Synergistic Red Fuse ...

A Dilema:

Okay, so I have been slogging my way through this thread with interest. I am not a big tweeker, but the praise for upgraded fuses on this thread and elsewhere is so overwhelming, and it is such an affordable tweek, that I am considering it.

However, when I contacted the manufacturer of my preamp for some fuse value details, I got this in return:

"On ‘super’-fuses:

[Manufacturer] de-recommends using aftermarket ‘super-fuses’ whose construction varies from the standard fuse provided by [manufacturer] and their use will void the warranty.

The units are designed for use with a standard fuse and any that varies from the electrical characteristics of a standard fuse may be a risk to the equipment or user, and invalidates the safety certifications of the unit from agencies like U.L. and C.S.A.

In addition, the clearly defined laws of physics would indicate a different fuse cannot possibly (positively) affect the sound of the unit, the fuse design can only have 3 possible outcomes:

1. Allow the unit to operate as designed;

2. Starve it of current or voltage lowering its performance;

3. Raise the amount of current that can pass through the fuse, which would damage the unit if an internal short were to occur (but have NO effect otherwise, as an electrical circuit operating normally will only draw the amount of current the circuit uses, no matter how much might be available)."

When it comes to anything having to do with electricity, I am a scared little bunny. I don’t doubt what you all are hearing with your fuse upgrades, but the email from the manufacturer scared the carp out of me. What do I do? I feel like a bully just threw my baseball into the lake.

I have followed this thread from the beginning, and I am also considering ordering a couple of blacks, based on this thread, so I do not consider myself closed minded.  But I see the logic of bondmanp's manufacturer comments above, and it makes me wonder how any fuse can actually improve the music. It seems that the fuse is not like a cable that has a signal flowing through it, we know that the cable metal conductor & covering can impact the signal?

It just seems a fuse can either allow more or less voltage to pass through, and/or somehow "filter" something bad out of the current passing through.  Is the latter the case here, that the fuse is filtering out something bad from the current?  I have read about the "special" properties of the fuses metal filament.  I have read all the testamonials and am not disagreeing, just wondering what is the source of the improvements.
Thanks,
George

bondmanp:

What Preamp manufacturer are you talking about. I am glad my equipment is not under warranty. I know of no instance of a Synergistic Research fuse failing to blow. In fact they may  blow quicker than the 10 cent fuse.

Twenty one Black fuses in three systems ! I could not be happier. Plus I am no loner afraid to touch my components. I can open the top to a Marantz player faster than a Nascar Pit Crew can change a tire.

I have talked directly with Craig Uthus   of  Eddie Current and Moth amplifiers and he has no problem with me using Synergistic Research fuses.

David Pritchard

    

"Starve it of current or voltage lowering its performance;"

That's the one thing I know of that a fuse might do to affect sound.

To replace or not to replace?  Simple risk versus reward.   YMMV.   If gear is under warranty and maker says no, I would not do it.    For example my Bel Canto amp manual clearly warns against user changing the fuse.   They are not under warranty though so less to loose if something goes wrong.

I can only speak for me.   I am satisfied with any properly functioning fuse of known good quality.    Devices shrouded in mystery by the maker make me nervous, especially when they are there mainly to do a common and simple job, like a fuse.   So many ways to tweak and improve a system otherwise as needed.   

If people want to hate on me or call me a troll for that, so be it.   Its a position rooted mostly in common sense I believe and worth noting.  

Again, I have nothing against those who apply fancy fuses successfully and are happy with the results.   More power to ya'll!

davidpritchard: Since the communication I quoted was private, I redacted the name of the manufacturer, and will stick to doing so. My preamp is out of warranty, so no worries there. The UL/CSA thing kinda freaked me out a bit. However, I am not saying I won’t upgrade the fuse. I was actually ready to go ahead with an upgrade fuse when I got that email. So now I am a bit confused and uncertain. The fear/greed ratio just tipped abit toward the fear side. I guess I am looking for reassurance from Agon members who have done this tweek, as well as assurances from folks who know their way around a circuitboard, unlike me.