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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Oregonpapa, 
I have to say I'm not completely surprised that your CD player responded the way  it did with the SR Red fuses. It would  make sense that the effects of a source component (upstream as it is would be ) has potential  for much positive impact.  I eagerly look forward to putting the Red fuse into my DAC  given the very positive results with my amplifier and Line Stage. As you clearly note,the performance to cost ratio of these fuses is quite impressive  As I've said before, these fuses provide  more  actual sonic improvement than a number of interconnect and power cables I've heard  in my system. To be clear,  the cables  made a difference but to a lesser extent relative to the Red fuse. I'm very curious to hear the resulting impact of the Afterburner  8 wall AC  outlet with the Oyaide WPC-Zealand cover.
Charles, 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Before I forget, be sure and try reversing the direction of interconnects to see if the sound improves.  Better safe than sorry. I won't even get into why all wire and cables are installed with correct direction in mind. Transformers, the whole nine yards!

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Ooops, I meant to write, "...why all wire and cables are not installed with correct direction in mind."
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Oregonpapa,  I enjoyed reading your feedback on the sr-red's,  very well said, I enjoy excitement in audio, these days is difficult to come by at this cost point. 
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
While the fuses were most impressive in the line stage and amp, they were less impressive in the phono stage. The phono was a marked improvement mind you, but he amp & preamp was more significant. The best improvement was at the CD player. It may have been because the CD player required two fuses. 

Now I'm thinking about what geoffkait said and will try reversing the position of the fuse in the phono amp tonight.  Stay tuned ...

Charles ...

When you get your outlet and cover, would you please do an A/B comparison with the cover plate off ... and then on?  Reason I ask is because I never replaced the cover plate after installing the Oyaide outlet. Thanks ...
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