Hello again, Guys ...
Good news! After leaving the CD player on repeat 24/7 for several days the two black fuses in the player have finally broken in. Here's what I'm experiencing:
The "pinched" and non-musical artifacts of the unbroken in black fuses are completely gone. What is left is a totally new experience in transparency, focus, air, tonality and realism. The RED fuses, as good as they are, are now relegated to the toy box.
How does one describe the sound of "nothing?"
In a word ... the red fuses are veiled in comparison to the blacks. Hearing these broken-in black fuses over the red fuses is like hearing a fully broken-in red fuse over a stock fuse. Its that significant. No bull. I could have never imagined that such realism could be attained in one's living room from red book CD's.
Both Charles and I have written about the "layering" effect of the red fuses that is so attractive. Well, forget about "layering." I'm now convinced that that "layering" effect is some sort of distortion, even though its quite remarkable in its own right and fun to listen to. With the black fuses, the effect isn't so much the perception of "layering," but more like each instrument/musician has an actual place in the room.
I've heard transparency from the black fuses from the get-go, but when things snapped to and really became focused during last night's listening session that transparency was drastically improved ... along with even more musicality and emotional impact than was experienced with the red fuses.
Charles ... you are going to love these black fuses. Just wait until you hear Monk!
Call me a nut case (and I'm sure wolf-garcia will *lol*) but during last night's session I was so taken by the music that I actually got up and started dancing between the speakers. It was just me and the band in the room. Good grief! I couldn't stop smiling. Head bobbing and toe tapping. The music was back!
I know many of you have the Clapton Unplugged CD. Well, Eric Clapton was in my living room last night. I've always enjoyed that CD ... but this was live, I tells ya ... LIVE!
Here's the bottom line. Get the SR Black fuses if you want to really hear what your system can do. Keep in mind though ... you have a significant break-in period ahead of you. During the break in period, you most likely will not enjoy your system, preferring to watch the news instead. If you have the patients though, you 'll be in a position to enjoy your system as never before. In other words, don't expect anything until at least the 70 hour mark.
Thanks go out to the folks at Synergetic Research for a stellar product and to highend-electronics for their stellar service. Betty and Alfred ... you folks are the best!
Robert, my fellow local audiophile, also known in these parts as "Mister Golden Ears," will be coming over tonight for a listening session. He's going to be blown away. Stay tuned ... I'll give another report tomorrow.
Happy listening guys ...