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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,239 posts
 
Hi Jond,
Yes, I certainly agree with your assessment! It’s a very good and involving listening experience. We apparently have pretty similar taste/listening perspectives. I’m going to recommend two recordings I believe that you’d like if they’re available on tidal.

Both are Verve recordings done in the mid 1990s using analog tape rather than straight DDD format. The musicians were still in their 20s but were already fully developed at that young age.

"Parker’s Mood" Charlie Parker music played by Roy Hargrove (trumpet) Stephen Scott (piano) and Christian McBride (bass).

"Fingerpainting " music of Herbie Hancock played by Nickolas Payton (trumpet) Mark Whitfield (guitar) and Christian McBride (bass).

If they're available and you can listen  let me know your thoughts.
Charles
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Burning in electronics without playing music is like breaking in a car on cruise control - not recommended. All the gears and moving parts in your electronics are not getting a varied enough workout. Like with oil in the car it is a good precaution to change all the electrons after break in. I check electron levels in my electronics every time before starting - nothing worse with regard to wear and tear than running an amp without enough electrons or dirty electrons. Fuses are akin to oil filters - they should be changed regularly or face the cosequences when your amp seizes up.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Agree with EARLY Carmen McRae , best singing I ever heard was on a Decca LP from ’"57 with Ray Bryant on piano .
Her voice was as clear as a mountain spring and perfect in every aspect .

As to old voices giving out , Tony Bennett may not be quite what he once was but he can sell a song better than ever and is not just a walk down memory lane .

I never did understand why Torme was so underrated .

I know its heresy but I always thought Sarah was better than Ella.
To me, and of course says more about me than Ella, as beautiful as her voice was I always felt like she would rather be somewhere else doing something else, while Sarah seemed like there was no where else she’d rather be or nothing else she would rather be doing ..


geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Since using a break-in device or break-in track will further break in an older fuse, even one that's been in the system for 10 years, wouldn’t it be fair to say playing music will never break in the fuse completely? So, one might conclude playing music for 100 hours might break in the fuse, say 80-85%. Certainly not 100%.

jetter
2,984 posts
 
The only way to assure 100% break in of a fuse is to play Helter Skelter backwards.
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