Should I get you guys a room?
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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
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
2,978 responses
I experimented with bussman and littlefuses as to their directionality. I couldn't tell the difference between one or another direction. There may have been, but it was too subtle for me to notice. As to SR fuses, their directionality is obvious. It is equivalent to in phase and out of phase recordings and polarized A/C plugs. Extremely obvious(!!) to my friends and myself. I had no expectation bias when I first purchased the SR black fuse. I had the fuse inserted "out of phase" on my first attempt. Upon reversing the direction as per OPs' recommendation, the correct direction was obtained and "in phase" sound resulted. The SR Blue fuse is not as great a leap in sound (modest relatively speaking) compared to the SR Black fuse. Anyone with an SR Black fuse should be enjoying enhanced sound in a good sounding audio system (low resolution systems probably not). |
Thank you @almarg Always a pleasure to read from you in any thread and on any topic. Note that my question wasn’t specific to the OPPO though. EDIT: or an internal or external fuse. In the case of the question I’ve posed, I’m inclined to believe what mapman has stated "it makes a better and more robust connection". I remain grateful to everyone to be able to participate in this forum. Regardless of your opinions, beliefs, etc. about fuses and all of the other equipment here on Audiogon. Remember that it wouldn’t really mean anything without the music itself 🎵 Something we all can share and should find in common 🙂 |
mapman .....Also slo blo fuses can melt partially and have an effect on performance and sound..... Mapman inadvertently is agreeing with what really happens to a partially melted fuse, it's called ageing. Good for you. Funny this should be mentioned as it's just like what happens to a fuse that's seen too many turn on cycles, as there's far more current goes through it at the moment of switch on than any other time, as it has to charge up empty power supply caps ect. that's why fuses and light globes blow (if nothings wrong) at time of turn on, here are some pics of fuse ageing. A slow-blo fuse "ageing" right to left https://peakpinball.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/fuse-8312-640x426.jpg A fast-blo fuse "ageing" left to right https://i.stack.imgur.com/0uqWX.jpg%20 Cheers George |
Gdhal 4-18-2018Hi Hal, In addition to the possibilities Mapman cited, the rear panel of the UDP-205 is quite crowded, as you can see here. And perhaps the parts just inside the panel are crowded as well, or even more crowded. So it might not have been practical to put a fuseholder on the rear panel. Also, perhaps putting a fuseholder somewhere on the rear panel would have necessitated routing the noisy AC wiring undesirably close to sensitive internal circuitry. Design decisions usually involve tradeoffs encompassing a multitude of factors, as Mapman indicated. Best regards, -- Al |
@uberwaltz, Axial-leaded Fuses It's just cost cutting and not "anti-fuser". I've read on other forums where people just went and did what mapman suggested and broke out the soldering iron, trashed the standard fuse, inserted a fuse holder, and went and got their desired aftermarket fuse. And, if you ever get the upgrade bug, Clones Audio and OppoMod both sell better power supply boards with a fuse holder. All the best, Nonoise |
mapman - .....Also slo blo fuses can melt partially and have an effect on performance and sound..... This is interesting for me to understand, and something I wouldn’t have considered. Thanks. And thank you, OP. This ends my inquiry/question into the solder vs typical holder scenario. EDIT: Even if "partially blown" in the case of slow blow, it would still seem more advantageous to have the fuse "readily accessible" and able to be replaced instead of having to bust out the soldering iron, or in my case, have a tech do it. |
^Yes but, even if the expectation is that an authorized service person will replace the fuse when needed, it still creates more of a dilemma for said service person. Soldering doesn’t seem to make sense in any scenario. Having said that, I’m expecting the advocates of SR to weigh in that once the correct direction (in their view, remember, I’m in the camp who believes the direction is irrelevant) is known, soldering would theoretically be better from a sound quality perspective (in their view, remember, I’m in the camp where the sound quality has nothing to do with a fuse) because conceivably there is more contact area or who knows what else at play. Soldering a fuse - or any item for that matter - which is meant to "blow" and then be replaced if required just doesn’t seem to make sense to solder. |
geoffkaitYou are saying you know more than these guys, and many more. Geoff you and the other "Awsome Foursome" need counselling. As your website testifies. And your "Voodoo Doll" avatar also testifies. http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina5.htm Cheers George |
why would any manufacturer solder a fuse to the board The same reason they solder all the rest. Makes a better and more robust connection. Fuses are not special in that way. Expectation is an authorized service person will more likely replace the fuse when needed. Also avoids dare I say it TAMPERING! I perhaps have replaced and dabbled with more fuses than anyone here over the years having troubleshooted many for customers at Lafayette Radio, Tech Hifi, and Radio Shack in a past life. Resetting a fuse alone occasionally can make a clearly audible difference in sound and performance as a result of a better connection, especially in amplifiers. Much like reconnecting a speaker or other wire might on occasion if left alone for extended periods of time. Also slo blo fuses can melt partially and have an effect on performance and sound. Replacing it with a fresh good quality fuse solves that. I always checked the fuse first when someone cam in with an amplifier issue for service. Many times no further service was needed. So fuses do matter! Of course if you want to promote expensive fuses, best to not focus on other things that can easily account for what is heard. Makes things more complicated and bad for business! Just attribute everything to teh new and better fuse. Much easier for all! Ok. Groundhog Day! LEt’s go through all teh same arguments again now just for fun... |
