Synergistic Red Fuse ...


I installed a SR RED Quantum fuse in my ARC REF-3 preamp a few days ago, replacing an older high end fuse. Uhh ... for a hundred bucks, this little baby is well worth the cost. There was an immediate improvement upon installation, but now that its broken in (yes, no kidding), its quite remarkable. A tightening of the focus, a more solid image, and most important of all for my tastes, a deeper appreciation for the organic sound of the instruments. Damn! ... cellos sound great! Much improved attack on pianos. More humanistic on vocals. Bowed bass goes down forever. Next move? .... I'm doing the entire system with these fuses. One at a time though just to gauge the improvement in each piece of equipment. The REF-75se comes next. I'll report the results as the progression takes place. Stay tuned ...

Any comments from anyone else who has tried these fuses?
128x128oregonpapa
To all of the naysayers: In your opinion, am I supposed to disbelieve my  lying ears?????

With all due respect, especially for Wolf, here' s a recommended tweak that you may want to try: 

http://www.pharmapacks.com/products.php?product=Murine-Ear-Wax-Removal-System-1-Each

Was it a mechanical connection problem ?
This is more the case and should have been first in line for consideration.

Even SR states their fuses are directional.
Please point to the link that states this.

Cheers George
Not directed towards anyone, just a general comment.

I'm still old school and believe that when someone has the need to repeatedly (emphasized) change interconnects, speaker cables, power cables, fuses, power outlets, power supplies, etc. its not refinement they need, but a major change in the overall sound of their system.  A change that can only be achieved by changing components.  At a certain point saying how much you love your sound and then doing anything to change it under the guise of refinement seems disingenuous and bound to fail. IMHO
In response to request by georgelofi for SR statement on fuse directionality. From somewhere in cyberspace,

Valerio,
In my experience nearly all fuses are directional including SR Quantum Fuses. I recommend you try them in one component at at time and experiment with directionality. You should immediately notice a preference for one direction or the other. If a component has more than one fuse use a DVM (Digital Volt Meter) to determine direction of current in the circuit. Once you know the direction of current in each fuse holder place all fuses in like direction paying attention to have the letters on the SR Quantum Fuses all in the same direction either reading in the direction of signal flow, or against. Next switch direction and the correct match to your component should be readily apparent. There are just too many variables for me to make a blanket recommendation for all components when such a simple and definitive test is available.

As to having to take a reviewers word for it (or not,) regarding which fuse to try / buy you have the option to audition SR Quantum Fuses for 30 days in your system with a full refund of the cost of the fuse should you elect to go a different way. Our 30-day no risk audition policy takes the guess work out of trying SR Quantum Fuses and is offered because I am certain we make the best sounding fuses in the world.

Yours in music,
Ted Denney III
Lead Designer, Synergistic Research Inc.

Nyame 1-23-2017
It is very difficult to respond rationally to to this type of convoluted nonsense. The only way to determine whether a fuse make a difference is to listen to it. No "measured data" can make this determination. This is why final evaluation of high quality audio products has to pass a listening test before approved for sale.
I agree, aside from the first sentence. My statement to which you were responding did not say or imply anything to the contrary.
The only question is whether the resolution of the playback system is is good enough to allow the difference to be heard. Not all playback systems have the benefits of tuned acoustics, absence from vibrations, optimized loudspeaker placement, good grounding etc
The sound quality and musical resolution of a component or system does not **necessarily** go hand in hand with the sensitivity of a component design to fuse differences, or its sensitivity to any other differences in hardware or tweaks for that matter. Conflating musical resolution and the sensitivity of a design to hardware differences is a common audiophile misconception, IMO, as I have said in a number of past threads. Although there will often tend to be at least a loose degree of correlation between the two, of course.

To cite just one example illustrating that point, among countless others that could be cited, a speaker having low impedance and highly capacitive impedance phase angles, and/or an impedance that varies widely as a function of frequency, will tend to be more revealing of amplifier and speaker cable differences than one that is easy to drive and has a relatively flat impedance curve. Even though that says nothing about which speaker will provide better sound quality or superior resolution of musical detail.

It is THE POWER SUPPLY that is reponsible for the improvements. The fuse allow the power supply to perform more effectively and this, not the fuse, is responsible for the improved performance.
This is a meaningless distinction, IMO.

I DID NOT CONCLUDE THAT THE FUSE ITSELF IS INHERENTLY DIRECTIONAL.
Thank you for the clarifications you provided on this in response to comments by the others. FWIW, I did not say that **you** concluded that a fuse is inherently directional.
Does any one on this forum really believe that Oregonpapa (The OP of this thread ) is delusional. Can all the many positive reviews of the Synergistic Research fuses on this thread, and in other forums, explained away by saying they are being misled by "perceived effects of the wrong variable?
I have considerable respect for Frank’s system, sonic perceptiveness, and sincerity. My statement certainly did not imply that extraneous variables are responsible for all or even most of the reported differences. However I would feel safe in assuming that they were a factor in **some** of the reports. Especially when it comes to claims of inherent directionality.

In any event, as things stand now it seems clear that the thread has encompassed a plethora of reported experiences, opinions, and technical considerations covering all sides of the issue. Those reading the thread can and will form their own conclusions as to whom and what to believe, and as to how and if to proceed with any fuse upgrades that may be considered.

Regards,
-- Al

P.S: My thanks are extended to those who expressed favorable reactions to the summary in my previous post, "believers" and "non-believers" alike.