Synergistic Red Fuse ...

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.

... 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).

All of the quantitative specifications I have seen in my examinations of technical datasheets for garden variety fast blow and slow blow fuses support the conclusion that for the kinds of fuse ratings that are used in audio components the voltage losses and current limiting that may be introduced by the resistance of garden variety fuses are so low as to be negligible, and to leave little or no room for improvement. And even if that were not so, at least in the case of mains fuses any such losses would be completely swamped by differences in AC voltage among various locations, and probably even among different outlets at the same location. And it seems safe to assume that the limiting effects of whatever infinitesimal amount of inductance a fuse may have on abrupt changes in demand for current would also be negligible.

As someone who knows his way around a circuit board, to use your words, I have no idea how these fuses may work their magic, although I remain open-minded given the overwhelmingly positive results that have been reported by members I consider to be particularly credible.

Best regards,
-- Al

Bondmanp,
As David pointed out,  there certainly are manufacturers who recommend and  encourage using premium fuses. I've had no equipment issues with upgraded fuses ever and suspect that is true for the overwhelming majority of happy users. Do only what your comfort level allows. I can only say that the SR Black fuses are an  extraordinary value. I really don't care about how they do it,  just that they do 😊
Charles,