Thank you @mapman I needed a good laugh. And let's face it, we all could use one from time-to-time. Serious question though for the entire group (i.e. any side of the fence) - and I respectfully ask the OP to entertain this question for a moment - why would any manufacturer solder a fuse to the board? Seems a bit user "un-friendly". I cant imagine why a fuse (again, any stock, aftermarket, whatever direction) should be "permanently" (of course, I understand nothing is permanent) affixed. Pain in the unmentionable if it blows. Thoughts? |
mapman - Don’t be so easily deterred. The soldering iron needed to fix that costs way less than the fuse.This is hysterical 🤣 mapman - Has anyone soldered a SR fuse in before? This could take things to even more extraordinary new heights! Use gold solder! Maybe shmear some Total Contact in there as well just to be safe. Assuming it's not flammable.... Please stop 🤣 |
geoffkait - .....Who knows, if OPPO has used upgraded fuses or put the stock fuses in the right direction maybe they’d still be in business.They are still in business... very much so in fact.... don’t take my word for it though...call them or send an email that you have an issue with your OPPO....see how responsive they are......or just read their public domain literature on how they intend to provide product/customer service for /to existing customers.... How is your business doing? 😧 Who knows, if OPPO *did* use "upgraded" fuses or cared to try any fuse in the "right direction", maybe they’d have been "out of business" sooner. 😀 |
I had an OPPO. In fact I had the world’s most modded OPPO. An upgrade is needed. Case solved. I didn’t even have to do a blind test. See, that’s what happens when you talk the talk AND walk the walk, spaceman. 🤠 Who knows, if OPPO has used upgraded fuses or put the stock fuses in the right direction maybe they’d still be in business. 😀 |
uberwaltz - Seems that the OPPO udp205 is another unit with a fuse soldered onto the mains board. Why phooey? Maybe OPPO **KNOWS** that no upgrade is needed and/or possible where the fuse is concerned. Just a thought. :) EDIT: And by soldering it, what OPPO is essentially meaning is they don't need any more "dramatica" 🤣 |
Somebody: “Why not try to use calmer verbiage instead of "snake oil?"” To which georgehifi retorted, “It’s known all over the world as "snake oil"” >>>>>It’s known by that (derogatory) name because that’s what pseuo scientists and pseudoskeptics all over the world call anything that looks like Woo. Duh! Then georgehifi wrote, “It’s a mains fuse that has AC on it, that changes 60 x a second, so for one how can it possibly be directional? 2, how can it effect the music signal "unless" it acts like a diode and tries to rectify the mains on one half of the cycle. But of course you wouldn’t have understood a thing I just said. So "snake oil" and it’s alternatives I’m afraid is all you understand.” >>>>Sorry, George. The reason why AC fuses are directional just like DC fuses has been explained. Actually it’s been explained a bunch of times. It’s not rocket science. 🚀 Were you sleeping in class again? 😴 From your own words you obviously don’t even know what the word directionality means. What on Earth are you even talking about?! This is what happens when you assume something. You get all wrapped around the axel. Then georgehifi decided to add, Dennis Had director/founder of "Cary Audio", opinion on snake oil fuses ect. https://youtu.be/xLQsEeBKg1E?t=1791 >>>>>As I’ve oft opined, high end amp manufacturers apparently have the hardest heads of all the major food groups. Dennis Had, like Roger Modjeski, is about two paradigm shifts behind the power curve. You could say he’s been Had. 🤡 Geoff Kait Machina Dramatica We do Artificial Atoms Right |
@oregonpapa Thank you for that post. "What Ivan called a 'road,' I always referred to as a narrow pathway. I could have called it a path too if, for no other reason, that it can so often seem to us that we encounter so few others at any one time on the same part of the 'path' as us...and that we seldom ever seem to traverse it at anything other than at a slow walk. But, I guess I call it a 'road' since everyone who has ever lived and ever will is to travel down it. One thing I know you'll agree: whoever built the road of life sure didn't intend for it to be a super highway, now did they? ;) |
@GK Thanks for your post on pseudo-skepticism. Much appreciated. @prof No, indeed I'm not trying to insult people. "I have voiced some skepticism about tweaks like the fuses, and have given my reasons. But nowhere have I made any close-minded absolutist claims like "they don’t or can’t make a difference," nor have I told anyone to go blind testing whatever they buy, as I don’t do that myself. As I’ve said to each his own. I’ve explained that I come to my skepticism also based on acquaintance with the fallibility of my own perception (as revealed when I’ve done blind tests). Which mirrors the fallibility well documented by scientific studies of human bias. I’m of course willing to drop my doubts with better evidence."Believe me, I'm perfectly fine with that. I have no problem with you or anyone else saying it. "I’m not selfishly "demanding" anyone do anything. Asking for good evidence for a claim isn’t selfish or a sin (except perhaps in your faith)...in normal life, it’s being sensible and adult, rather