don't use them if they'll cause you anxiety. I've used these premium fuses in all of my components over a period of 3 years without any problems,  just improved sound quality. We all know our individual thresholds and comfort zone. I'm perfectly comfortable with these fuses in my components. 
Charles, 

Thanks for your comment, Charles. Ok, so there doesn't seem to be a risk using aftermarket fuses; I'm here to learn.

I've only heard and read positive results when using audiophile fuses, that's why I'm going to start with a SR RED fuse in my ARC CD player.
Since these are slow-blow fuses, I guess there's little to no chance of any damage to a component under stress, and the amplifier is the one component to experience high-current surges, such as powering up.

With that said, on a SS amp, is there an benefit in sonics by swapping the AC line fuse with an audiophile fuse? Or do all rail fuses need to be changed to hear the benefit?

P59teitel, thankyou for your response post,  the consensuous vote here seems that you will hear a good improvement at 75 hrs,  not sure,  no one has had a finalized assumption of how long these sr-black's take,  150 - 200, or maybe 300 hrs?, I'm thinking 150 hrs?

Keith,
In terms of burn in hours I'm not sure if there's a precise answer. I can tell you that based on my listening, there's a noticeable improvement around 60 hours. They surely continued to improve to the 100-120 hours range. I don't know how much it really matters,  as they sound good early on and steadily improve. From the beginning they are clear, transparent and dynamic. With additional time they became increasing relaxed and organic while remaining very open and transparent. That's my experience with them. Different people will likely report various numbers of hours. One undeniable trait is superior lower level detail and nuance retrieval. 
Charles, 

lowrider51:

You will hear a significant difference upgrading the power fuse on your amp.
In fact in an amp that is the most critical location. 

David Pritchard

I ordered 5 SR BLACKs from theCableCo and should arrive next week. Going to replace all 5 at once so hope it goes well :-)

lowrider51, aftermarket fuses have been around for a long time.  In this 24/7 news cycle, I've only read positive results and not one negative experience.    Ultimately it's your component and your decision.  GL!

Knghifi,
Good observation. If these premium fuses were failing to protect components and causing damage,  believe me we'd know about it.  Owners would be very vocal and upset and those skeptical about the fuses to begin would say I told you so. I believe their track record of reliability is very good. 
Charles, 

Yes, I installed the RED and immediately heard a far larger soundstage, nuanced detail, a more organic presentation, and my amp seemed happier.

What a bunch of fluff. Buy into the charlatan rhetoric if you want. It's a bunch of crap told to people in order to spend $89. The Emperor has NO cloths! People believe anything.....

Oh, and for all the large gauge, silver rhodium gold platinum unobtanium spiral helix magnetic convex matrix wiring there is......the current still flows through a piece of fuse wire no bigger then a few strands of hair. Think about that...

roguemodel ...

Do you have anything positive to say? Anything?

Have you read this thread from the beginning? Are you saying that everyone who "thinks" he/she's had a positive experience with these fuse upgrades are bat $hit  crazy? 

Read the entire thread. Once you're done with it, hopefully you would have had an enlightened moment and came to the realization that we treat each other with respect around here. 

Nuff said ...

@oregonpapa and knghifi,
it's true, never have read any incidents of negative consequences.

Thanks, David. The power fuse is an easy tweak.

Hi Charles1dad,  thankyou for a good response post,  you have told me more of what I wanted to know than most of the post on this thread,  down to the changes these sr-black's go through,  cheers Charles1dad. 

And I meant to thank you, Charles. You're right that if there were problems with these fuses we would have heard about it. Audiophiles are a vocal lot.

lowrider 57:
I think you are going to be very happy with your CD player and amp. With upgraded fuses in these two locations I believe you will experience a much improved sense of the music flowing.

I look forward to your thoughts after the break in period.

David Pritchard

It's ok, Roguemodel, you are new to the site.  This is not a fuse-bashing thread--it's for folks who are sharing the positive results of after-market fuses so that others may try them with confidence. This is how the forum is used to help one another.  You can start a separate topic on your feelings and perceptions, and others will show up to agree with you so that you can always be right.   

^^^  Same here Charles. So far, this has been a very informative discussion on the fuses. No point in mucking it up at this point.Besides, there's plenty of folks who are trying the fuses, or about to, who would like to post their experiences as well.

Another Black fuse showed up in the mail today. It went into the CD player, and the Black one that was in the CD player (broken in)  went into the line stage.  

I just finished listening to Horowitz's "Last Recording." Way more dynamic with more punch and  greater attack. That's the best solo piano has sounded in the system to date. 

The CD player takes two fuses, so that means that when Robert comes over, he will be hearing one broken in, and one not broken in, fuse in the CD player. I'll let him hear it for himself before I tell him that here's been another Black fuse addition. "Mr. Cynic," remember?  :-)

@lak 

I burned the Reds in for 200 hours and still didn't really notice a difference.

^^^

limniscate ...

