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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
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,939 posts
 
This has been asked on other threads and some manufacturers were mentioned on their using aftermarket fuses. One that comes to mind is Wyred4Sound. 

It wasn't a standard thing for them to do but when I inquired about them doing it, they said they were fine doing it as they believed it stretched the improvement about 5% or so.

However, these threads all boil down to tawdry entertainment seeing as how they've been hashed to death here. If anyone has any doubts as to the efficacy of fuses, they need not spend a lot of money. It's been pointed out that simply replacing a cheap, bog standard fuse with an aftermarket fuse will change the sound. For a small investment, just swap one out and hear it for yourself. Until then, tawdry it is.

If you haven't tried it, you don't have a leg to stand on.

All the best,
Nonoise
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Also, as I’ve oft opined, even if you’re a real cheapskate or hard-core non-believer, you can get that 5% boost by simply flipping the stock fuse you’re currently using around. 🔜 There is a risk, obviously, that you may experience a 5% drop in SQ instead.  🤡 As Bob Dylan says at the end of all his albums, good luck everybody! 
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
@nonoise ..
Ayre are also very firm believers in aftermarket fuses AND better footers under their equipment.
I know this personally from numerous discussions with them prior to swapping out the fuse in my ax7e.
I have this in both verbal form and emails from them.
IMHO if it is good with a major mid to high end USA based manufacturer like Ayre then it is MORE than good enough for me.


The ONLY reason I will not be rushing to change from Blue to the new Orange is purely financial as only recently spent $600 on 4 Blue fuses.

Now I have mentioned this previously but let’s say there is a market for used fuses I cannot see them fetching much more than 50% retail if that tbh.

I am awaiting the clean Green fuse thank you......
rodman99999
6,195 posts
 
Had a pair of Odyssey amps, in house, for audition. Opened one up(with permission), to look at and test a couple things. Found Hi-Fi Tuning Gold fuses(it’s been a while) in the rails. Never looked at the AC main fuse. He’d just used the amps for demos, at a trade show. Can’t say if he sells his amps, with them installed. It would be interesting, if someone were motivated enough, to contact all manufacturers of audio equipment, just to ACTUALLY ESTABLISH what the, "overwhelming majority" would say. However: I suppose, that would also depend on who, from whatever firm, answered the phone.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Amp manufacturers have too much to lose by being wrapped around the axle with a snake oil controversy. 🐍 If they are even aware of it which they probably aren’t. More than anyone else, amp designers are from the “good solid engineering principles” side of the street. They don’t need the hassle. The last thing in the world they want to do is get involved with the fancy fuse rumpus, or the power cord rumpus or the wire directionality 🔛 rumpus. They have too much on the line.
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