2. amps-preamps
  3. 1448317474

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

Showing 4 responses by mlsstl

mlsstl
1,450 posts
 
It could be the difference in the amp is due to 120 vs. 240 volt options. Most stereo equipment these days is built for use world-wide so it needs to accommodate both voltages. 120 volts with a 3.2 amp fuse will deliver about the same power as 240 volts at 1.6 amps. The board probably reflects the amperage setting for the country where it was designed or manufactured.
mlsstl
1,450 posts
 
>>   As for me, I'll take Chet Baker's trumpet in my face. 

Can't resist commenting -- just think how much better Chet's recordings would have been if they would have had these fuses 50 or 60 years ago when the bulk of his best records were made. Amazing what they were able to accomplish with the plain-vanilla conductor material they were stuck with in those days. 
mlsstl
1,450 posts
 
Just curious, did Decware and PS Audio simply recommend the Synergistic brand in general, or did they specifically suggest you use a larger value fuse than originally chosen for the gear? 

That's how I read ptss's post. The ONLY reason to have a fuse in a piece of electrical equipment in the first place is for safety -- to protect the equipment from more damage than necessary if a component fails, and also for the safety of users. Fire and shock hazards are always a risk if the wrong component in an electrical device fails.
mlsstl
1,450 posts
 
in the spirit of this thread, I thought I should warn people to NOT mark directionality on their fuses. The ink or sticker could confuse the electrons, drawing them off-center. The same is true of handling fuses with your bare fingers -- deposited oils from the skin could cause the same problems!
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