Frank,
Thanks for the recommendation. I'm a huge fan of both of these iconic saxophonists. Sonny Stitt BTW is as masterful with the tenor saxophone as he is with the alto. He's a marvellous musican who is historically under appreciated in my opinion. You and I both know the sheer greatness of Bird.
Charles |
Frank,
Thanks, I'll look into these recommendations.
Charles |
Bill (Grannyring),
The climate and decorum on Audiogon has changed from when I first began participating here. There were differences of opinion of course but they were done in a respectful manner. I don't find it as enjoyable and hospitable as it once was. It seems to be going in the direction of audio asylum, not desirable in my opinion.
Charles |
Hello Frank,
I appreciate your excellent taste in music. Thanks for the recommendation.
Charles |
Frank,
I believe that you'll like this very much, "Manhattan Moods".
McCoy Tyner on piano and Bobby Hutcherson on vibraphone. Beautiful!!
Charles |
Bill,
I know that you like the vibraphone as much as I as I do. I believe you’ll find this recording very enjoyable, "Wes meets Bags ". Early 1960s Riverside recording of a jazz quintet. Featuring 2 icons , Wes Montgomery on guitar and Milt Jackson (Bags) on vibraphone. Masterful musicians at work. Your wonderful system will surely do it justice 😊.
Charles |
Fleischer,
Here's an example of earlier Milt with a big band recorded in 1962 "Big Bags" very good.
Charles |
Hi Fleschler,
I agree with your description of the "Explosive" recording, very dynamic and high energy big band setting. Milt Jackson playing brilliantly as usual. It begins with "Bag’s Groove" and just goes onward. This CD fills the room with terrific big band music 😊.
Track 6, "The Nearness Of You " is wall to wall beauty. Man, Milt can just flat out play!!!
Charles |
Uberwaltz,
You don’t have to justify what you hear in your system. Rejoice in the discovery of a tweak that’s increased the enjoyment of listening to music. Nothing else matters. No reason to argue defending your own experience.
Charles |
nonoise,
Good advice you offered. As far as the directional characteristics I’m in the same boat as you. On 3 separate occasions in my system and 2 occasions in a friend’s system (very different components from mine) change of fuse direction was simply undeniably present.
I can’t explain why and frankly not bothered by this inability to explain it. I’m just very happy with the end result of improved sound and leave it at that. BTW for those who have tried and hear no improvement with the fuses, I believe them. I see no reason to question their hearing ability or quality of their systems. Just different outcomes, nothing new about that in regard to audio listening endeavors. I can appreciate experienced listeners who have opposite results from mine.
Charles
|
Good morning Frank,
You are welcome my friend. In an earlier post I mentioned the recording "Big Bags" . This was recorded in 1961 with Bags (Milt Jackson) in a big band setting. Excellent musicianship, material selection and arrangements. Just a very fine recording.
Given your large music collection you may already own this, if not I believe that you’ll like this very much. Frank as you know Milt was one baaaaad dude on the vibraphone 😊😊
Charles |
Ps,
I can’t answer your first question as I am still using the Black fuses (quite happily) in my system. The 2nd question regarding most effective location for the upgraded fuse is going to be a specific individual scenario. It honestly will vary via system and components. There isn’t any universal "best site" in my opinion. It’s reduced to trial and error.
For me it was DAC, Line Stage then power amplifiers. I'm sure there are those who will report the reverse order of mine 😊.
Charles |
I believe the reason for the frequent reminder of the money back guarantee is in response to those who frequently harp on the cost of upgrade fuses compared to standard fuses. The often stated point is the 100 to 1 ratio (or higher) price difference and how it represents extreme profit and/or waste of money.
People are reminded that if the fuses do nothing or little in your audio system, no big deal or monetary loss. Simply return the fuses and you’ll get a refund. Takes the risk out of potentially wasting money if you decide to give the fuses a listen. I’ve returned products when I was dissatisfied with them. On my initial encounter with the SR Quantum fuses a few years ago I was prepared to return them if they turned out to be unsatisfactory. They weren't.
Charles |
Yes, but if one decides to keep a particular product they have determined that the price is acceptable given the level of performance it rendered. So no need to return a product as they are satisfied on a cost/performance ratio.
If it fails their perceived value or return on cost quotient, well no problem and they return the "underperforming " product. No money loss.
Charles |
Geoff,
You responded to my post with Huh?
Thus my attempt to clarify. In any event we're expressing the same message. Damage control? Nope, just trying to communicate cleanly in an open forum setting.😊
Charles |
Shadorne,
You have stated repeatedly that listeners who hear differences/improvement with upgrade fuses is due to their audio components having poorly designed or built power supplies. You say your system components wouldn't benefit from these fuses due to the high quality of the power supplies they have.
Over the long course of the 2 SR fuse threads many fuse users have reported definite sound quality improvement. Among this group there's a plethora of very high quality and highly regarded brands cited. A brief list includes Audio Research, VAC,Pass, Krell,Coincident, McInTosh etc. There are many others as well.
I find it unlikely that your current Dennon,Pioneer or Benchmark although fine components have "superior" power supplies to those listed above. Just my 2 cents. I don't find your idea of inferior power supplies /component design explaining susceptibility to upgrade fuse changes plausible.
Charles |
Nonoise,
Yes, that was my point, a very poor premise. Components audibly changed by different fuses implies poor quality components. Illogical conclusion. Wire,caps, resistors,tubes , fuses etc. All are capable of affecting the sound quality of an audio component. This rationally does not suggest or imply poor design/implementation.
