Upgrading Fuses

10-12-11: Jeff_jones
"There is a neat thread somewhere on this site that asks folks about their personal limits of acceptance for what is 'obvious' snake oil and what is worth consideration."

To me, this is the crux of the debate. When someone's limit is above or below their own some people simply cannot deal with that.
George Carlin had a bit like this about driving (apologies in advance for butchering):
When you come up on someone who is driving slower than you, you say, "C'mon A-hole, move it! That guy's an A-hole!!"
When someone passes you, you say, "Look at that mainiac! That guy's a maniac!!"

Jeff, thanks for sparing me all the typing to basically reiterate our mutual opinions, though you presented it more eloquently than I could, or would’ve.

I’m afraid I really don’t have anything more to submit to this debate that hasn’t been expressed many times over by now, or in previous controversial topics heavily debated over the years where moderators ended up pulling the plug.

These debates continue year after year, but the reality is, neither “hardened” camp really ever sways or converts, but that’s okay, too, just like so many other things in life.

On that note, my friend, I’ll leave you to it.

Sebrof, Lacee... Pleasure!

When you upgrade fuses on an amplifier in addition to changing the fuses on each channel is the fuse next to the power cord changed as well? The reason I ask is I'm potentially looking at $200 to $275 expenditure depending on the fuses I choose on an amp I paid a total of $800 for. I still keep wondering if diminishing returns will be kicking in. Thanks

Jedinite24,
I have been advised that the fuse next to the power cord is the only one you should change at first. If you hear improvements, only then you should proceed with changing the other fuses. I will do this sometimes in Jan, since I have much more higher priorities now.

I am lucky, I only had single fuse per component to change, but I would tend to agree that the fuse nearest the power cord would be the place to start, and perhaps that's as far as you need to go if you are pleased with the results.

Personally spending 200 dollars on gear worth 800 doesn't seem right to me,but if you feel the need then why should my opinions matter?

You see it doesn't bother me one way or the other how you spend your money.

No one has the right to say you shouldn't or that it is foolish.

But, spending money on things you have never heard is something that I think needs some thought.

Buying anything unheard has a 50/50 chance of you liking it or not.
That's why there's stuff on Gon.

So, unless you have some experience about what certain things like fuses or power cords or conditioners or dedicted lines can do to the sound of the music you listen to, then you are buying on faith, and relying on all of "us" and the advertising industry and are easy prey to the snake oil salesman.

I really can't say when the last time I was bitten by a snake oil salesman.

I usually do my homework and "listen with MY ears" before I decide to break out the wallet.

I would think this is the norm with most normal people ,hence no need for the evangelists to save our souls.

And yes to be able to discerne differences, good and bad or indifferent, is something that has to be learned.
Some have learned how and others have not, and so the need for measurements to soothe their insecurities in whatever white paper mumbo jumbo floats your boat.

It always helps if there is a fellow in a white lab coat or EEG attached somewhere.

I also feel that the specs of most gear made today(not vintage-sorry to say)are quite good and you might not see very much measured differences from one amp to the next for example.

And yet, people can and do buy one amp over the other and continue to do so, over and over.Look at the amp ads on Gon.
Now tell me, that all those amps for sale are bought and sold because of how they measure on paper or because of how they "sound"?

To belittle anyone's hearing ability is as bad as saying you must have golden ears.
Yet I know of many normal people not in this hobby, who can tell the differences between a tube amp and a solid state amp.

And despite what someone has said about musicians, the real one's are not tone deaf.

They futz about with transfomers, different raw speaker drivers and tubes, all in search of the "sound" that they want to get.
Why are modelling amps(they sample the tones of several makes and types of amps) so popular if musicians are unable to differentiate tonal differences?
It's the very essence of a modelling amp.
Sorry,that's one for the musicians, and a strike against the ears not being significant to a musician.
A musician's stuggle to find the right sound be it a violinist or a rocker is pretty much out there for all to read about,most guitarists have several amps and guitars and prize each one for it's own unique sound.
Are his ears being fooled?
He would laugh at that.

The only fellow who would settle for a cheap solid state guitar amp over a vintage tubed Fender reverb is the guy without the cash to buy the Fender amp.

And so to for the audiophiles who turn down their noses to the folks who can afford the stuff they can't,if they could they would.