Synergistic Red Fuse ...

Discussion of the use of circuit breakers in audio components can be found in the following threads.  The bottom line would seem to be that it may be suitable and beneficial to use some breakers in some applications but not in others, with breaking time being one of several significant considerations:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/anyone-replaced-fuse-with-circuit-breaker

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/by-pass-fuse-and-add-a-circuit-breaker

Also, use of a circuit breaker in a DC rail application may be problematical in many cases in terms of where it is located and how it is wired to, with the possibility of noise coupling to or from that wiring having to be addressed.  

Finally, I would imagine that in many cases a factor is that designers tend to go with approaches they have used previously, and are familiar with, and do not require significant time for evaluation and experimentation in return for sonic benefits that may or may not occur.

Regards,
-- Al
 

Al,
Thanks for providing the links, I'll read them later today.  I realize that there is a pro and con argument that can be made for virtually any choice made regarding audio products.  It'd be interesting to know what factors cause Nelson Pass to avoid fuses and utilize circuit breakers.
Charles 

That would be interesting. Tried google search and came up empty.

One benefit would be anything done differently is a unique feature and helps differentiate one product or product line from another.

Also I’m sure not all breakers are created equal just like fuses however I would expect a good quality breaker circuit to be inherently more costly to implement than most fuses.

Charles, I don’t know why many builders don’t use film caps in the power supply? Why they don’t use better internal wiring? Why they use such long signal paths? Why they don’t use breakers? Why many builders think one part sounds the same as another as long as both are in spec and think boutique capacitors/resistors and the like are snake oil? Why do we still use conventional binding posts instead of clamps that clamp the output wires to the speaker cable? Many more audio questions I wonder about in terms of tube gear design.

I think some builders do what they know over and over and really don’t innovate in ways that challenge their comfort zone and conventional wisdom. I am confident this is at play. Some builders do push their comfort zone and are open minded and intentionally curious. Intentional curiosity and openness to outside ideas is indeed in short supply based on my business experience. 

My ears know breakers sound better than fuses all else being equal. I am speaking about AC mains voltage here. 

Yes, I'm sure there's a quality hierarchy among circuit breakers as exist with fuses, resistors, capacitors, tubes, cables etc. Nelson Pass could offer a compelling reason for circuit breakers. On the other hand some of the finest sounding components use fuses. Obviously many factors determine the end result of a component's sonic performance.
Charles