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
" "Al’s a bit of a fence sitter with things like this. "

My guess is, as an obviously very accomplished, seemingly altruistic, unbiased and knowledgeable EE who loves music and audio, (not to mention a very precise thinker and communicator), Al would rather make decisions that are consistent with the technical facts. So the more facts to base things on the better to help jump off the fence.

Just my gut assessment....

By the way that combination of things is very hard to find. Congrats to Al’s parents!




To sum up: I estimate the manufacturing cost of the fuses to be about 2 to 5 bucks, they're sold for $99 or so, and for my entire system (really the only way to realize your full enjoyment potential) is into $700 to $1000 territory. So much for "cheap" tweaks. If they don't break in by keeping them passing electrons for 170 hours (about a month of lots of hifi), you likely have them in backwards or they're not for you. The fuses work their mojo regardless of the standard fuse holders made from arguably less "special" and likely "non directional" metal…the description of why these do their job so well are obtuse and don't truly make much sense to "thee of lessor faith," and most of the faithful don't care since their systems were booted into the higher level "free flowing water" these fuses allow…notwithstanding the power supply, less precious metals and wires, and other gizmo designs causing some rapids downstream, and the ridiculous profit margins realized by a company that actually sells expensive painted aluminum bits for tonearms is the American Way. You go SR…please.
Jafreeman wrote,

"I have seven SR reds in my system that were placed in three phases, each of which sounded so right, I have not felt a need to flip them. I would discount directionality on the reds in favor of a long break in period."

That's nice.  I actually don't blame you for ignoring the directionality issue. Sounding right is relative. Most audiophiles probably think their systems just sound right.  You don't actually see too many audiophiles saying, gosh, my system really sucks.

Jeeze Wolf.....congrats, only 1,000+ posts on this thread and you are already catching on. 
Yes, just buy them and try if interested. Return within 30 days if not floating your boat.

Is that the end of the thread maybe? What else really matters that has not been covered?

I guess we’ll find out. :^)

Maybe once we solve this problem we can all then move on to world peace.

Wolf, 8000000 volt burn in of a 500V rated fuse doesn’t come cheap. Imagine the electricity bill alone. Not to mention hazard insurance for the folks actually in charge.   Do they have that in China?

Namaste!