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?
Thanks for everyone's help..well maybe one person I will leave out lol Do I still need a fire extinguisher when doing this? j/k :) I have to admit, wolf garcia turned me off. I am slowly pushing the anxiety out of my brain. It seems pretty straight forward operation though. I have rolled tubes many times. Seems similar. The reason I asked the question in the first place was because parts connection website recommends you test the fuse.
"Do I still need a fire extinguisher when doing this? j/k :)"
In the past, some audiophiles used to put a solid copper plug into the fuse holder instead of a fuse. Whether it was an improvement or not ... who knows. There's always those who will take chances.
Did anyone besides me see the guy on the news this past weekend who jumped out of a plane at 25,000 feet without a chute and landed in a net?
Just wanted to chime in and share my experience with the SR Quantum Black fuse. I was inspired by this thread to try one. I am new to the audiophile grade fuse thing, but it made sense to me that a cheap fuse could be a bottleneck to good sound. I decided to try one in my amp first, since it has a fuse holder on the back that is easily accessible. My Antique Sound Lab Tulip is a 2A3 SET amp, but I am running it with Emission Labs mesh plate 45s (I love 45s, and especially these ones).
While I was waiting for the black to arrive, I decide to test the directionality of the stock fuse. I flipped it, and, sure enough, there was a nice improvement. I got the black, popped it in, and let the amp warm up. When I started listening, I could tell right away that something was off. I turned off the amp, flipped the black and turned it back on. Wow! The difference was immediately apparent and jaw dropping. Instruments and voices had more "presence" and sounded more real. I was hearing subtle details I hadn't noticed before. The dynamics were improved, and it was easier to follow the lines of individual instruments. In short, it sounded more like live music.
I left the amp on for several days, and these qualities increased as the black broke in. They were all there right from the beginning, though.
I just ordered another black for my Audio Note DAC Kit 1.1, and am eagerly awaiting its arrival.
oregonpapa,
I read in one of your earlier posts how much you like Thelonious Monk. You inspired me to pull out a CD of his music I had in my collection, but hadn't listened to for a long time. Good stuff!
but it made sense to me that a cheap fuse could be a bottleneck to good sound
Which qualified electronic technician has said this, to make sense to you?? Or was it just some c**p that came from a voodoo’ist mouth, who has not one bit of technical knowledge.
As for a fuse to become a "bottleneck" it needs to become highly resistive to such a point that it would blow with no faults. If it’s not resistive at all, then you may as well have a piece of copper wire soldered in place of the fuse.
I'm not a trained physicist, but instead an "armchair amateur" who has read books by Stephen Hawking and Brian Greene, and while some cosmological concepts are still a bit difficult for me to grasp (even after several readings of Greene's last one on the multiverse and the hidden reality), it seems one possibility is that our minds are shaping realities, such that it is cosmologically plausible that, if anyone here hears a difference, no matter the tweak, then it is indeed real to that person, and in that reality, directionality of fuses is an unequivocal and experienced truth.
Fuse directionality or quality just doesn't work in my reality; and as Al Franken once said, that's, okay.
stevecham: "In Search of the Multiverse" by John Gribbin is excellent. Very accessible, and mind-bending. One of the best science books I’ve ever read. georgelofi: I agree. I’ve been following this thread on and off and I think these guys would get better results by having a tech bypass the fuses in their amps. The perceived difference would just be placebo, but I can’t help thinking it might bring their systems to a jaw-dropping new level, with better presence, dynamics and micro detail that would, in short, sound more like live music.
Since directionality can be heard in standard fuses, not just audiophile ones, it doesn't cost anything but time to test it in your own system. Simply flip a fuse. If you can hear a difference, better or worse, then you've proven to yourself that at least that part of what people are saying here is true. Unless, of course, you don't trust your own ears...
Yeah…or actually…no…fuse directionality can’t be heard because it's not an actual thing…it simply isn't. Ever. You can claim you hear it, but you do not. See? Wasn’t that easy? You’re welcome.
There are tests on the Harbeth website that suggest once you match any given SS power amp to its speakers within its power limitations, the difference in sound to an equivalent SS brand once you match volume levels to within 0.2 dB is minimal. There are differences, thanks to frequency response anomalies (and input sensitivity), but next to zero compared to the differences you get with cartridges or speakers. So like, fuses, and fuse direction? No offence, but you guys are tripping.
I should point out to Geoff/Tommy, before he attacks me, that I love his performance art; it's provided many chuckles. (Dark Matter Paint. Ha! That had me giggling for days. Seriously. Very, very funny.)
The issue is this: People new to our hobby might read this thread in the future and get hopelessly caught up in your nonsense, spending ludicrous amounts of money on BS, fuses being the thin edge of the wedge. Your stance is unethical.
I appreciate those who may be skeptical of the differences people are hearing with these fuses, but still make worthwhile contributions to this thread.
