david_ten ...
I appreciate your questioning of my methodology in testing the new fuses. You are totally correct in doing so.
1. Yes, aural memory is fickle and tricky. The fuses were stock, right out of the box. Even though they weren’t broken in, they still sounded better than the fully broken-in Blue fuses that have been used for the past two years.
I don’t think your point about aural memory is valid in this case, because I am so familiar with my system. I can clearly hear differences every tweak makes, both for the better or if it degrades the sound. If I were testing fuses on an unfamiliar system, then I think your point would be valid.
2. No a/b comparisons were made. Not necessary. See #1.
3. Same as above.
4. Directionality checked? Yes .. I had to reorient the one in the line-stage. There was an improvement in overall focus. Slight, but better.
5. I did compare the Blue fuses one component at a time. With the Orange fuses, I tried the experiment of loading them all at once, so I could hear their total impact immediately. I was pleasantly surprised. Over time, say 20 hours, they improved quite a bit. Now that some weeks have passed, you’d have to pry them out of the system. I think at this point it would be akin to pulling out a couple of my ribs. :-)
6. See #5,
7. The "Stop It" duplex plugs were completely broken in at the time the fuses were tested. Normally, the "Stop It" duplex plugs need no break-in time at all. Those are the ones presently on the market... fully cured and broken in.
The ones I received from Tim weren’t cured like the ones on the market now. Using the "Stop It" duplex plugs prior to curing, or completely drying throughout from the manufacturing process, I had lost most of the mid-bass and some the lower bass. As soon as they cured, everything came back much better than before. That’s when I reported that they were like "putting ’The Gate’ on steroids." So, by the time the Orange fuse testing began, the "Stop It" duplex plugs had no effect (plus or minus) on the fuse test.
You mentioned that you are invested in SR products. I don’t have a lot of SR products, but the ones I DO have, the improvements afforded by them were immediately apparent. I remember when I put the ten-pack of HFT’s throughout the room as directed. Wow! That wasn’t subtle at all. In fact, in spite of having a lot of expensive room treatments in use (Bass Traps and Shatki Holograms) prior to installing the HFT’s, I had a bear of a time getting my room (raised foundation) under control. The HFT’s had a profound effect and actually completed the room. There was no need for a/b comparisons with the HFT’s ... just as there was no need for a/b comparisons with the new Orange fuses.
If you have SR’s HFT’s was your experience the same as mine?
Take care ...
Frank
I appreciate your questioning of my methodology in testing the new fuses. You are totally correct in doing so.
1. Yes, aural memory is fickle and tricky. The fuses were stock, right out of the box. Even though they weren’t broken in, they still sounded better than the fully broken-in Blue fuses that have been used for the past two years.
I don’t think your point about aural memory is valid in this case, because I am so familiar with my system. I can clearly hear differences every tweak makes, both for the better or if it degrades the sound. If I were testing fuses on an unfamiliar system, then I think your point would be valid.
2. No a/b comparisons were made. Not necessary. See #1.
3. Same as above.
4. Directionality checked? Yes .. I had to reorient the one in the line-stage. There was an improvement in overall focus. Slight, but better.
5. I did compare the Blue fuses one component at a time. With the Orange fuses, I tried the experiment of loading them all at once, so I could hear their total impact immediately. I was pleasantly surprised. Over time, say 20 hours, they improved quite a bit. Now that some weeks have passed, you’d have to pry them out of the system. I think at this point it would be akin to pulling out a couple of my ribs. :-)
6. See #5,
7. The "Stop It" duplex plugs were completely broken in at the time the fuses were tested. Normally, the "Stop It" duplex plugs need no break-in time at all. Those are the ones presently on the market... fully cured and broken in.
The ones I received from Tim weren’t cured like the ones on the market now. Using the "Stop It" duplex plugs prior to curing, or completely drying throughout from the manufacturing process, I had lost most of the mid-bass and some the lower bass. As soon as they cured, everything came back much better than before. That’s when I reported that they were like "putting ’The Gate’ on steroids." So, by the time the Orange fuse testing began, the "Stop It" duplex plugs had no effect (plus or minus) on the fuse test.
You mentioned that you are invested in SR products. I don’t have a lot of SR products, but the ones I DO have, the improvements afforded by them were immediately apparent. I remember when I put the ten-pack of HFT’s throughout the room as directed. Wow! That wasn’t subtle at all. In fact, in spite of having a lot of expensive room treatments in use (Bass Traps and Shatki Holograms) prior to installing the HFT’s, I had a bear of a time getting my room (raised foundation) under control. The HFT’s had a profound effect and actually completed the room. There was no need for a/b comparisons with the HFT’s ... just as there was no need for a/b comparisons with the new Orange fuses.
If you have SR’s HFT’s was your experience the same as mine?
Take care ...
Frank