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The new Synergistic Research BLUE fuses ....

New SR BLUE fuse thread ...

I’ve replaced all 5 of the SR BLACK fuses in my system with the new SR BLUE fuses. Cold, out of the box, the BLUE fuses stomped the fully broken-in SR BLACKS in a big way. As good as the SR BLACK fuses were/are, especially in comparison with the SR RED fuses, SR has found another break-through in fuses.

1. Musicality ... The system is totally seamless at this point. Its as if there is no system in the room, only a wall to wall, front to back and floor to ceiling music presentation with true to life tonality from the various instruments.

2. Extension ... I’ve seemed to gain about an octave in low bass response. This has the effect of putting more meat on the bones of the instruments. Highs are very extended, breathing new life into my magic percussion recordings. Vibes, chimes, bells, and triangles positioned in the rear of the orchestra all have improved. I’ve experienced no roll-off of the highs what so ever with the new BLUE fuses. Just a more relaxed natural presentation.

3. Dynamics ... This is a huge improvement over the BLACK fuses. Piano and vibes fans ... this is fantastic.

I have a Japanese audiophile CD of Flamenco music ... the foot stomps on the stage, the hand clapping and the castanets are present like never before. Want to hear natural sounding castanets? Get the BLUE fuses.

4. Mid range ... Ha! Put on your favorite Ben Webster album ... and a pair of adult diapers. Play Chris Connor singing "All About Ronnie," its to die for.

Quick .... someone here HAS to buy this double album. Its a bargain at this price. Audiophile sound, excellent performance by the one and only Chris Connor. Yes, its mono ... but so what? Its so good you won’t miss the stereo effects. If you’re the lucky person who scores this album, please post your results here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ULTRASONIC-CLEAN-The-Finest-Of-CHRIS-CONNOR-Bethlehem-Jazz-1975-NM-UNPLAYED-...

Overall impressions:

Where the RED fuses took about 20 hours to sound their best, and the BLACK fuses took upwards of 200 hours of total break-in, the BLUE fuses sounded really good right out of the box ... and that’s without doing anything about proper directional positioning. Not that the BLUE fuses don’t need breaking in, they do. The improvement continues through week three. Its a gradual break-in thing where each listening session is better than the last.

Everything I described above continues to break new ground in my system as the fuses continue breaking in. Quite honestly, I find it difficult to tear myself away from the system in order to get things done. Its truly been transformed into a magical music machine. With the expenditure of $150.00 and a 30 day return policy there’s really nothing to lose. In my system, its like upgrading to a better pre amp, amp, CD player or phono stage. Highly recommended.

Kudos to Ted Denney and the entire staff at SR. Amazing stuff, guys. :-)

Frank

PS: If you try the SR BLUE fuses, please post your results here. Seems the naysayers, the Debbie Downers and Negative Nellie’s have hijacked the original RED fuse thread. A pox on their houses and their Pioneer receivers.

Frank



128x128oregonpapa
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Actually, there’s more to it. I hate to judge before all the facts are in but it appears to be tit for tat. He gets the fuses and for that he posts his "impressions." That’s a little bit different story. That’s why I said a few days ago, he went beyond the call of duty. SR gave a fuse or two and got a hundred posts or whatever in return. Pretty good payoff.

What he said, in response to the dbarger question, in case I’m not interpreting it properly,

"....I was grateful for the opportunity (to be a Beta tester for the Blue Fuse). I reported what I heard IN MY SYSTEM ... nothing more and nothing less. Sometimes opportunity knocks at the door and its up to us to take advantage of it or not.

One more thing dbarger .... I am also beta testing the "secret and elusive super tweak." We’re almost done and approaching a release date. Has nothing to do with SR .... and its fantastic. I’m on my third version of it and each version is better than the last. Looks like the third time is charm."
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
dbarger ...

Thanks for the response. I thought you may have fallen off of the end of the Earth. Glad to see you posting here again. :-)

geoffkait ...

With the exception of the Blue fuses, I've paid full retail + tax + shipping for all of my fuses.  Had the Blue fuses been a step back in SQ I would have said so. I have no dog in the fight other than trying to obtain a better sounding system and reporting the results here. 

theaudiotweak ...

Over the years I've had so many "audiophiles" tell me that after market IC's and PC's were nothing but snake oil. Most said that you just can't do better than Radio Shack wire or Monster Cable that one could buy at Home Depot. Then they started on the wall outlets. And then various room treatments.  And now the fuses. Same-o, Same-o. Only the names have changed. 

Wolfie ...

The improved perception of 3-D holographic imaging is the result of the lower noise floor afforded by the fuses.  When I say "in the room," with good recordings, I mean exactly that. Again, if you're not getting that kind of imaging, there is work to be done.

It goes way beyond the fuses though. Are you familiar with the Shatki Holographs? If so ... how do they do what they do? 

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/shakti/hallograph.html

I have four of them, each taking up one corner of the room. Take them out of the room and the sound stage collapses, along with the imaging, to the point that I wouldn't want to listen without them. I don't know how they work. Like the fuses, I don't care ... all I care about is that the DO work. 

Frank
fleschler
1,992 posts
 
Same here, both Frank and I have our mutually unapologetically critical friend Robert to thank for his help.  He has pointed out (my wife also agreeing) with every tweak and change I have made to my system whether it's better or worse or has no effect.  He enthusiastically endorses the Hallographs (he has a pair, Frank and I have two pair) and the SR blue fuses.  He says whatever works, do it and get rid of anything that makes our systems sound worse (despite high praise in the trade journals such as the Magico Qpods-yuk)!.  

I admit I do not have state of the art speakers.  They are multi-driver big box type which do not image well by themselves.  I have heard more modern speakers which are designed for imaging, especially two way monitors, speakers such as Audio Physic, Focals...  The Hallographs allow pinpoint imaging with precise changes in angling the top wood array.  1/8" on my left array makes a significant difference in imaging (for some reason the right one can be 1/2" off and still stabilize the image whereas the pair I use at the mid-room reflection points can be adjusted to up to 1" before they radically alter the imaging).  After using Hallographs, I have no need for side and front room audio baffles to absorb and reflect sound (before Hallographs, the room could have used a dozen baffles).  They just focus the sound throughout the room.   

Together. the SR blue fuses and Hallographs create a wide sweet spot and an open, soundstage extending to about a 10' seating area.  Great for guests. 


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imgoodwithtools
236 posts
 
Got word from Audio Research today. My 6550 tube in my Reference 6 arced. It took out some resistors, a couple capacitors, the volume board and the display board. Ouch! Should have it back in a week or so. Then I can put in some time with those fuses I want to compare.
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