Audiophile Fuses: Helpful or "Snake Oil"?

I haven't ever been able to tell a difference with cable either.  I have only used entry level MIT($50 IC)and upgraded to Audioquest($200-300 IC).  I admit this was purely aesthetic and just because I enjoy buying stuff for my stereo.  My local dealer offered to teach me how to discern between cables years ago and I declined.  I tried the Blue SR fuses a couple years ago and couldn't hear any difference.  Maybe some of us simply aren't trained enough to hear the subtle changes?  I have different electronics now compared to when I tried the Blue.  I also only have one fuse so am thinking about trying the Orange just for fun due to the return policy.  

One person advocating fuses here has > 30% of their system budget tied up in cables. I can't take this persons views on anything seriously knowing that.

I've had good luck with them and have been able to tell the difference in performance between some. Can't say they work that way for everything, differences are more immediately noticeable when used with a component that also effects video like a home theater power conditioner or replacing a fuse in a tv or monitor itself (as I have done). Telling the differences between fuses in audio components takes more time and greater discernment.
I can't say I've tried many brands against one another as only a few offer money back trial periods (Synergistic Research and Alan Maher Designs come to mind; I'd like to try Telos' top of the line, Hi Fi Tuning's top of the line, or Audio Magic's top of the line fuses but I don't want to buy something find out it's not as good as a fuse I have and then have to sell it for a loss). I've noticed an immediate difference between a Taiwanese fuse with silver wire and silver plated copper caps (it was still better than the stock ceramic fuse) and Acme Audio's cfc cryo silver fuse (which is a huge bang for your buck at only about $20). I also noticed a difference between a Synergistic Blue fuse and Alan Maher's $200 fuse (which I bought because I both had a 30% off code and I saw a massive difference between their limited $95 fuse in one of my components in spring of last year, plus they have a money back trial period), and that difference grew more apparent over a couple of weeks' time.The only types I've tried are Hi Fi Tuning Silver Star, Synergistic Blue, Alan Maher's $95 Ltd. Fuse, Alan Maher's $200 fuse, a Taiwanese Silver wire silver plated copper cap fuse, and Acme Audio's CFC Cryo Silver fuse. I'll likely trial Synergistic's Orange fuse just to check it out.
My suggestion is to try one of Acme Audio Labs' CFC Cryo Silver fuses to just check out fuse rolling. They are cheap enough and to me have enough of an impact that they are a good litmus test.

One person advocating fuses here has > 30% of their system budget tied up in cables. I can’t take this persons views on anything seriously knowing that.

+1 and some!!

cerberus79
A few months ago I purchased a used pair of speakers from another Agon member.
To my surprise all the fuses were Orange fuses. I listened to them and then to satisfy my curiosity I replaced them with ordinary buss fuses and could not hear a difference.
I did this test with a bunch of friends and neither I or them could hear a difference. Kind of just says it all doesn’t it?

To those non technical thinking of purchasing these $$$ fuses. Just save your $150+ and do this instead.

A fuse:
1: two end caps
2: short piece of fuse wire connecting the two end caps through a glass tube (that’s all she wrote).

To those "non technical" members that are interested in "maybe" wasting their money, do not listen to the non-technical, listen to the technicians of this industry that design the audio products you have and listen to. AND YOU WON"T SEE THEM ON THREADS LIKE THIS AGREEING WITH WHAT SAID HERE ABOUT THE SOUND IMPROVMENT DETAILS AND AC FUSE PLACEMENT DIRECTION, EVER!!!
Just clean and tighten your fuse holder and re-new your fuse (if old) with a good quality 50cent Bussman, Littlefuse or similar.As with "many switch-on surges" they do deteriorate, bend, stretch and get crusty with electrolysis formations on their fusible wire elements before they give out, as these pics show of a fuse wire element ageing over time show. https://ibb.co/9NbTwqK (even the $$$ boutique ones will age just as much also)

Cheers George

cerberus79
A few months ago I purchased a used pair of speakers from another Agon member.
To my surprise all the fuses were Orange fuses. I listened to them and then to satisfy my curiosity I replaced them with ordinary buss fuses and could not hear a difference.
I did this test with a bunch of friends and neither I or them could hear a difference. Kind of just says it all doesn't it?

To those non technical thinking of purchasing these $$$ fuses. Just save your $150+ and do this instead.

A fuse:
1: two end caps
2: short piece of fuse wire connecting the two end caps through a glass tube (that’s all she wrote).

To those "non technical" members that are interested in "maybe" wasting their money, do not listen to the non-technical, listen to the technicians of this industry that design the audio products you have and listen to. AND YOU WON"T SEE THEM ON THREADS LIKE THIS AGREEING WITH WHAT SAID HERE ABOUT THE SOUND IMPROVMENT DETAILS AND AC FUSE PLACEMENT DIRECTION, EVER!!!
Just clean and tighten your fuse holder and re-new your fuse (if old) with a good quality 50cent Bussman, Littlefuse or similar.As with "many switch-on surges" they do deteriorate, bend, stretch and get crusty with electrolysis formations on their fusible wire elements before they give out, as these pics show of a fuse wire element ageing over time show. https://ibb.co/9NbTwqK (even the $$$ boutique ones will age just as much also)

Cheers George