Synergistic Red Fuse ...

Hi Gwalt,
Your experience with the SR Red fuses makes sense to me in that these outcomes are all individual in nature with the numerous variables. 
As you  note,  fuses are no different than  comparing cables or any audio products,  results will vary.  In your system another fuse may be an ideal fit.

The Red fuses have been stellar in my system and a wonderful discovery,  so I'm very curious to hear the Black version in my system. The Reds contribute to a full bodied tonality and very fleshed out harmonic overtones and are beautifully 3 dimensional. So for a multitude of factors results will be diverse among listeners. Good luck with your searce.
Charles, 

Search I meant, not  searce. 

Jafreeman

Interesting thoughts.

I suspect the new phase of A/B-ing Red-Black-Red-Black we’re entering will be more problematic than the revelatory first hearing of the Red. I think the vagaries of A/B occur because we tend to overlay what we’re hearing with what we previously heard, so instead of being an insightful measuring device, the brain is singing along, blending memory of sound with what’s being currently experienced. It’s also true that our minds make us conscious of something newly perceived, but can ignore something that fades because memory can fill in what fades. If we’ve been hearing “The girl with colitis goes by”, but the Red reveals the lyric is actually “The girl with kaleidoscope eyes”, then we’re going to hear “kaleidoscope” regardless of whether we go back to old fuse, or forward to the Black. So what we hear is often cumulative, and what is lost is often ameliorated with memory. I think this is why A/B tends towards “can’t tell the difference” when switching back and forth.

In my case, my initial perception was that the Reds were presenting more information through a clearer window, which turned singers into imperfect humans—sometimes struggling, instruments with more of the discordant overtones, and percussion with more “hitting something hard with intent.” I can understand why some systems would portray the effect as “lean” or “cold,” but I think most systems are warmer and more resonant than reality. I really couldn’t go back to the less revealing sound, but I was aware that in choosing the Red, I was choosing a more naked portrayal where I perceived things as sounding authentic, but sometimes less “easy listening.” I found that there was a different pleasure from the realness of the Red portrayal versus the pleasure of pleasant sound such as tube glow or accentuated punch. Naked can be off-putting, but also euphoric :-)

I’ve heard tubes change, but in general, I’m not confident I have the ear to discern burn in, or can attribute changing perception to a physical object, so the initial perception of the Black being “hard” is a cautionary tale for me.

The Synergistic BLACK fuses were installed in the Antelope DAC (uses two) and in the SET Type 45 tube amp. Speakers are Terasonic high efficiency. Since the DAC has a digital volume control, I will leave the system on but no sound from the speakers until critical listening this Saturday. That way I do not listen to any break in changes and  temporary impressions that may cloud my listening.

I may find I like an all BLACK system, a combination of RED and BLACK or an all RED ! 

I plan to have FUN and enjoy listening to the sonic changes.

David Pritchard

David ...

You gave me an idea for tomorrow. I'm going to swap the RED fuse in the phono amp for one of the BLACK fuses in the CD player in the morning. There's still something that's not right with the two BLACK fuses in the CD player. In the meantime, the CD player remains on "repeat" overnight again.

The black fuses show promise, but so far compared with the red fuses, the presentation is boring. What they are doing reminds me of a system I heard years ago. It consisted of stacked Quads and really good tube electronics. The owner was totally into transparency first. Yes, his system was one of the most transparent systems I've yet heard to date. Upon initial listening I was blown away. But ... 30 minutes into the listening session I was thinking of how I could gracefully exit his home. 

I heard another system one time that retailed for over 200k. The owner kept emphasizing how well he "got the rear corners of the stage."  I kept thinking ... yes, but where's the emotional connection to the music? 80 grand for a pair of speakers and another 150 grand for solid state electronics ... to get the rear corners of the sound stage? Not me .. I want to hear Sarah Vaughn's chest and throat. I want to hear the natural tone of a soprano sax. I want to hear the beautiful resonances of a bow being drawn across a cello. I want to be made to hold my breath while the music just flows over me in waves of beauty. 

The black fuses so far are leaning toward audiophile-ism. they ARE improving, but man, this is one hell of a break in period. I'm going to continue working with them just to see if they finally come around to the musicality of the red fuses. It would be wonderful to have the transparency of the black fuses with the musicality of the reds. We'll see.

Charles' last post hit the nail right on the proverbial head.