Fuses that matter.


I have tried six different fuses, including some that were claimed to not be directional. I have long used the IsoClean fuses as the best I have heard. No longer! I just got two 10 amp slow-blows WiFi Tuning Supreme fuses that really cost too much but do make a major difference in my sound. I still don't understand how a fuse or its direction can alter sound reproduction for the better, but they do and the Supreme is indeed! I hear more detail in the recordings giving me a more holographic image. I also hear more of the top and bottom ends. If only you could buy them for a couple of bucks each.
tbg
Hi Bryon,

Thanks once again for providing the reference. I applaud HiFi-Tuning for providing these measurements. However, IMO they provide the basis for a good case as to why fuse upgrades shouldn't make a difference, or at least a difference that is necessarily for the better.

In interpreting the data, btw, it should be noted that where the numbers they present that have commas separating groups of digits, the commas represent decimal points. So "24,077 milliohms" means "24.077 milliohms."

Earlier comments by Roger and by me apply to the resistance and voltage drop differences that are shown on the first three pages of the reference. On 4-29-12 I said:
Even if the upgraded fuses reduced those voltage drops and fluctuations to zero (which they won't, of course), would such small differences have any audible significance? I suspect that with some components in some systems at some line voltages there might be a marginally perceptible difference. However even if there were a difference, I don't see any reason to expect that it would be consistently in the direction of being better. Especially given that at many locations these days the AC voltage at the wall outlet is higher than the 120V or thereabouts that the components are presumably voiced at.
On page 3 they state in reference to the resistance measurements that:
There is a measurable difference in directivity of fuses. Mostly that will be due to the way the melting wire is manufactured. The difference is in the range of 5%.
In fact, all or nearly all of the directional differences in resistance were vastly smaller than 5%, with the exception of the "standard glass fuse." However, even in that case, if per my comment and Roger's comments the OVERALL resistance for both directions is insignificant, the DIFFERENCE in resistance between the two orientations will certainly be insignificant.

On page 4, section 3 refers to a table of vector impedance measurements, but that table and those measurements do not appear anywhere.

The remaining section that presents data, section 4 beginning on page 4, opens with a statement that I certainly agree with:
The measurements done so far showed some measurable differences between fuse [sic], but didnĀ“t explain completely the sonic differences between fuses.
It then goes on to present data for thermal noise, and for an increase in thermal noise.

What the "increase" is with respect to is not defined, so that data is useless. And in any event the numbers shown are not large.

The numbers presented for thermal noise measurements are so infinitesimal as to be laughable, being a fraction of a millionth of a volt in nearly all cases, including the standard glass fuse (on a 120 volt waveform no less, or perhaps it is even 240 volts!). A modest length of wire will pick up more noise than that from AM and FM radio signals that are passing through the air. And of course that noise level will be swamped by the noise produced by the parts and circuitry in the components, and the noise that will be present on the incoming AC (even if a power conditioner or regenerator is used). And that is all not to mention that the millionth of a volt of noise will be greatly reduced by filtering and noise rejection that will occur in the power supply and other circuitry of the component.

As I said earlier, I don't exclude the possibility that a fuse change can make a difference, but once again the explanations that are offered in support of the existence of those differences do not withstand quantitative scrutiny.

Best,
-- Al
Bryoncunningham, I think in line with European practic, in this chart comma means period and visa versa. Not unexpectedly there are variations; the real question is are these the differences that impact on the sound.

I now use mainly the HiFi Tuning Supreme, of course, but earlier I had carefully compared the first HiFi Tuning with the IsoClean fuses and preferred the IsoCleans, which are now clearly outperformed by HiFI Tuning Supremes. Maybe were I to take the time, I could identify both the early and Supreme HiFi Tuning fuses to assess whether some of these measures would correspond to what I heard.
Geof from Machina Dynamica asked:

"The data also shows measured differences were due to fuse direction. Hel-loooo! What does your intuition tell you about that data? Lol"

I've already stated that back towards the beginning of this thread. See below.

Tootles?

---

04-27-12: Mapman
Well, there must be an explanation if a difference is heard.

MAybe the fuse line material is not electronically consistent from end to end resulting in non symmetric electrical properties that come into play when direction is switched?

When a fuse blows, the gap can seemingly occur anywhere,wherever the conductor is "weakest", and commonly towards one end or the other so that would be consistent with this theory.
Mapman, if you can predict the direction correctly and it has a sonic difference, it does not matter what it is and is a matter that scientists might resolve were they to care to bother.
Tbg,

WOuld you agree that there are a lot of ifs and maybes still in this discussion?

Back in grad school, where I did in fact study applied science and even conducted some award winning research, we were taught that the scientific method can be used only to measure support for hypotheses. Nothing is ever proven without a shadow of a doubt. That is why I seldom state anything in absolute terms, even if in my mind I think what I say is in fact true.

Best to not jump to conclusions even if you get the facts right, especially when there is only limited scientific data to support such.

Science alone answers little conclusively. We all have to rely on our intuition to help guide the way to some extent.