Synergistic Red Fuse ...

David

I have learned a lot, and my system has improved a lot as a result of this thread. The black fuses, the grounding block, and now the black outlet.

My sincerest thanks to you for your role in this process. Oregonpapa has also made a compelling case for the HFT 2.0

Every time I spin a CD I marvel at the improved musicality wrought by the fuses and grounding block. My CD collection is now in reality a priceless
treasure.

^^^  " My CD collection is now in reality a priceless
treasure. "

Yes, I've had the same experience with my digital playback. I only use redbook CD's with the all tube ARC CD7se as my source.  

Before I got into the SR fuses CD's were played mostly as a convenience. Oh, they sounded good, but the vinyl rig was used for all critical listening. It was far and away better than digital in my system. While this is still true, that vinyl still sounds better than my digital, the system has been brought up to such a high level that I can't stop listening to the CD collection. Vinyl records are the bomb!  But ... I can save my cartridge for special listening sessions with friends and still be totally immersed emotionally in musical bliss with digital. 

With subsequent improvements made over the past year in fuses, cables and room treatments, the sound has become uncannily real. The latest experiment came the other night when my friend Robert (Mr. Record) came over for a listening session. He's been after me to remove the large glass coffee table (see my system) from in front of the listening chair. Well, we removed it ... and boy, oh boy ... things just locked more into place. Talk about solid bass!  

Now, without the glass table in place, the room looks like crapolla ... but there is no wife to please. I'll have to figure something out. I'm convinced, the table has to go. 

OP

I've been CD-only since I sold all my LPs and my beloved Simon Yorke S-9 Record Player (serial no. 005) back in 2007. A few years ago I started burning my CDs to an externally powered hard drive in AIFF format using iTunes on a Mac Book Pro so I didn't have to mess with the discs themselves (great for parties too with playlists and iPad control). Connections started with wireless to an Airport Express to my DAC on TOSlink. I got better sound  by hard-wiring using USB and better sound still by converting USB to SPDIF via BNC and currently via ST glass fiber. I added Amarra HiFi to iTunes as the decoding engine to great effect and added a multi-rail linear power supply for the computer, the drive and piggy-backed Uptone Audio Regen hubs. Along the way I picked up a Bryston BDP-2 music player as a parallel source and got still closer to analog nirvana (with amazing help from two SR Black fuses). There is a huge amount of musical information on a well recorded and mastered plain ol' Redbook CD and breakthroughs in playback technology just keep coming.

Nyame:

In your last post you mentioned what has become for me the foundation on which to build a music system that is emotionally engaging and satisfying.
That foundation is Black fuses, Black A/C outlets, and the Synergistic Research Grounding Block.

My systems have become so much more enjoyable since I began using these devices. There is so much great music to enjoy when you have reduced the digital glare.

Oregonpapa:
Yes the table has to stay out of the path of the music. I tried very hard to put a small antique table in front of the listening chair. It looks great there but sounds bad there. It was a worse experience than watching a Broadway play behind the 80 year old lady with the three foot hat. 

jib222:

Congratulations on installing the fuse, allowing it time to break in, and then trying it in both directions. Many audio users would not have persevered and thus would have missed out on improving their system.

David Pritchard

David:

To your list, I would definitely add the SR HFTs and FEQ and/or Atmosphere. At over 100 hours in, the SR Black outlets continue to evolve for the better. Renders truly stunning music...