Hi-Fi Tunig Fuses & Parasound A21


Hi,
Have any Parasound A21 owners replaced the stock fuses with the Hi-Fi Tuning fuses in their amp? I understand that there are four 8A slow blow internal fuses and one 12A slow blow fuse on the rear panel. This is a awesome amp as-is. Just my curiosity.

Please share your experiences.

-Thanks,
128x128milpai

From the silent majority, we have a 180 (or is it 360?) degree view on the subject of fuse directionality.

atmosphere = +100

geoffkait = -100

From the silent majority, we have a 180 (or is it 360?) degree view on the subject of fuse directionality.

atmosphere = +100

geoffkait = -100

Atmasphere is certainly not alone in his contention, which btw he has indicated in past threads he has confirmed via measurements. See my post dated 10-28-2016 on page 58 of the long-running thread https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/synergistic-red-fuse?page=58, in which I cite relevant comments not only by Atmasphere but by three other highly experienced designers of well-regarded audio electronics.

I also state in that post, as a highly experienced electronics designer myself (in the defense electronics field), that "claims of directionality in fuses [are] fundamentally irreconcilable with any reasonable understanding of how electronic circuits work." While also completely recognizing, of course, "that an understanding of how electronic circuits work can’t explain or predict everything about what we hear or don’t hear from our systems."

Finally, even if contentions that fuses inherently have audibly significant directional characteristics are correct (which they are not), it would stand to reason that the effects of any such directional differences would be completely swamped by the much greater directional differences that would presumably be caused by the vastly greater lengths of the associated wiring. In the case of AC mains fuses that would include the wiring in the primary of the power transformer, the internal AC wiring of the component, the wiring in the power cord, and presumably even the AC wiring inside and outside of the house.

Geoff (and others, most of whom are also not electronics designers) will of course disagree with all of this, but that’s how I (and the four well-regarded designers quoted in the post I referenced) all see it.

Regards,
-- Al


Fuses are not in any signal path except in the broadest sense that many of the electrons used by an amp can somehow become signal…sort of…One of the most telling aspects of the premium fuse charade promoted by, as an example, the athletic SR fuse salesmen in the main SR thread, is an utter lack of understanding of or desire for any sort of reasonable technical explanation of how or why these "special" (and relatively expensive) fuses work their magic. I asked once, and was told to call SR as why should these SR Super Fans do the "heavy lifting" for me?…they simply have no idea beyond referring to the Quantum Tunneling or high voltage exposure or other nonsense used in SR promotion baloney. I smell fraud all over this stuff, and any other inexplicable techno tweak like tiny aluminum "transducers" (some know what "transducer’ actually means), and have tested the efficacy of Special fuses and found them to be a silly waste of money. The astonishing imagined benefits of pricey fuses is simply one of those head scratchers to people who are in the amp design business, and any of them I’ve asked about this stuff simply say something like hey, fooling people into thinking what they paid through the nose for is worth it if enough others claim it to be so is all some people need.
Wolf Man wrote,

"Fuses are not in any signal path except in the broadest sense that many of the electrons used by an amp can somehow become signal..."

not true. Fuses can be in the signal path and often are. Electrons are not signal anywhere at any time.

Woofman:

"One of the most telling aspects of the premium fuse charade promoted by, as an example, the athletic SR fuse salesmen in the main SR thread, is an utter lack of understanding of or desire for any sort of reasonable technical explanation of how or why these "special" (and relatively expensive) fuses work their magic."

not true. There are many reasons why aftermarket fuses work their magic.

Wolfman:

"I asked once, and was told to call SR as why should these SR Super Fans do the "heavy lifting" for me?…they simply have no idea beyond referring to the Quantum Tunneling or high voltage exposure or other nonsense used in SR promotion baloney. I smell fraud all over this stuff, and any other inexplicable techno tweak like tiny aluminum "transducers" (some know what "transducer’ actually means), and have tested the efficacy of Special fuses and found them to be a silly waste of money."

Off the top of my head I'd say your system is not what you claim it to be or your hearing isn't what you're claiming it takes me. You know, given that thousands of audiophiles have good luck with aftermarket fuses.

Woofman:

"The astonishing imagined benefits of pricey fuses is simply one of those head scratchers to people who are in the amp design business, and any of them I’ve asked about this stuff simply say something like hey, fooling people into thinking what they paid through the nose for is worth it if enough others claim it to be so is all some people need.

Not true. Not all aftermarket fuses are expensive. The word expensive itself is open to interpretation.

geoffkait you are just a voodoo’ist, as is most of the stuff on your website.

http://www.machinadynamica.com/

Real techs above are trying to tell you something, in a nice way, just incase you have something wrong upstairs.

Cheers George