2. misc-audio
  3. 131672-481

The new Synergistic Research BLUE fuses ....

New SR BLUE fuse thread ...

I’ve replaced all 5 of the SR BLACK fuses in my system with the new SR BLUE fuses. Cold, out of the box, the BLUE fuses stomped the fully broken-in SR BLACKS in a big way. As good as the SR BLACK fuses were/are, especially in comparison with the SR RED fuses, SR has found another break-through in fuses.

1. Musicality ... The system is totally seamless at this point. Its as if there is no system in the room, only a wall to wall, front to back and floor to ceiling music presentation with true to life tonality from the various instruments.

2. Extension ... I’ve seemed to gain about an octave in low bass response. This has the effect of putting more meat on the bones of the instruments. Highs are very extended, breathing new life into my magic percussion recordings. Vibes, chimes, bells, and triangles positioned in the rear of the orchestra all have improved. I’ve experienced no roll-off of the highs what so ever with the new BLUE fuses. Just a more relaxed natural presentation.

3. Dynamics ... This is a huge improvement over the BLACK fuses. Piano and vibes fans ... this is fantastic.

I have a Japanese audiophile CD of Flamenco music ... the foot stomps on the stage, the hand clapping and the castanets are present like never before. Want to hear natural sounding castanets? Get the BLUE fuses.

4. Mid range ... Ha! Put on your favorite Ben Webster album ... and a pair of adult diapers. Play Chris Connor singing "All About Ronnie," its to die for.

Quick .... someone here HAS to buy this double album. Its a bargain at this price. Audiophile sound, excellent performance by the one and only Chris Connor. Yes, its mono ... but so what? Its so good you won’t miss the stereo effects. If you’re the lucky person who scores this album, please post your results here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ULTRASONIC-CLEAN-The-Finest-Of-CHRIS-CONNOR-Bethlehem-Jazz-1975-NM-UNPLAYED-...

Overall impressions:

Where the RED fuses took about 20 hours to sound their best, and the BLACK fuses took upwards of 200 hours of total break-in, the BLUE fuses sounded really good right out of the box ... and that’s without doing anything about proper directional positioning. Not that the BLUE fuses don’t need breaking in, they do. The improvement continues through week three. Its a gradual break-in thing where each listening session is better than the last.

Everything I described above continues to break new ground in my system as the fuses continue breaking in. Quite honestly, I find it difficult to tear myself away from the system in order to get things done. Its truly been transformed into a magical music machine. With the expenditure of $150.00 and a 30 day return policy there’s really nothing to lose. In my system, its like upgrading to a better pre amp, amp, CD player or phono stage. Highly recommended.

Kudos to Ted Denney and the entire staff at SR. Amazing stuff, guys. :-)

Frank

PS: If you try the SR BLUE fuses, please post your results here. Seems the naysayers, the Debbie Downers and Negative Nellie’s have hijacked the original RED fuse thread. A pox on their houses and their Pioneer receivers.

Frank



oregonpapa

Showing 11 responses by andynotadam

andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
They are Kind of Blue....
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
The direction of the  fuse can be determined by the direction of the writing on the fuse. I got great results upgrading the Black fuse to the Blue in my Nordost QB-8 power distribution block. I agree that the Blues sound better out f the box than the Blacks, and I would cautiously agree that they settle into their final sound signature a bit faster than the Blacks. Like the Blacks, the break-in process can be a wild ride. Has anyone else noticed a brief "technicolor" period where they sound almost hyper-real (in a good way) before settling back down? I'm also using a Blue fuse to great effect in my Uptone Audio JS-2 LPS used to power a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+.
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
Last Friday I replaced the Shunyata Viper Zitron power cord powering my system with the new Synergistic Blue UEF cable. Amazing value for the $649 price. As with the Blue (and Black) fuses, bass took on more detail and texture, transients became quicker and more powerful, voices and solo instruments sounded more "in the room," the noise floor was lowered still, and the sound-stage took on more space and air.

