2. misc-audio
  3. 151656-126373

To Fuse or Not to Fuse... That is the question!

Ok.. I think I understand that no fuse is better than a cheap fuse. And a good fuse is better than a cheap fuse. But is no fuse better than the best fuse?

One person on Audiogon said that he achieved better sound by using a Blue fuse over no fuse. I guess my question is... Do these new, high dollar fuses just allow the current to flow better with solid protection or do they actually due to quantum physics or something, actually improve upon the signal by eliminating errant bad electrons and thereby actually improving the music over no fuse at all?

I gots to know!


captaindidactic
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I suspect maybe my oft-repeated claim that “no fuse is better than any fuse” may have been misinterpreted. I was referring to my battery-powered CD player, which doesn’t require a fuse, any fuse, for obvious reasons. So, no fuse is just one advantage of many why a battery-powered, low-power, low mass, minimal design system can outperform. 
Post removed 
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
A reason why it may be worthwhile to point out and/or emphasize the risks of bypassing a fuse is that some people, including some experienced audiophiles, simply don't have knowledge of what the purpose of an AC mains fuse is.  Which is not to say they are stupid; it is just to say that their backgrounds are such that they haven't gained that knowledge. 

As evidence of that I recently had occasion to post the following statement in the thread entitled "Something For The Fuse Guys":

Almarg 9-26-2019
I just want to state a point of information: Posts that have been made by at least three different members appear to imply that the purpose of an AC mains fuse in a component is to provide protection against surges in the incoming AC. While it is possible that an AC mains fuse might do that under some circumstances, that is not its intended purpose. Its intended purpose is to blow if a fault within the component causes it to draw excessive AC current. Thereby preventing **additional** damage to the component that may otherwise occur, as well as preventing the possibility of the component overheating or even bursting into flames as a result of the excessive current being drawn.

Regards,
-- Al

Post removed 
clearthink
1,421 posts
 
elizabeth"I have read about tube amps bursting into flames"

Amplifiers intended for use in Music Reproduction Systems that burst unexpectedly into flames is not limited, confined, or exclusive to "tube" amplifiers perhaps the most famous, legendary, and most notable of these would be the "Flame Linear" (Phase Linear) and "SureFire" (Sunfire) amplifiers that are the exclusive design, manufacture, and creation of the legendary Bob Carver!
More to discover