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What's going on with Synergistic Research fuses?

I live in California and a couple of weeks ago we had strange lightning storms that started the many fires burning in the State.  It also fried the fuse in my Pass XA30.5.  I got the amp second hand and it came with a SR Blue fuse.  I called Pass and they recommended a very cheap fuse which I ordered and installed.  Because I was curious, I took the SR sticker off the old burnt out fuse and found that it was a very cheap SIBA brand fuse underneath.  It is clear that SR is either not making the ceramic casing for this fuse or using the SIBA fuse and then doing stuff to it.  At the very worst, it's just slapping a sticker on it and charging a ton more

The thing is, I'm pretty sure I could hear a difference for the worse when I installed the cheap glass fuse post lightning storm.  Could it be that SR is modifying an existing fuse to make it sound better?  Maybe some more technically minded folks here on the forum could help me understand

thanks!
adam8179
snackeyp's avatar
snackeyp
455 posts
 
Some component manufacturers will void your warranty if you use a non-stock fuse in their gear.  I was considering a fuse upgrade for my LFD amp until I learned that they void the warranty if you do it.  Not sure if it's that big of a deal but something to consider.  
fleschler
2,008 posts
 

@atmasphere I suspect that based on what I read concerning the EAR 864 preamp, that it has an unregulated power supply.  The result of replacing a Bussman glass fuse with an SR Blue fuse was fundamental and sensational.  I was ready to dump this 17 year old back-up pre-amp which sounded like it had no depth, forward sounding and weird brightness with many but not all recordings turned out to be totally the fault of the cheap fuse.  I had it plugged into high end power cable, Stillpoint Ultra SS footers, Mullard 4004 & RCA cleartop 12AU7.  The SR Blue fuse transformed it into a rival for the EAR 912 (I haven't done the shoot out yet).  The phono is a perfect match for the Dynavector 20X2 L and the line stage made digital recordings sound analog.  This is going through an EAR 890 amp with an SR purple fuse (even with the 890's glass fuse, it sounded very analog-like).  

the-audiophile-barista
32 posts
 

@ cakyol

I am curious. What is it, you think, a blind test demonstrates?

I am asking because most people are wrong about this.

allanblissett
146 posts
 

Well I won’t touch the fuse debate, although I do use HiFi Tuning fuses and some other cheaper Chinese ones, just for the hell of it.

Here however is my solution to lightening and those fast on and off brown outs we get here in Florida, the lightening capital.

A full house surge protector installed by the power company in the meter. Yes there is a monthly fee, but consider it a music subscription.

All systems plugged into a BrickWall surge protector, they also reduced EMI a lot.

Then after all this, I found that the quick off and on brown outs were messing with the microprocessors in my units, like the preamp and processor.

So I found this little bugger that solved that problem, a portable GFI that shuts everything off once it looses power. It trips so fast nothing gets back through.I know you all may think it’s not audiophile quality, but I have never had any audiophile grade outlet with a tighter grip. The first time I tried to remove the plug from it, I thought it was locked in there somehow.

It works great and I hear no negative effects. It’s made by Yellow Jacket,I got it off Amazon, there is a yellow one and a black which I have. I would post a picture but that seems too difficult on this site.It’s just one more layer of protection that makes me feel comfortable leaving the house with all my expensive stuff plugged in knowing that the only thing to worry about is a direct lightning hit, which nothing can save you from.

 

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