Determining current flow to install "audiophile" fuses.

Mapman wrote,

"Expectation bias expectation bias is no doubt a factor. I did the audiophile fuse thing recently with a synergistic red fuse in my arc sp 16 recently using a fuse given to me to try. I thought I heard some difference with that versus stock fuse at first but could not be certain after repeated tries. Reversing directions did nothing. I wanted to hear something but did not feel compelled to having been given the fuse."

Your lack of success with the Red fuse and with fuse directionality is duly noted.

Mitch wrote,

"I don't do it myself because I don't hear a discernable difference between fuses, but I am open to trying to understand, just not so open to BS."

Your inability to discern differences between fuses and presumably to discern differences in fuse direction is duly noted.  

Mapman wrote,

"I'm sure anyone selling high profit fuses is all for them."

Psychiatrist:  How much is a loaf of bread?
Rainman: It's about a dollar.
Psychiatrist: How much is a car?
Rainman: It's about a dollar.

Why, it's as if just bringing up the subject of controlled blind testing is supposed to scare the fuse affectionados into submission.

Don't be scared Geoff, defender of all things unexplainable.  This fuse issue has been discussed ad nauseam.   We have heard the science, and how the delta in the resistance offered by different fuses, or by changing the fuse direction, is miniscule, and likely less than the difference of increasing the length of your speaker cables by one inch, for example.  We have heard from respected equipment designers, and others, whose dissenting opinions have been disavowed.  Mostly, we have heard about the profound sonic improvement these aftermarket/boutique fuses offer to those who have replaced the previous version of such fuses with the latest version, or to those who have replaced stock fuses (aghast!) with "audiophile approved" fuses.  More power to them.  

If someone hears a profound improvement in their system for a cost of "only" $120....or $174, then great.  My current system has 10 fuses, so I could easily spend between $1-2K replacing fuses and I would hope to hear a significant improvement for that money.  I just purchased new amplifiers and if I switched back to my previous amplifier, I could tell you every time which amplifier is in the system, blindfolded or not.  Why should a simple test to determine the reliability of sonic differences between fuses be so scary?  Why wouldn't those spending over $100 per fuse want to know if they are really hearing a difference? Is the emperor not wearing clothes?

Mitch wrote,

"If someone hears an improvement in their system for a cost of "only" $120....or $174, then great. My current system has 10 fuses, so I could easily spend between $1-2K replacing fuses and I would hope to hear a significant improvement for that money."

I have some good news for you. You can obtain a reasonably big improvement for nothing. Gee, how can I do that?, you ask. Easy, just reverse each of your stock fuses one at a time. You may have to wait a period of time between each audition depending on how long it takes your system to warm up.  I recommend not trying auditions with a cold system. Listen after each time you reverse a fuse to see if the sound improves or gets worse. When the fuse is in the correct direction the sound will be noticeably more open, natural sounding and coherent. If the fuse is in the wrong direction the sound will be relatively harsh and thin sounding and less realistic. After you have done that for all 10 fuses you will have considerably better sound than you started out with. You have my guarantee. Go on the assumption that 5 of the 10 fuses are in the wrong direction, but it could be a little more or a little less. If you can’t tell if the sound improves or gets worse for a particular fuse leave it as is and proceed to the next fuse. After you have auditioned all ten fuses you can repeat the process to see if you might have guessed wrong on a fuse or two. This whole exercise should be especially revealing since you have 10 fuses,

geoff at Machina Dynamica