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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
t_ramey
633 posts
 
@lowrider57

To me the Blacks offer a more natural almost softer sound but because of a lower noise floor there’s more detail. The biggest difference in my system from Red to Black is the level of realism the Black brings with a deep and wide soundstage. When it kicks in you’ll know right away. 

cymbop
315 posts
 
Pair of Blacks are on the way for my PerfectWave II DAC/pre.   You guys are killing me.  I hate you.    :-)

Having never upgraded a fuse from stock, guess for me on this:  ought a black sound better than stock, right out of the box?  Also, ought a black in the "wrong" direction sound better than stock?

Time shall tell!


knghifi
1,668 posts
 
Pair of Blacks are on the way for my PerfectWave II DAC/pre.   You guys are killing me.  I hate you.    :-)

Having never upgraded a fuse from stock, guess for me on this:  ought a black sound better than stock, right out of the box?  Also, ought a black in the "wrong" direction sound better than stock?

Time shall tell!


Rear to front is the correct fuse installation direction.
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
cymbop ...

The SR Black will sound way better right out of the box over the stock fuse. What you will notice is a hard edge to things, especially strings. You may not like the initial effect ... but just hang in there, be patient, and at around 70 hours, you will be rewarded with musicality and a sound stage that you didn't think possible in your system. 
wolf_garcia
6,735 posts
 
Aren't fuse holders made from less exotic materials that can mitigate the benefits these fuses? The tiny bit of treated metal that comprises the alleged mojo of SR and other "fuse-exotica" runs right into less exotic wire also…this is a huge part of my head scratching about these fuses, as well as my wondering how much improvement they actually provide when reading claims that seem over the top even for this crowd. I don't own any of these fuses since they seem ridiculously over priced (they should cost about $1.83…maybe), and I'm not convinced they can really do anything "special" in spite of the unbridled enthusiasm…it simply looks like a cult of appreciation from those who spent the bucks and really really want to hear the mojo. 
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