2. amps-preamps
  3. 1448317474

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
electroslacker
375 posts
 
Galt
Does your VAC have fuse holders that push in on the back?  If so, what does "backwards left to right" mean since it seems like it would depend how you held it?   I'm kind of dense.

Thanks
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
koestner201 posts01-26-2016 9:18amYes, Mitch is right! Why can't SR print the best direction on the fuse? Are they unable to keep them in line during manufacturing? Let's hear from all the users who have an opinion about the correct direction, and tell us what it is.

I think it's on SR site ... direction is how you read the label on the fuse.  
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Mitch wrote,

"Geoff, I have 4, 10A fast-blow fuses in my big amp. I have a better chance of winning powerball than getting all the directions correct at the same time, and there is no f’in way I am going to sit around and try listening to every permutation."

I have some good news for you. The odds are pretty good are 2 of them are already in the right direction. You just have to figure out which ones they are. ;-). In fact statistically the odds aren’t terrible that all 4 are already in the right direction. A lot better than winning Powerball.

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
"Question? If AC changes direction 120 times per second or 60 cycles per second [60hz]... how then can a change in fuse orientation make a difference in sound quality if there is a constant cycle change in the flow of current? Am I missing something here?"

The current doesn't carry the signal.  Even if it did we only care about the direction toward the speakers.  We don't care about the other direction.

oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
Okay ... Thanks for the suggestions, guys. l'll try flipping the fuses tonight. In the meantime, they continue to burn in with the CD player set on "repeat." 

While I'm at it, I want all to know that I'm  not trying to disparage SR in the least here. I think SR has come up with a fantastic product, evidenced by the raves from most here on the RED fuses. All I'm interested in is getting the most musical enjoyment out of my system (and investment). I really WANT these black fuses to succeed. As I've stated in several posts now, they show a lot of promise in various ways. I'm just looking for that same presentation provided by the red fuses ... in spades. 

So far, I have heard exactly what Charles describes in his assessment of the red fuses when I had the reds in the CD player. Not there yet with the blacks. I'm keeping hope alive.

Stay tuned ...
More to discover