Synergistic Red Fuse ...


I installed a SR RED Quantum fuse in my ARC REF-3 preamp a few days ago, replacing an older high end fuse. Uhh ... for a hundred bucks, this little baby is well worth the cost. There was an immediate improvement upon installation, but now that its broken in (yes, no kidding), its quite remarkable. A tightening of the focus, a more solid image, and most important of all for my tastes, a deeper appreciation for the organic sound of the instruments. Damn! ... cellos sound great! Much improved attack on pianos. More humanistic on vocals. Bowed bass goes down forever. Next move? .... I'm doing the entire system with these fuses. One at a time though just to gauge the improvement in each piece of equipment. The REF-75se comes next. I'll report the results as the progression takes place. Stay tuned ...

Any comments from anyone else who has tried these fuses?
128x128oregonpapa
Jafreeman ...

I'm listening to a LOT more cello music than ever before, how about you? Lord, the beauty of that instrument comes through now with such reality, and brings forth so much emotion, I can only imagine what it would sound like on your big Maggies driven by those Mono ARC amps. 

On Wolfie's system ... I suspect that he's more into PA systems than music systems. I too, would love to see pictures of his system, his room and the entire setup. Will Wolfie take the challenge?  Probably not. 

OP
OP, you are so right on the increased depth and definition of low strings, any strings.  I must play more classical.  There are some tweaks that you just get such a kick out of--because they are cheap, or you dreamed it up and did it yourself and it all brings such added value to the gear we may have wanted to replace.  The SR fuses are an exceptional value--I'm glad I have followed along to go from the Reds to the Blacks.  Whatever is next--I would do it again. 
^^^

Joe ... If you send me your personal email, I have something for you. Send it to: oregonpapa@aol.com

Thanks ...

Frank
wolf-garcia   07-27-16

"I DID test the SR black fuses in my system and wrote about it here [posted on 7-13], finding that they delivered nothing to the sound of my system. This test was a monumental waste of time"

The effects of the Synergistic Research black fuses may be non-existent, subtle or profound. It simple depends on what system factors you have addressed, and to what degree your system is performing. Genuine audiophiles who have addressed issues of power conditioning, high quality cabling, tuned acoustics and isolation of mechanical resonance of components have no difficulties in hearing the benefits.

IF YOU DO NOT HEAR THE BENEFITS [OF THE BLACK FUSES] YOUR SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING OPTIMALLY.

Of course there may be other factors holding back your system and obscuring the benefits. If this is the case professional help is advised.If professional assistance do not cure the problem, I am afraid you have to accept the fact that you are simply inept.

One more thing. You stated "they [the SR black fuses] delivered nothing to the sound of my system"  This statement is incorrect. The fuses delivered information which your system was unable to convey, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A HIGH RESOLUTION SYSTEM.

There is, however, one statement you made with which I am in complete agreement.  "THIS WAS A MONUMENTAL WASTE OF TIME"


Nyame 7-28-2016 7:09am EDT
IF YOU DO NOT HEAR THE BENEFITS [OF THE BLACK FUSES] YOUR SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING OPTIMALLY.
As I, Atmasphere, and others have pointed out in a number of past threads, the ability of a system to resolve hardware differences does not necessarily go hand in hand with its musical resolution or its sonic quality.

Just to cite a few examples, a preamplifier having high output impedance will be more revealing of interconnect cable differences than one having low output impedance, everything else being equal, due mainly to its increased sensitivity to cable capacitance. A speaker having low impedance and/or highly capacitive phase angles will be more revealing of amplifier differences than a speaker having more benign impedance characteristics, everything else being equal, because (simply put) it is a more challenging load. Components having **well designed** balanced interfaces will be less revealing of interconnect cable differences than components that are connected single-ended, everything else being equal, for several reasons. None of those differences in sensitivity to hardware necessarily have anything to do with the musical resolution or sonic quality of the components or the system.

Countless other comparable examples could be cited.

I would not be so quick to allege that the reason someone having many decades of experience as a professional sound engineer and a musician did not hear an improvement after trying these fuses in five different components (amp, preamp, dac, phono stage, subwoofers) over a period of weeks is that his system is inadequate.

Oregonpapa 7-27-2016 9:03pm EDT
How did you [Wolfie] try the fuse if you didn’t order it?
That was explained in Wolfie’s post of 7-13-2016.

Regards,
-- Al