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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
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Hi gwalt,  great post,  thankyou,  I  just might get in touch with you about the beeswax fuses,  sadly, I do not see any glass fuses in my  Vincent cd-s7 tube/sold state hybrid digital player,  however,  my modified krell 700cx has 4 1-amp fast blow fuses inside of it, I suppose their may be other types of fuses other than glass? , the digital player has a furutech gtx-rhodium outlet on it with a 3ft.  $5,500.00 taralab's cobalt power cord with oyaida termination's,  the player sounds incredible to me for what it is,  would be nice to play with fuses with it since it is direct connected to the Krell with no preamplifier. 
gwalt
162 posts
 

Ouch Audiolabyrinth with 4 fuses to deal with. I only have 1 Beeswax in my system and it is 4A slow blow but if I had a 1A I would sure let someone try it as it is burned in. I will likely be adding more next to the dac with the one at a time principal. This method takes patience but it is how I like to build my sound with precision.

It is a bummer with the return policy of the Beeswax but all I can say is that it brought everything this thread has mentioned of the Black with the dead backgrounds, staging, extension, resolution, with the exception of having more beauty and weight to the music. The post above from Mapman on the 80/20 rule is dead on and as I said above don't just think there are not other great choices out there. However, because of return policy and number of fuses your faced with a decision based on that. AH does have a return policy and that choice should also be in the mix and you could ask Jerry at AM if with 4 fuses any exception exists?

So far however I am sticking with the Beeswax after allowing sufficient burn in. If it works the same on the next trial component then I will be in more of a comfort zone.

audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,555 posts
 
Hi gwalt, your impressions of the sound of the beeswax fuse sounds like the difference of good tube sound vs some solid state comparison, you said beauty and weight to the sound,  what is your assessment of the sound staging differences between the sr-red's and beeswax fuses? , thankyou. 
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
Of course what we need is a comparison of the Beeswax fuse to the Synergistic Research "BLACK "fuse. Then ideally the effect of multiple Beeswax fuses in one system.

My three systems are now 100% SR "BLACK" fused and each system has over 150+ hours  of playing time. The fuses were installed in stages and with each installation the sound improved. A combination of Black and RED fuses was tried and it was certainly better than stock fuses, but an all "BLACK" fuse system sounded better each time.

The music flows with less perceived effort. Imaging is improved. Soundstage depth  increased with decay of notes being longer in duration. Their is more felt emotion to the music. Solo guitar and voice (both male and female) are more alive and moving.

To those reading this thread- Give your innerself a present. Buy a Synergistic Research BLACK fuse. If you do not like it of do not think it is worth it, send it back. 

You do not even have to "Regift" the fuse to get your money back!

David Pritchard
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
^^^ I agree David. 

I have two more Black fuses to go. One in the phono and one in the amp. Two Red fuses in there now.

The system at this point is FAR in excess of where I thought it could ever be prior to putting in the first SR Red fuse which I chronicled at the beginning of this thread.

I'm so pleased that so many have taken up the challenge and tried the SR fuses. Its fun to share the experience.

After installing the SR power cords, and as they break in, I can really hear what these fuses are capable of. Everything you described above is my experience as well. As far as bass goes, its as though I've added a fine quality sub woofer to the system. 
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