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
Endorphines released?    Everything taken to a higher level !  Very exciting!  Like magic fuses!
why would any manufacturer solder a fuse to the board


The same reason they solder all the rest. Makes a better and more robust connection. Fuses are not special in that way. Expectation is an authorized service person will more likely replace the fuse when needed. Also avoids dare I say it TAMPERING!

I perhaps have replaced and dabbled with more fuses than anyone here over the years having troubleshooted many for customers at Lafayette Radio, Tech Hifi, and Radio Shack in a past life. Resetting a fuse alone occasionally can make a clearly audible difference in sound and performance as a result of a better connection, especially in amplifiers. Much like reconnecting a speaker or other wire might on occasion if left alone for extended periods of time. Also slo blo fuses can melt partially and have an effect on performance and sound. Replacing it with a fresh good quality fuse solves that.

I always checked the fuse first when someone cam in with an amplifier issue for service. Many times no further service was needed. So fuses do matter!

Of course if you want to promote expensive fuses, best to not focus on other things that can easily account for what is heard. Makes things more complicated and bad for business! Just attribute everything to teh new and better fuse. Much easier for all!

Ok. Groundhog Day! LEt’s go through all teh same arguments again now just for fun...
geoffkait
  Dennis Had, like Roger Modjeski, is about two paradigm shifts behind the power curve. You could say he’s been Had.
You are saying you know more than these guys, and many more.

Geoff you and the other "Awsome Foursome" need counselling. As your website testifies. And your "Voodoo Doll" avatar also testifies.
 
 http://www.machinadynamica.com/machina5.htm

Cheers George
^Yes but, even if the expectation is that an authorized service person will replace the fuse when needed, it still creates more of a dilemma for said service person. Soldering doesn’t seem to make sense in any scenario.

Having said that, I’m expecting the advocates of SR to weigh in that once the correct direction (in their view, remember, I’m in the camp who believes the direction is irrelevant) is known, soldering would theoretically be better from a sound quality perspective (in their view, remember, I’m in the camp where the sound quality has nothing to do with a fuse) because conceivably there is more contact area or who knows what else at play.

Soldering a fuse - or any item for that matter - which is meant to "blow" and then be replaced if required just doesn’t seem to make sense to solder.
mapman - .....Also slo blo fuses can melt partially and have an effect on performance and sound.....

This is interesting for me to understand, and something I wouldn’t have considered. Thanks.

And thank you, OP. This ends my inquiry/question into the solder vs typical holder scenario.

EDIT:

Even if "partially blown" in the case of slow blow, it would still seem more advantageous to have the fuse "readily accessible" and able to be replaced instead of having to bust out the soldering iron, or in my case, have a tech do it.