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
I have had "designer" fuses in my equipment for many years, starting with HiFi Tuning Supreme fuses in my Primaluna tube monos. I ultimately ditched the HiFi Tuning for the SR Reds in my amps and never looked back. Reds also went into my Bel Canto DAC/Pre and my Bryston BDP-2. The results were stunning, especially in the BDP-2 which, in my system, had a kind of range-y bass (ethereal--and not in a good way). In January I was able to upgrade the Reds in the Bryston to Blacks within the 30 day trial period--just lucky since I didn't know the Blacks were coming out. Today I received a Black to swap tor the Red in The Bel Canto. This is already making great sound, though my own experience tells me that they will come in and out of focus and tonal balance for at least 150 hours.

Everything the Reds do the Blacks simply do better. As enumerated by many others on this thread, the Blacks produce an even lower noise floor, better delineated images within the soundstage, better 3-D dimensionality, better defined and more extended bass and, something not often mentioned but very apparent to me, is that instrumental textures are so much better resolved. Particularly bowed-bass and other strings, reeds, horns, male and female vocals, even Hammond B-3.

I have really enjoyed following this thread... 
benzman

"If you Buy the new black PC you receive a SR Black fuse for free.Same for the Red. Nice Deal."


SR sure knows how to up the ante. If I was not happy with the power cords I already own, I sure would be tempted...

Can changing fuses have an effect on warranties?  Sorry if this was mentioned already. Thread's kinda long to search.
Always check with manufacturer! My equipment is not under warranty so I do not worry about that possible issue . Having said that, If I screw up my equipment- I am the one to pay the bill. I believe that the Synergistic Research fuses are safer than the 10 cent fuses. My systems now have a total of 22 SR-Black fuses.

David Pritchard
OMG!

The SR black fuses (2) just went in the kit cold from the post box, about 30 minutes warm up, and I que up the first record, Susanne Vega Close-up vol.1. Between the fingering of the guitar, the bass line, and her breathy voice all are more vivid (than with the stock rat shack fuses), no question.

She may present a bit raspy and not quite as ethereal, or liquid, the performance at times may sound a tad confused, which should resolve over time. Now I haven't tried flipping the fuse orientation yet though, so we'll see about that. I look forward to these, very much, after adequate burn-in time.

Fortunately my preamp and phonostage are hybrids and though the signal path is tube driven, the power supplies are SS and basically never get turned off, so the fuses will see current without a need to run the tubes (or my ears) for their entire break-in period.

Does this sound about right on first blush gentlemen?