Charles |
Hi Dave,
Hope springs eternal 😊.
Charles |
I believe that nearly everyone has an expectation for favorable results when frying a new audio product (or why buy it to begin ?). I’ve had to return products that didn’t impress me once in my system and get a refund. I’m sure this has been the case for others as well, not every purchase provides a positive sonic outcome.
My attitude toward upgrade fuses was to give them a try and and just listen. It worthwhile they stay and if not they go back and my money is returned. . A simple proposition. In my system they yielded an improvement in sound quality with 3 separate components. Furthermore reversing the fuse direction revealed a "better" sound quality in one direction compared to the other.
These were my results and I can’t speak to the experiences of others although many posters here have had very similar results. There are listeners who have or will try upgrade fuses and hear little or no difference in sound quality. One person’s outcome doesn’t invalidate another who has a dissimilar outcome. We can only report what we hear.
I can easily accept the opposing listening results of uberwaltz and wolf, they heard what they heard. I would never tell someone else what they hear with their own ears and system and declare it can’t be as they describe, far too presumptuous. Expectation bias can also be skewed toward a negative outcome if one is heavily doubtful (skeptical) as to the merits of the product in question, where their mind is already made up . In audio it always comes down to actually listening and then forming an opinion concerning a particular product.
Charles |
Hi uberwaltz,
You understand the point I was making. Who'd buy a product with the intention of worsening their sound quality? Yes, an open mind approach and judge the listening experience.
Charles |
I happen to enjoy wolf’s wit and contributions on this forum. I find it hard to believe that someone would be so offended by his posts and resort to moderator intervention. So he isn’t a supporter of upgrade fuses, big deal, I know they work😊. I like "good"satire.
Charles |
I believe that on a forum thread conflicting opinions and viewpoints are to be expected and shouldn't be shunned. At the very core we are all just a collection of music lovers who want good audio systems to improve the home listening experience. Many of us have been accused of succumbing to voodoo and snake oil. I doubt that anyone loses sleep as a result. Each individual determines what works successfully in their respective system.
IMHO no need to be thin skinned or sensitive to opposing points of view. All perspectives should be allowed and readers are free to agree or disagree. Okay time for some "fresh" wolf sarcasm 😊.
Charles |
Thanks George, all is well with this thread again 😊. Carry on gentlemen.
Charles |
Uberwaltz,
Keep in mind his need to resort to immature insults is far more a reflection of him than yourself. Resist the urge to retaliate, no need. Reasonable readers of this thread can figure this out.
Charles |
Nonoise,
Thanks for that excerpt. I appreciate the open candor of Paul McGowan for acknowledging the sonic impact of fuses and that they vary in sound from one to another. This mirrors my llistening experience.
Charles |
As a group there’s substantial diversity of opinion amongst audio equipment manufacturers and designers. Some recognize the improved sound quality of better fuses and some don’t. Same with capacitors,resistors, wire, vibration control products etc. Opinions are all across the spectrum.
I’ve read where some don’t believe in tube rolling and say the chosen stock tube can’t be improved upon. Which again is why people have to listen and make their own judgements concerning audio products. At some point of acquired experience most listeners gain the confidence to trust their ears and not care any longer what others think.
Charles |
Uberwaltz,
I thought you had mentioned in an earlier post that you’re an electrical engineer. I believe that George brings up EE as a means of adding clout to his point of view just as he repeatedly invokes D’Agostino, Nelson Pass, John Curl etc. As has been accurately pointed out(Geoff) is an appeal to authority to boost his argument (and stature). Listening to an upgrade/premium fuse would be pointless for anyone so dogmatic. Their Negative outcome expectation bias would be overwhelming. Listening requires an open mind approach and no strong preconceived ideas stubbornly held. EE or not you have to be impartial and just listen to an audio product. Surely there will be varying degrees of listener results but this would apply to any audio product, and not exclusively limited to fuses.
Charles |
Uberwaltz,
Remember from George’s point of view he’s on a noble mission to protect the gullible and ignorant from the money grubbing snake oil shysterswho have the temerity to advocate upgrade fuses. So I can see from his point of reference he is in fact doing the good deed.
Regarding EE background I know there are those such as you who despite formal EE education can however appreciate that there’re things heard that can’t always be fully explained. A recognition that science/engineering is ever evolving but can’t account for "every" human observation(At least not yet).
Others with your same degree/training seem to take the stance that if you can’t measure it, then it’s nonsense or nonexistent.
Charles |
150.00 is a lot of money "if" a 50 cent part provided the same level of performance. 150.00 is money very well spent if it provided a noticeable sonic improvement in one’s audio system. So for Wolf it’s the former and for me, uberwaltz, Frank, grannyring et al, its the latter.
Both outcomes are legitimate. The person who hears no difference is no more or less credible than those who can hear an improvement. I don’t understand why this is hard for some to accept. People of equal credibility can and will have different results with the same audio product. |
Uberwaltz,
Your attitude is actually a reflection of the scientific method in that there is a search for explanation and realizing that there is much we do not understand. I've noticed on audio forums that those who maintain a rigid objectionist position (I'm only about measurements/specifications) based on science. They ironically miss the essence and spirit of scientific curiosity and it's inevitable humbling effect. These particular types of objectivist like to portray themselves as the "smart" one's on the forum with their dogma. In reality it's often the opposite, rigidity is restrictive in my observation.
Charles |
