Synergistic Red Fuse ...

Oregonpapa, 

I had an ARC HD220, and replaced it with an ARC DS450. 

Yes, I no longer have fuse protection in my Maggies--I have been more interested in better sound, so went with the better fuses, then the bigger fuses, thinking bigger is better sounding yet.  I will be moving from SR Reds to blacks in my Maggies--will probably push the values as I have done before--unless someone can talk me out of this.  

geoffkait ...

You make an excellent point regarding  break in time. I can tell from listening session to listening session what's going on, but do I really hear things accurately? Has it improved overnight ... or not? Or, has the change actually moved things backwards a bit? 

I've mentioned my audio buddy Robert a few times in this thread. While I listen to the system early every morning or each evening, Robert only comes over maybe once or twice a week. I trust Robert's ears ... and believe me, he can hear. If something is off-putting about the sound, he pulls no punches pointing it out.  I don't call him Mister Cynic for no reason. I can say unequivocally that recorded music and audio is the main thrust in Robert's life. He knows more about recorded music than anyone I know. He's a good person to have as a friend if you're a dedicated audiophile and music lover like most of us who post here. 

When I got the first SR Red fuse it had been burned in for a week before Robert heard the result. He was as pleased with the results as I was.  When I put the SR Black fuses in the CD player, Robert heard that change after burning in for only 24 hours. His reaction was to tell me to return the Blacks and get the Reds back into the system. 

Okay, now fast forward to the next time Robert came over ... about seven days later. He was blown away by the improvements afforded by the Black fuses, now a lot further down the break in path. You can read his comments further up the thread.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is ... if we listen ourselves, we are hearing very small increments of improvement. But when someone knowledgeable  goes from one week to another week without hearing the incremental break in improvements, what they hear is one HUGE improvement. That's always been a good gauge for me. 

Take care ...

I can tell from listening session to listening session what’s going on, but do I really hear things accurately? Has it improved overnight ... or not? Or, has the change actually moved things backwards a bit?

Not only that but can one be sure a change heard over the time is a change in the fuse? There is a tendancy to attribute a change over time to the last thing changed but certainly there is no rule that says that is necessarily the case. I hear differences day to day with no changes at all to my gear. Is it me? The gear? The weather? The power? All the above? Who knows.

Whatever its fun trying to figure these things out I guess.

OP my ARC sp16 pre-amp uses a 3 amp slo-blo fuse, apparently same as your ARC. I appreciate the offer but hold onto your red fuse. Fuses can blow (that’s what fuses do) and its always good to have a spare fuse. Offer much appreciated though.

I have a few significant enhancement projects already going on currently with my stuff. I’m refoaming some old Boston A40 series II speakers I have sitting around and working on getting digital USB feed from my Iphone 6s and tablet to my mhdt Constantine DAC. If I had more time to dabble I would probably take you up. Thanks again for the nice offer and gesture.

I’ve been thinking, my Hegel H30 uses a 15 amp slo-blo so theoretically if on a 15 amp outlet, the breaker will trip and don’t need a fuse ... just hard wired it. But since it’s on a 20 amp line, MAYBE not a good idea. I’m just speculating and not bypassing the fuse.

I think you’re right to not count on the 20 amp breaker providing protection comparable to a 15 amp fuse, Kng, and I would say the same thing even if the breaker and outlet you are using were rated at 15 amps. A circuit breaker will generally take MUCH longer to trip than a slow blow fuse, at least in situations in which the overload is not extremely great.

Regards,
-- Al