2. amps-preamps
  3. 1448317474

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?
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nyame
198 posts
 
Bill berry & his Ellington Allstars - "FOR Duke " Vinyl Album

The storage area continues to give up its secrets. I gave ALL my LPs to a music lover in New York many, many years ago. So you can imagine my surprise ( and delight ") to find about 8 LPs Including " FOR DUKE ".

I would like you to have it if you do do not own a copy. If you do have a copy I would offer it to Sir Charles 1 dad. This was my " GO TO ") disc for sound quality evaluation. I also regarded the performance as excellent.

This disc deserves a place in every fine collection if only because the engineer was Steve McCormach.  

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

Hello nyame,

Thank you for such a kind and thoughtful offer, I sincerely appreciate that. These days I'm exclusively Redbook CD. I must say that over the years I've have such very kind offers/loans/favors from fellow audiogon friends. For example Frank has taken the time/effort to copy some of his favorite music and send them to me, really good stuff.

Charles

nyame
198 posts
 
Charles 1 dad

I always assumed you were into vinyl. I was of the belief you were still using your turntable. I know you use a low powered amp and I subconsciously concluded you were most likely still spinning vinyl.

A very long time ago while studying in London I purchased a used 5 watt mono tube amp with a single EL34 tube. I built a large speaker enclosure  and mounted a 8" full range concentric Wharfedale loudspeaker speaker in it. Unbelievable sound levels !!!.

I decided to upgrade to stereo so I built a Heathkit 9 watts per channel tube amp. I also build a pair of very efficient loudspeakers. I did not have skills (nor the space) to make folded horns horns so I built something very close to a horn, but using the principle of pipes. Not as good as a folding horn but a very similar method of moving air. Drivers were ELACS. I was in audio heaven.

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Nyame,
I understand your assumption. Many SET amplifier aficionados are also  analog source users as well. I was in fact a hard core turntable user/advocate for many years. I discovered a relatively obscure Japanese DAC (Yamamoto YDA-1) that conveyed the emotion and essence of music as convincingly as my TT did  playing records. Its been about 6 years and I’ve not looked back.

I still enjoy good vinyl listening very much and a friend has an excellent Basis table and their top level tonearm and Miyajima cartridge. Despite this ongoing exposure I’m thoroughly happy and musically content with my Redbook source. The most impactful event in my music system development was acquiring a SET amplifier.

Charles
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
nyname ...

"For Duke" is a wonderful record. I had two copies that I bought new, kept them for years, then about three years ago gave one to a friend. Someone here should take you up on the offer. 

Al ... if you don't have it, your ART-9 will put the Duke Ellington orchestra in your room.


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