Something For The Fuse Guys ...


There are fuses, and then, there are fuses. 

I'm evaluating some prototype fuses that I received in the mail three days ago. 

Over the past few years, I've used fuses from five different manufacturers. The last three were the Red, Black and Blue fuses from Synergistic Research. Each one incrementally improved the sound of my system. My favorite so far was the SR Blue. 

The prototype fuses being evaluated presently raises the SQ beyond all of the others mentioned above. The major improvement to my ears is better tonal accuracy. Instruments and voices are more life-like. The noise is reduced allowing for a more solid 3-D presentation with the musicians more solidly presented on the sound stage. Overall, more information is fleshed out of CDs and LPs. 

The manufacturer, the price and the name of the prototype fuses will come later. I don't have the information thus far. My understanding is, if all works out, the release date is to be mid-October. 

Stay tuned ... 

Frank
128x128oregonpapa
I've taken a lot of notes so far and will be sharing those at a later date.

All I can say at this point is ... they need a little breaking in. Upon initial installation into four separate components, the sound was too relaxed. There were, however, improvements heard right off of the bat, like a more accurate tonal balance. But the sound was just too laid back. That went away after a couple of hours of listening. Thoroughly enjoyable though after that brief period.
 
On the tonal accuracy ... that is one of the most, if not THE most, important areas in my estimation. Instruments and voices have to sound right to my ear in order for the whole system to be enjoyable. These prototype fuses improved tonal accuracy beyond what it already was. That's saying something considering the lengths I've gone through to get it right over time.

Last night I put on Tchaikovsky's violin concerto played by Erica Morini, backed by the LSO with Artur Rodinski conducting. Wow! That violin was dead-nutz on. And the performance is truly great. What else could it be? ... It's the great Erica Morini, after all. 

Here's the CD:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ERICA-MORINI-BRAHMS-TCHAIKOVSKY-VIOLIN-CONCERTOS-CD-6-TRACKS-COMO-NUEVO/322370981557?hash=item4b0ececeb5:g:QrQAAOSwImRYYXLR

It is available on LP, but a VG+ original vinyl in stereo goes for around $150 and is extremely hard to find. I have the budget CD transfer reissue from the Westminister tapes. That's all one needs. It is beautiful. 

I've found that some of these budget CD reissues really sound the best. The reissuing companies really don't take the time to muck things up, so as a result of their budget mindedness, we get more of a direct transfer from the master tape type of sound.

I'm boycotting recordings and reissues that are drenched in artificial digital reverb. 

Stay tuned ... Things continue to improve. 

Frank
The big shocker will be if it turns out to be a very affordable Littelfuse.
Speaking of which, one wonders how much NASA pays for mission critical fuses and who makes them. And are they just stock Littelfuse fuses? 👩‍🚀 Who’s more demanding - the space program or audiophiles? 😳