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What is the science behind audiophile fuses?

There were many threads on the topic of "audiophile fuses" on this forum, and I sure don't want to open old wounds and trench warfare. The fuse on my preamp blew suddenly two days ago, which prompted me to search for a replacement. That's when I came across the term "audiophile fuse" and the fact that they demand far-out prices. Deeper curiosity brought me to several other fora, where users posted glowing praises about their Zero fuses and other exotica. Now I am a scientist, but not a physicist or electrical engineer: so please enlighten me! How can a fuse have an audible influence on the signal, when the signal does not even pass through it? How can a fuse be "directional" when it deals with alternate current? I mean, if I recall my university physics, a fuse is basically a safety valve and nothing more. Am I completely missing an important point here? My scientific field is drug discovery, and because of this background I am thoroughly familiar with the power and reality of the placebo effect. I that's what I am seeing here, or is it real physics? I need objective facts and not opinions, please. I really appreciate your help!

 
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Showing 2 responses by tvrgeek

tvrgeek
299 posts
 

There is actually a reliability difference in fuse TYPES. ATO fuses are more reliable than 3AB or 3AG.  Yes, in my days doing failure analysis, I found termination issues in 3AG fuses. There is a tiny tiny inductance with some cartridge fuses. Sonically? I think that was covered.   🤣

Some "Madison Ave. Engineers" suggest breakers sound better.  Hmmm, resistive bimetallic, small point contacts, inductor and magnet?   Not sure I would bet on that. 

Jan Didden has a lot to say on fuses and protection circuits. Cordell and Self a little.  Like everything, you have to pick tradeoffs. There is no perfect answer. Fuses may protect your speaker, but I can verify first hand, they so not protect MOSFET outputs!  They do not protect for instability. They do not protect against over-heating.  They do not protect for DC leakage or bias inaccuracies.  My take away is you should use a fuse or breaker in your mains line where it has zero sonic effect and go to more advanced parameter monitoring for everything else. 

tvrgeek
299 posts
 

We call that "Madison Ave. Engineering"

 

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