Geronimo!
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
Uberwaltz, I have a Brooklyn DAC+ powered by an Uptone Audio JS-2 and adding the Blue fuse to the JS-2 had an immediate and positive impact along the lines of what's reported in this thread. Best of luck...
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
At the last minute I got in on the September special of a Blue outlet with a free Blue Fuse. The Blue outlet will free up one of my Black outlets for re-deployment. The Blue fuse will bump the Black in my REL S/5 to replace in turn, a Hi-Fi Tuning fuse in my REL R-328. Swapping the outlet will be a major PITA involving moving equipment and some furniture. The things we do for a more involving musical experience in our homes....
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
Today I finally got around to swapping the Blue outlet for the Black one currently powering my main system. At 63, this amounted to aerobic exercise with much grunting and sweating, given all the gear and furniture I had to move--not to mention some scary dust bunnies and startled spiders. It has been a while since I was last back there!

Despite the new outlet and all the cables I disturbed today, I'm looking forward to tonight's listening session and those throughout the coming week. Since much of my gear is powered 24/7, hopefully I'll quickly get through the initial burn-in. I have to say my system has been sounding so good lately I'm a bit anxious about the change.

Also, I have three more SR Blue HC power cords I bought on the three-for-two special waiting for me at the post office so this week will test my self control. I fully intend to try to draw a bead on the differences between the Blue and Black outlets over time and report back before further throwing my system back into temporary chaos.
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
I replaced the SR Black outlet powering my main system with a Blue outlet three days ago. It sounded good right out of the box and into the wall. My first impression was that it in no way was a step back from the  Black. After giving it and all the cables and gear I had to move around several hours to warm up and settle, I noted better detail and texture due to a much quieter background as well as greater air and extension. Drive and pacing seemed improved as well. At 24 hours, I thought things took a bit of a step back, the sound seeming a bit bright and threadbare. I am now over 72 hours in at this point and I am loving what I am hearing. Dynamic contrasts are much more apparent with quicker transients--especially clear on percussion instruments such as congas. Bass has better weight and definition has taken another big step forward. The sound was very relaxed with great clarity and detail. By far the biggest difference I detected between the Blue and the Black outlets was the much blacker background against which instruments and voices were placed. Imaging was improved with the sound-stage being more clearly rendered placing instruments and voices more in their own spaces. Even audience noise and applause was dramatically clearer and more distinct. I don't know how they did it, but the Blue outlet is another big step forward.

Next week I will introduce three more SR Blue UEF High Current AC cables into my system as I shift more and more away from earlier generation Nordost AC cables (Brahma and Vishnu). I thought that my first Blue cable was a great addition at a quite reasonable price and with the October special of three for the price of two and a 30 day trail period I'm jumping in with both feet.

Geronimo!
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
If your system is dedicated to LPs, put the fuse in the phono power supply. Otherwise, putting the fuse in the integrated amp would cover more. Better still, put fuses in both of 'em!
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
I’m getting great results with an SR Blue fuse in my REL S/5. It bumped a Black fuse into my R-328 to replace a Hi Fi Tuning fuse. Good stuff!

(And I am not affiliated in any way with SR or any other audio-related company. I pay cash up-front for everything.)

And check out Vanaessa Fernandez’ Levee Breaks album. More good stuff!!!
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
Thomas

A few weeks ago I installed an SR Blue duplex outlet and a UEF AC cable to the Nordost QB8 power distributor powering my main system replacing a Shunyata Viper Zitron. I also added an SR Blue fuse to my REL S/5.

To summarize, bass took on more detail, weight and texture. Transients became quicker and more powerful. Voices and instruments sound more "in the room" and more clearly occupy their own spaces in the sound stage with an improved sense of "air" around them. There was also more unforced detail as the noise floor was pretty dramatically reduced. Furthermore, a bit of glare I hadn't realized was there was eliminated.

Today I added three more SR Blue cables I got on the 3-for-2 deal to replace some Nordost Brahma and Vishnu cables. This required tearing the system apart and disturbing almost everything. At only three hours in, I can only say that the sound is still consistent with the characteristics described above. I'm looking forward to the next days and weeks of musical enjoyment and beyond.

Hope this helps.
andynotadam's avatar
andynotadam
172 posts
 
@celander

Yes, the power source (provided it has a fuse!) is a great place to start, but further benefits will be achieved with source components, preamp, DAC and so on...
More to discover