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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?
oregonpapa
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
The term "expectation bias" has been used many times in this thread. Its total bunk.

I know what I hear and I hear what I know. The BLUE fuses are a major step up from the BLACK fuses .... as the BLACKS were from the RED fuses ... and the RED fuses were from the stock fuses.

Once again, without hearing for themselves, the naysayers are coming out of the woodwork in an attempt to throw ice water on a perfectly good thing. Gets a bit old, doesn’t it??

Frank
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Nevertheless....
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
try both directions and let your ears determine the 'right' installation.

As he's stated " but don't hear any difference what so ever."

Cheers George    
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jafreeman's avatar
jafreeman
693 posts
 
Al, thanks for your response to my question on "pushed-value" SR Blacks in my AC input.  Of note, the front-panel display on each amp now reads at 120-121V, whereas at lower fuse ratings, the line voltage was at around 117V.  The operating range of the ARC 210's is 105V-130V.  
I'm glad you asked about the REL subs and Neutrik SpeakOn wiring.  The Neutrik plug is the NL-F4C, a four-terminal plug supplied with the REL's.  When I went to mono block amps and a sub for each amp, I followed the advice of my High-End retailer here in Mpls. For Magnepan speakers, I am using the 4 ohm speaker output terminals on the ARC 210s. I have connected both SpeakOn red and yellow (+) wires onto the 4-ohm (+) terminal of the amp and the black (-) wire to the 4-ohm (-) terminal on the amp. I left these wires in their original places on the Neutrik plug end. And where do I have the Neutriks on the REL input terminals?  I have left them in the unbalanced high-level inputs a long time ago.  This is the input recommended for a stereo amplifier.  The balanced high-level input is described in the REL manual as being used for  bridged-mode amplifiers. Thinking this was not my situation, I have ignored that input all these years. although the REL manual goes on to say, "Monoblock amplifiers may or may not be bridged output." Perhaps I should be using the balanced inputs on the REL's?
Regards, Joe 
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