FUSES??? Just when I just replaced all my PC cords.

Kenny928 wrote,

"I understand what you are saying David, but what annoys me is when they use terminologies such as "Quantum Tunneling" which is a quantum mechanics phenomenon, something I am familiar with and why they chose a term if it has nothing to do with their claimed process annoys me to no end."

Manufacturers sometimes choose terminology for their products that they hope will get a rise out of people and garner attention. It’s the nature of the business. With so much competition these days manufacturers are sometimes obliged to try to make their products stand out from the crowd. It’s called artistic license. Or marketing. What would you prefer they call their technique, Proton Tickling? This could be just a case of people being afraid that anything audio related with the word quantum in it must be some sort of con job. It wouldn’t be the first time.

geoff kait
machina dynamica
we do artificial atoms right

There is a difference between exaggerating and lying and it applies even to marketing.

Kenny928... "The issue there is why in the heck did the manufacturer not go with quality parts to begin with? A 5K and above amp or audio equipment with substandard fuses and power cords???"

Merrill Audio does just that . They supply quality fuses and power cords with their Veritas mono block amps. Merrilll would have it no other way.

Kenny928..."Explain that one to me! "

Every audio company has different profit margins and after market parts would kill their bottom line... would be my best guess... while other audio companys put the customer and company name first.

If its a good product and has good sound, chances are they made very educated decisions about the fuse just like everything else that goes into the design. Why did they not use a fuse that costs the end buyer $100 and the seller likely a small fraction of that? Don’t know but they didn’t apparently. I’m sure it was a sound engineering decision and no prejudice against any particular kind of fancy fuse.

BTW the stock fuse in my ARC pre-amp is not your run of the mill 50 cent fuse you might have found at Radio Shack (not that there is anything wrong with that). I replaced the stock ARC fuse with a Synergistic Red Fuse (given to me to try) and have not heard any significant difference for example.

mapman:
Ralph of Atmosphere amplifiers has said in another thread that he has had customer feed back from many Atmosphere users that this or that fuse improved the sound of amps. But he does not supply an upgraded fuse with his amps. I can not find a post where he states which fuse to the ears of his customers sounds the best.

The amplifier builders I have talked with are not interested in evaluating fuses , power cords, expensive capacitors such as Dueland, or any tubes (except run of the mill Chinese or Russian). They leave those decisions to the minority who are really looking to maximize their systems.

Kenny 928:

I do hope you will try a state of the art fuse such as the Synergistic Research Black and an audio grade A/C wall outlet. By picking a company with a good 30 day return policy, I have found it to be a fun experiment. It seems like it is an all win situation. If you buy the fuse, like the sonic change, and think the sound improvement is worth the cost -you keep the fuse.

If you try the fuse and are not happy for ANY reason you send it back. You then have the satisfaction of relying on your own priorities in what is good sound and what is worth buying and not some reviewer.

Unlike auditioning amplifiers or speakers, no worries about shipping damage or expensive shipping costs. Returning a fuse is $6.80 USPS flat rate box priority shipping with tracking and insurance. They can be returned via regular mail even cheaper.

I do hope everyone reading will enjoy a beautiful Mother's Day this weekend. I will be fortunate to be with my mom in person and get to listen to her beautiful music system that uses an Antelope DAC, Type 45 SET tube amp, and Terasonic speakers.

And yes she uses Black fuses in her system. After all, your Mother really does know best.

David Pritchard