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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



128x128oregonpapa
tommylion
874 posts
 
“...I suspect achieving this level of overall continuity may be less down to one component and more down to removing smear and micro dynamic limitations at every stage of the system”

I agree with you, and have taken many other steps, besides changing fuses, to do just that in my system. I think the more you do this this, the easier it is to hear changes (that are hopefully improvements), when you try something new.
jafreeman's avatar
jafreeman
689 posts
 
Maggie 3.6R update:  The SR Blacks are out, the SR Blues are in.  As Frank initially observed, the Blues sound better new than the Blacks sound burned in. In first listening to the 1995 Lee Ritenour and Larry Carleton collaboration "Larry and Lee", more inner detail is heard, there is extended decay to reverberant instruments.  Lower midrange stands out as better defined.  Short percussion fills/sweeteners, such as chimes and congas are now heard in clearer relief.  The presentation on Mark Knopfler's "Sailing To Philadelphia"  is more liquid, more listenable, more articulate.  Please correct me if I am mistaken in saying the SR Blues are a part of the signal path in the Magnepan fuse banks serving the midrange and tweeters. As such, these SR fuses are the most important upgrade over stock than has been achieved in any component in my system, with other fuses being replaced in the AC main inputs of amps, subs, CDP.  My listening evaluations of fuses in the 3.6R's have been consistent and progressive through many fuses now.  Both the HiFi Tuning Gold and Supremes actually showed arcing/burning on the end caps as blue/black discolorations. In retrospect, they were not that good.  The Furutechs with rhodium end caps sounded much more coherent. The SR 20's brought again a slight improvement, as did the SR Reds over the 20's.  The SR Blacks were the giant leap forward, of course---until, that is, these SR Blues. Only after two hours in, I can say they are clearly the best yet--and not by a small margin.  I would like to hear more reports on these Blues in all applications.   
gigaset
3 posts
 
 .I installed a blue sr on my amp and I find that the medium is forward, I put back the black which is more balanced on my system.
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
For those who have installed the BLUE fuses, for your next listening session get out your best percussion recordings. Everything from bongos to kettle drums are amazing.

Robert came over last night and brought over a Mobile Fidelity CD of Sonny Rollins’ "Way Out West." It just kills the LP.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonny-Rollins-WAY-OUT-WEST-CD-MFSL-Mobile-Fidelity-Audiophile-Disc-Japan-Mad...

Out of print and getting expensive. Zowie. 

Frank
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
gigaset,

I found that the Blues shifted into a decidedly "relaxed" mode after 7 days undisturbed. If you judged them before the 7 days, you might consider trying them again.

Dave
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