Synergistic Red Fuse ...

I owned a set of $16,000 - $18,000 speakers built with $10 Solen caps and sand cast resistors. The builder told me upgrading the parts would not matter. He could not be more wrong. After the upgrade he then told me the Zobel network would not benefit from upgraded resistors etc... again he was so wrong.

Several good tube amp designers also told me upgrading internal parts would be a waste of money and time. Again, anyone and everyone in my home could easily hear the improvement. 

Why do some talented designers disregard the use of "boutique" parts? Well I know first hand many have not even tried them in their designs being turned off by the cost and assumed waste of time/money. Several told me these parts were marketed to weak minded audiophiles.

I get it really. They are busy running a business and all that goes with it. They are busy designing and sourcing parts that work.  Do they really treat their designs like a high end chef treats a recipe? The high end chef will search high and low for that special quality,  fresh ingredient that goes beyond just filling the ingredient requirement. For example,  using La Vera smoked pakrika from Spain instead of common paprika. This is analogous to a designer using a Duelund capacitor instead of Solen or SR fuses etc... 

Many designers do not think boutique parts sound different or better. Many big names that I won’t mention here think all wire, fuses, capacitors, resistors etc... that meet spec will sound virtually the same. They are wrong. Just because they are talented designers does not mean they were or are opened minded enough to test all manner of boutique parts in their circuits and relentlessly fine tune and learn.

In some cases, I won’t say all, it’s an amplifier designer’s ego that gets in the way. It’s like, I know all about circuits so my designs are perfect and don’t need any tweaks. Another concern is that the cost of incorporating various tweaks or upgrades like premium  fuses and power cords and capacitors almost certainly means he'd have to compete above his weight class as it were.

Good point and I have also experienced this attitude. I call it being closed minded and not having a healthy curiosity for what may be outside of their experience and current knowledge. Lots of knowledgeable people out there besides ourselves:)

DL,

It does not concern me what people buy. People can make their own decisions.  You seem more concerned than I with people who think differently.

mapman: "My only wish in this area is that people make good decisions based on good information."

How else is that statement to be interpreted?

Dave