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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
fleschler
2,021 posts
 
I've heard that NOS tubes used methods of fabrication which exposed workers to environmental hazards as the reason for either government or insurance reasons for discontinuing certain metals use in tube manufacturing.  Certain metals, combinations and/or utilization may have been potential or real danger. 

Also, tube fabrication was a secret art which manufacturers held close to the vest to gain on their competition.   That art is lost now.   This reminds me of the government banning virgin vinyl manufacturing in the U.S. for environmental reasons decades ago (pressing virgin vinyl is okay).

Another issue as to why there is more concern with power regulation today is the change in the power received in our homes.  Back in the 1940's to 1960's, power was relatively uncontaminated by RF and EMI.  We had radio and television but no digital signals. Today, are airwaves are so polluted that our equipment requires extensive power regulation measures to purify it for our audio use.  


Post removed 
douglas_schroeder OP
3,281 posts
 
Another fuse change - actually, I'm working with the same same two HiFi Tuning Fuses in a different DAC, this time the Eastern Electric Minimax Tube DAC Supreme. The Border Patrol DAC SE responded readily to aftermarket fuses, and now the EE DAC has also responded readily to fuse change. 

The results were once again not subtle, with such an easily discernible difference as to formulate a tentative conclusion that all DACs are sensitive to fuse changes, having tested a NOS DAC and an ESS Sabre laddered DAC. One or two more DACs chosen randomly and tested, and the conclusion will be well supported. I presume these findings will extend also to all other components, but with time I likely will have opportunity to explore that. 

Again, this is only changing one fuse location to an aftermarket fuse. That's all it takes for me to hear  the importance of fuses in altering sound. 

If the results continue on this path it will become obvious that the audiophile has not achieved their best effort at SOTA sound if they ignore aftermarket fuses. 


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