What geoffkait does to his colon is certainly his business, and may be part of why he feels compelled to promote mythological faith-based tweaks like bags of rocks and "directional" fuses. Unnecessarily discomfort during his medical procedures could simply make him mad at the world somehow, and this preference could certainly manifest itself as an oddly manic response to logic. We should have sympathy and compassion for his condition, and be gentle in our responses to his posts so as not to get him too irritated…kindness…simply respond with kindness.
I did not believe that Extra Terrestrials routinely visited our planet. UNTIL NOW. Today I saw a photograph of one in the the pages of THE ABSOLUTE SOUND.
It is called the "Acoustic Signature Invictus" turntable. At three feet wide, 2.5 feet deep, it is a monster weighing over 300 lbs. Cost: $130,000 with tonearm. It requires a stand for an additional $17, 500.
As I have previously mentioned, I have not even looked at a turntable since the mid 1980s. When you mentioned the Well Tempered TT I had no idea what it was like. Now I am scared to even google it. Perhaps in a couple of weeks when I recover from shock I might summon up the courage to take a peek.
For those who cannot afford, or are unwilling to pay, the asking price of the "signature" there is a budget version " The Acoustic Raven Black Knight" for a mere $45,000.
The school chancellor spoke. "It has been a difficult year. Many of you passed your courses with flying colors. You shall be going on to bigger and better things. The rest of you will become Audio Engineers.
geoffkait, does a bear sh*t in the woods, sorry no I can't ask you that, because you can't see the forest through the trees.
Read up on AC theory and then you'll understand just how much voodoo bull**** you and others are speaking about fuses being directional when mains AC is involved.
Even if they were DC rail fuses, it would be still voodooistic to say they were directional. Now there's something you can try geoffkait, use a dc fuse of the same amp rating instead of an ac fuse, then you may hear something different, I'd be interested in this outcome.
jafreeman 173 posts 08-02-2016 6:02am This directionality/AC argument has been discussed ad nauseam. I suggest anything that goes back and forth 60 times/second ends up standing still.
It can’t all be going back and forth 60 times/second and ending up standing still since something is coming out of the speakers. I'll grant you the elections are virtually standing still, however.
Hi Nayme, From both a philosophical and design perspective the WTT is the polar opposite of the massive and extravagant Acoustic Signature Invictus table you mentioned. The WTT was in my opinion a brilliant yet simple turntable that yielded superb sound quality. I truly enjoyed it for years. Conceptually it reminds me of a top quality SETamplifier, pure and natural due to well engineered simplicity. I fully understand why Frank loves his WTT. Charles,
geoffkait, does a bear sh*t in the woods, sorry no I can’t ask you that, because you can’t see the forest through the trees.
Read up on AC theory and then you’ll understand just how much voodoo bull**** you and others are speaking about fuses being directional when mains AC is involved.
Even if they were DC rail fuses, it would be still voodooistic to say they were directional. Now there’s something you can try geoffkait, use a dc fuse of the same amp rating instead of an ac fuse, then you may hear something different, I’d be interested in this outcome.
Cheers George
As much as I would like to take you up on your suggestion to try a DC fuse in lieu of an AC fuse of the same amp rating I am absolutely the wrong person for this task as my current system actually contains no fuses, nor any fuse holders, nor is any such thing necessary as my system is completely independent of house AC, a couple AA size batteries suffice.
As I understand things around here, this is a thread devoted to sharing our PERSONAL experiences,initially with the Synergistic Research Red fuses and subsequently expanded to include other fuses as well as other AC power products.
It follows then, if you have no PERSONAL experience with any of these products or product categories then you are just wasting time--yours (which you seem not to value), and that of the many folks who have participated in this thread sharing their PERSONAL experiences in good faith. A few posters here actually tried these products and found that they could perceive no sonic changes, or no changes for the better. I totally respect them and their views and I appreciate their contributions to this thread.
But seriously, if your scientific understanding of AC power and its interaction with audio power supplies and other devices on a circuit is not post-doc PhD with extensive personal applied experience in these areas, I am really not interested in your theories about why nothing in the power supply chain could possibly influence my perception of a re-created musical performance in my home.
I use and enjoy these products, and my non-audiophile friends (who have no idea what I’ve been messing with) are generally capable--unprompted--of hearing and noting differences in the sound of my system over time.
So, to put it bluntly, if you have no personal experience with these products, feel free to lurk, or to sincerely ask questions, but otherwise, please save yourself the agita and the wasted keystrokes, and let the rest of us get on with our little hobby....
On a happier note, I am chilling to Olu Dara's album "Neighborhoods." Very highly recommended for performance and sonics, along with his late-nineties debut "In the World: From Natchez to New York."
A few posters here actually tried these products and found that they could perceive no sonic changes, or no changes for the better. I totally respect them and their views and I appreciate their contributions to this thread.
And this backs what the technical experienced here have been saying all along.
So, to put it bluntly, if you have no personal experience with these products, feel free to lurk, or to sincerely ask questions, but otherwise, please save yourself the agita and the wasted keystrokes, and let the rest of us get on with our little hobby....