Couple of questions:

1. What fuse were you using before? Stock? Upgraded?

2.  Where did you put the fuse?

3.  What components are you using?

Thanks ...

limniscate:
Thank you for the report. I believe the fuse location you are evaluating is in the Magniplanner speakers. I hope you will be able to try the Synergistic Research fuses in your amp, pre amp, or source.

So in Magniplanner speakers we have two positive results using Synergistic Research RED or BLACK fuses and on listener with no improvement.

Oregonpapa:

That is some special piano music you have been listening to!

David Pritchard

^^^ David ...

Indeed. And tonight it will be Tchaikovsky's Third Violin  Concerto with soloist Erica Morni on the Westminster label. 

A joyous Valentine"s Day to all. Time for some beautiful music via the headphone system.

David Pritchard

@limniscate,
Perhaps the SR fuses aren't going to improve the quality of music in your Magneplanar 1.7i's. I would think the fuses are burned in by now.
As David mentioned, try them in your amp, pre amp, or source.
Out of curiosity, what other components are you using?

I have one word.  Wire (fuse)  directionality.

Reading the Magneplanar  1.7 information, the fuse is a 4 amp Fast Blow so do not  try these Fast Blow  fuses in an amp, preamp, or source.

These fuses are to protect the tweeter and so the RED fuse in this location did not make a difference for limniscale. Hopefully he can return them.

The Sennheiser 800 headphones last night sounded glorious. With the Synergistic Research Black and RED fuses in the headphone system, the soundstage certainly is not just an inside my head sensation. This system also takes advantage of the Synergistic Research A/C wall plugs and the Electronic Circuit Transducers (ECT).  The ECT's allowed me to reduce "glare" and really fine tune the qualities I wanted in my system. There is an excellent article (2014) in "Enjoy the Music" that compares several Audio grade A/C wall plugs.

I also like the fact that you can take the fuses and ECT's out of your system without difficulty.

David Pritchard

Davidpritchard,  my modified krell 700cx uses 4 fast blow fuses, so yes,  there is product out there that uses fast blow fuses in amplifier's.

I have replaced all of my AH Fuses with the SR-B (4), 2 in CD Player, 1 in Tube Power Supply and 1 in my Amp and all I can say is WOW! Just like everyone else has reported, more transparency without any brightness, Much deeper/wider soundstage with unbelievable imaging....

Every component I put these fuses in were drastic but the CD Player results were shocking!,. Listening to one of my favorite Classic Guitarist, Julian Bream, Giuliana Grand Overture, Op. 61 Sonata in C, Op. 15: Allegro from a 1969 recording. This is not an Audiophile recording and you can hear the flaws in the conversion to digital such as hisses and noise but with the SR-B, it's as if I upgraded the processor itself. The sound became much cleaner, smoother with a vast deep stage.

Try one to see if some of these attributes can be duplicated in your system.

Wig,

Glad to see your results replacing AH fuses with the SR-B. You convinced me to give the SR B a try since I too am using AH fuses which I thought were already a terrific upgrade over the stock fuses. I can't image my system sounding any better but it's worth the try. 

@lak and @oregonpapa 

I had them in my Maggie 1.7i's and tried them both directions.  I was using the stock fuses before.

My components are: 
Bifrost Multibit DAC
Odyssey Candela pre-amp
Odyssey Kismet in Stratos monoblocks

Wig ...

I'm a classical guitar nutcase. Julian Bream is one of my favorite players along with John Williams. They are brilliant.

Don't know if you have it, or if it ever came out on CD, but the vinyl is so well recorded that you become a member of the audience.

 http://www.ebay.com/itm/JULIAN-BREAM-JOHN-WILLIAMS-Live-LP-2-LPs-gatefold-cover-slight-cover-wear-/3...

I've had the most recent purchased SR Black fuse burning in in the CD Player for the last three days. The first CD I played tonight was one featuring Julian Bream ... in your honor, Wig. Wow, that guitar was in the room like I've never heard before.

With every component upgraded from the SR Red to the SR Black, I get the same result, after break in, of course. More clarity, more speed, more tonal accuracy ... just  a lot more of everything we crazy audiophiles love.
 
Take care ...

limmiscate:

Please do not put the Maggie fast blow fuses in any equipment that uses slow blow fuses. I sure do think your DAC would like what the Synergistic Research Black fuses do. I was impressed how they sound in an Antelope DAC with a Volticus power supply.

Wig:

These new fuses do something really special for guitar and lute music. The two Julian Bream - John Williams duet CD's  are just stunning when the Black fuses are in a system.

The Marantz SA11-S2 SACD player takes 7 fuses!
Listening to some John Dowland lute music tonight - devine.

David Pritchard

Open question: what differences are you noticing when changing from the SR Red to the SR Black?

guys= quick burn in question- Just got the black fuse for my preamp- can I just leave the pre on to burn in or do I have to have sound through the whole system- would rather not keep everything running if I do not have to to burn in pre- thanks so much-

@lowrider57

To me the Blacks offer a more natural almost softer sound but because of a lower noise floor there’s more detail. The biggest difference in my system from Red to Black is the level of realism the Black brings with a deep and wide soundstage. When it kicks in you’ll know right away.