We Need A Separate Forum for Fuses


LOL, I'll bet I gotcha on that Title! ;)  BTW, I put this thread under "Tech Talk" category as it involves the system physically, not tangentially. 

More seriously, two question survey:

1. Do you think designer fuses are A) a Gift to audiophiles, or B) Snake Oil 

2. Have you ever tried them?  Yes or No

In the tradition of such questions on Agon, I'll weigh in as we go along... 
Feel free to discuss and rant all you wish, but I would like to see clear answers to the questions. :) 
douglas_schroeder
"By the way, I haven’t read anything herein (could have missed it though) about cases where fuses are not readily accessible and therefore require one to open a factory sealed component and risk voiding the warranty as a result of doing so."
That may be the case with Merrill amps.
gdhal, good point! Two thoughts; any fuse replacement is going to require entering the unit. Most of the manufacturers I know who object to opening the unit hold an absolute ban on it, regardless if it is a fuse or other part. Some even place a tamper proof seal over the access to the component so they will know if it has been opened. So, the question regarding aftermarket fuses and such manufacturers might be moot. You are right, in such cases voiding a warranty for replacing a fuse would be high price to pay. That should be weighed, and if I had such a component I likely would not replace the fuse in it. Sensible enough.

In other cases, however, when it comes to a fear that a manufacturer would void the warranty, I think first it would have to be demonstrated that fuses had the capacity to actually cause damage. We have seen nothing along those lines here (Unless someone wishes to offer an example, but I think they would be rare to non-existent). When you have a fear of voiding a warranty doing a "DIY" change that has perhaps a .0001 % chance of damage, or maybe even less, then that fear, imo, is unfounded. Most manufacturers would know this. In fact, they likely would be highly suspicious of anyone who claimed the fuse caused damage for that reason. The odds would be far greater that the person damaged something else while in the act of trying to place or remove a fuse. But that would be horridly clumsy, and such a person shouldn’t even be inside a component. YMMV

Regardless, I think you raise a good point, and though I don’t agree with it entirely it is something to be considered. :)
🐑
gdhal
I am not a fuse adopter, with digital front end.

By the way, I haven’t read anything herein (could have missed it though) about cases where fuses are not readily accessible and therefore require one to open a factory sealed component and risk voiding the warranty as a result of doing so. Of course if you’re a do-it-yourself person that may be a moot point.

But voiding or potentially voiding a manufacturers warranty is a hell of a price to pay for being stylish.

>>>>Yeah, amazing what audiophiles will go through for better sound! Trust me, you have no idea. Seriously.
mitch2, off topic; I glanced at your rig, very nice! I’m a bit confused, as I see two different speakers indicated as the Ariel 5. I am curious about them and which one is now the reference/main.

(I certainly do not want to sidetrack the entire discussion)
@gdhal,

Most audio components comes standard with IEC Male Chassis Power Plug with inlet fuse holder. That’s the case with my CD player and Streamer.

https://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-iec-ac-power-jack-chassis-mount-with-10a-fuse-holder--09...

My ARC components has a standard screw cap fuse holder.

https://www.parts-express.com/screw-cap-agc-fuse-holder-black--070-610

In both cases, it was super easy to swap out factory installed fuse.

@mitch2, You’re spot on with Merrill amps. If I am not mistaken they comes standard with SR fuses. Merrill only uses premium parts in his amps.