No wasted keystrokes when trying to protect/educate the gullible and their hard earned cash on the voodoo speak that AC fuses have directional sound differences. And unless your a forum cop, I wouldn’t tell the technical here what they can/can’t post when trying to protect the gullible from voodoo.
No it doesn't, but it may have an obvious list. You've been a member for a total of 11 days, in which you've had 7 posts, first post promoting the SR Black Quantum fuse, all bar one are on this one fuse topic. I'll leave the rest for others to work out.
"A few posters here actually tried these products and found that they could perceive no sonic changes, or no changes for the better. I totally respect them and their views and I appreciate their contributions to this thread.
And this backs what the technical experienced here have been saying all along."
To be fair - and correct - the technically experienced here have been saying either that fuses ARE directional or that fuses MIGHT BE directional. It's the technically inexperienced ones here who have been railing against fuse directionality. Besides, everyone and his brother knows there are perfectly valid reasons why some people get bad results from certain audio tweaks. Them's the breaks. You can't save the world.
jetter 119 posts 08-03-2016 7:14am I am the caveman here, I don't believe in wire directionality of bare wire, as it relates to carrying a signal.
Just curious, with all the evidence for wire directionality that has piled up in the past twenty years, what evidence, technical or otherwise, do you have to support your belief that wire directionality doesn't exist? Or is it just your gut feeling?
"As I understand things around here, this is a thread devoted to sharing our PERSONAL experiences
...
So, to put it bluntly, if you have no personal experience with these
products, feel free to lurk, or to sincerely ask questions, but
otherwise, please save yourself the agita and the wasted keystrokes, and
let the rest of us get on with our little hobby....
"
Sorry, but these forums don't work that way. Everyone is free to contribute. Please feel free to ignore those renderings that are not of value to you. Please feel free to alert the moderators to inappropriate posts. To be as blunt as you, it's simply not your role - or mine - to limit discussion on these forums.
Geoffkait 8-3-2016 6:58 am edt To be fair - and correct - the technically experienced here have been saying either that fuses ARE directional or that fuses MIGHT BE directional.
Not sure whom that might be. In any event, in the opinion of this technically experienced person (i.e., me) the best insight into the question of fuse directionality, at least in the case of AC applications, was provided in this thread by Ralph of Atma-Sphere. Some excerpts:
Atmasphere 5-23-2016 4:52pm edt It has to do with the fact that the connections on fuse holders are not perfect. The act of reversing the fuse sometimes gets you a better connection. However, directionality really isn’t the issue. Similar to a power switch, the contact area of the fuse holder that is actually doing the work is a fraction of the total contact area. As a result, if you simply rotate the fuse in its holder, you will find that there is a best position where more of the fuse holder contact area is touching the fuse contacts. When the fuse was reversed, on occasion you got better contact or worse contact, which appears initially to be a directional issue, but that is really an illusion.
Interestingly, this effect is measurable as a voltage drop across the fuse holder. As you might expect, the less voltage drop the better. So it is possible to adjust (rotate) the fuse in the holder for minimum voltage drop and thus the best performance. A side benefit is the fuse will last a little longer as the operating temperature is reduced.
Atmasphere 5-26-2016 12:31pm edt I joined this thread recently with some results on testing. Those results are that the directionality appears out of coincidence and that actually greater improvement can be had by rotating the fuse in the holder for best contact. The improvement is measurable and audible; descriptions others have made on this thread of what happens when you get the direction right accurately describe what happens when the contact area is maximized.
Occam’s Razor has something to say here! Given that a fuse has to be used in AC circuits and given that people report differences by reversing the fuse, and also understanding how fuses are inherently incapable of having directionality in any way whatsoever, the explanation that they somehow have an effect by reversing them in the holder is a fairly complex explanation: some sort of unknowable, unmeasurable quality of the fuse itself.
A simpler explanation is that the reversal is improving the contact area because fuse and holder are not dimensionally perfect and the fuse might sit better in the holder in one direction. By rotating the fuse in the holder without reversing it gets the same effect only more profoundly.
Al, I believe we already established that the fuse holder can be eliminated from the list of culprits, as much as you and Atmasphere seem to enjoy that theory. As for wire and fuse directionality in AC circuits, Haven’t you and Atmasphere been paying attention? HiFi Tuning has already established (some time ago) that fuses are directional in AC circuits as well as DC circuits. Hel-looo!
now, let me ask you a question. Do you really think that if fuses were not directional there would be SO MANY reports from experienced, advanced audiophiles, not only on this thread here but on many audio forums over the past 15 years or more? Do you and Atmasphere, who one assumes have no experience with aftermarket fuses (correct me of I'm wrong), believe that fuse directionality is:
1. A hoax 2. Group hypnosis 3. Placebo Effect 4. Expectation bias 5. A conspiracy by aftermarket fuse makers and their shills 6. All of the above
GEoff you are blowing purely hot air at this point. You'd be much better off stopping already, but I doubt you will. Spend more time on reading comprehension.
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