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?
128x128oregonpapa
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
No, I haven’t Geoff, although I haven’t ever looked very thoroughly.

BTW, an improvement of an existing invention can certainly be patentable in many cases. It just has to meet the basic requirements for any patent, namely being new (meaning the improvement has not been done previously); useful (pretty much anything will be considered as meeting this requirement, aside perhaps for something like a substance whose only functionality is causing cancer in humans); and non-obvious to one reasonably skilled in the particular art.

Regards,
-- Al

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
For audiophile fuses one assumes patent approval does NOT depend on listening tests. Therefore, ironically, having a patent for an audiophile fuse does not in itself guarantee the fuse will improve the SQ, no? So the whole issue regrading patents for fuses is moot. A patent - if there is one - should not persuade an audiophile one way or the other.

almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Geoff, yes, I agree with your post just above. I’ll add that there are practical reasons why a manufacturer might choose not to seek a patent, such as the attorney costs that may be involved. And perhaps also the amount of time that is required to secure a patent, which may exceed the product’s anticipated life cycle.

In general, the usefulness a patent might provide to a prospective purchaser, if any, will result mainly from the information it provides about the product.

Regards,
-- Al

grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,512 posts
 
Another reason is a patent makes your idea and process visible to all including competitors. Competitors make a couple of changes and they can in fact "copy"your "patent" in large measure. Sometimes it is better to just keep it hidden. I experienced both in my innovation career...that is filing and not filing and the consequences. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Right. There is some question whether Audio Horizons, in such a competitive market, would be able to sell enough fuses to pay for the patent. There's also the sticky issue of whether it's actually better to keep the whole thing secret rather than reveal how it works in the patent.

More to discover