than just believing any claim that comes along no matter how much enthusiasm is behind it."Glad to hear it. I see no reason not to accept that premise at face value. "He painted skeptics as selfish demanding children who bog down conversations with "demands for proof!" and himself and those like him as enlightened and charitable."No! Not True! That would be a rather foolish thing for me, or anyone else I imagine, to seriously say. What I've had trouble with are those that say or act outright that they demand that someone help them, as if somehow they were being violated to the core, if you like. Not all skeptics are this way and, moreover, I don't find it so much a particular set of individuals that need to be labeled and blamed so much as a behavior that ought (in my view) to be avoided. And first and foremost the only real punitive measure I'm suggesting is that their (one) demand be ignored. This is not, nor does it need to be, a blame game. If it is then I will not play it. It's just that my own path may be different than yours...certainly philosophically. Everyone's path is different. And where I might tend to fall back on faith when the going gets a little tough for me, you might choose to fall back on the the things that restore you: your love of science, your love of the scientific method, your love of engineering, equipment, art, philosophy...whatever gets you through - but, my point being it's your Love of it that restores, yes?. I made a proclamation that was in line even with what I feel to be true on high with things that endure with me. The proclamation itself is not on high, just that I tried very hard to make it in line with all that as I know it. Just as you might do the same in the course of your audiophile journey, but according to your own beliefs. I would expect no more and no less. If my putting it in terms of my being a Christian bothers you, then I'm sorry, but being a Christian is not about entitlement and in any case these days we are, if anything, coming under increasing fire from many sides. I do not think that you would have the monopoly on being attacked or marginalized, nor did I see that what I was saying, and still am saying, attacks you. Nor was the fact itself that I am a person of faith my point, but rather that the nature of all that was inherently good as I see it...that I am not out to deal from a position of bad faith simply because I was voicing an objection to some repeated behavior in the forum. I hurl no insults. I can't always agree with everything going on, but I take some exception to those who insist on making demands...and no, if you're still wondering, a question, or a statement, or a suggestion is not a demand. A demand is a demand and that, and only that, is what truly irks me. A demand neither proves nor disproves, it just gets in the way of the proving or the disproving. |
mitch2 Geoff, thanks for posting the pseudoskepticism dissertation. It seems old Marcello had a soft spot for the scientific agnostic (a.k.a. skeptic, doubter, doubting Thomas, cynic, unbeliever, nonbeliever, rationalist). Are you suggesting a new category here on the SA Blue thread or are none of the pseudoskeptics qualified to ascend to the level of a scientific skeptic? BTW, I gotta ask, were you previously familiar with the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), based on their study of the Teleportation Tweak? >>> Maybe. 😬 I am loosely associated with this group, The Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) was a research program at Princeton University that studied parapsychology.[1] Established in 1979 by then Dean of Engineering Robert G. Jahn, PEAR closed in February 2007, being incorporated into the "International Consciousness Research Laboratories" (ICRL).[2] The program was controversial.[3] 😳 |
Good morning Frank, don't feel bad The CEO of Moon Audio and his team of EE's do not seem to understand AC either! They spent countless hours addressing AC issues, vibration, magnetic fields, even worst they coated the underside of the lid with some SNAKE TAR GOOP, hey George, was that correct EE lingo? BTW their new 888 monos are only 200k +. Special magic internal wire, covered in carbon, oh my. Aircraft aluminum, George why do they use that? Can you fly them maybe as well as listen to them? Wow now your talking! |
Why not try to use calmer verbiage instead of "snake oil?" It's known all over the world as "snake oil" It's a mains fuse that has AC on it, that changes 60 x a second, so for one how can it possibly be directional? 2, how can it effect the music signal "unless" it acts like a diode and tries to rectify the mains on one half of the cycle. But of course you wouldn't have understood a thing I just said. So "snake oil" and it's alternatives I'm afraid is all you understand. Dennis Had director/founder of "Cary Audio", opinion on snake oil fuses ect. https://youtu.be/xLQsEeBKg1E?t=1791 Cheers George. |
Georgehifi sez:
1. Ah ... but we do have something to go on ... our ears. 2. SR won’t back us? Hmm, care to elaborate? To toxic for ya George? Why not try to use calmer verbiage instead of "snake oil?" Especially since you haven’t experienced the product for yourself in your own system. Frank |
Does nullified means agreeing with you?No proven one way other the other, but here nothing is accepted from an Electronic engineering view point by the fusers, even though every part of the equipment is designed and tested using electronic laws and ee maths. You fusers think you know better. But you have nothing but your expectation bias to go with and no cred as even SR won't back you. Cheers George |
BTW this is the only thread, I frequent that is so toxic, all others there maybe disagreements, but they are quickly nullified, but not here.Could it be that no one here is bending to your will (such as it is)? Does nullified means agreeing with you? I ask because it's not going to happen. All the best, Nonoise |
