2. amps-preamps
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What's going on with Synergistic Research fuses?

I live in California and a couple of weeks ago we had strange lightning storms that started the many fires burning in the State.  It also fried the fuse in my Pass XA30.5.  I got the amp second hand and it came with a SR Blue fuse.  I called Pass and they recommended a very cheap fuse which I ordered and installed.  Because I was curious, I took the SR sticker off the old burnt out fuse and found that it was a very cheap SIBA brand fuse underneath.  It is clear that SR is either not making the ceramic casing for this fuse or using the SIBA fuse and then doing stuff to it.  At the very worst, it's just slapping a sticker on it and charging a ton more

The thing is, I'm pretty sure I could hear a difference for the worse when I installed the cheap glass fuse post lightning storm.  Could it be that SR is modifying an existing fuse to make it sound better?  Maybe some more technically minded folks here on the forum could help me understand

thanks!
adam8179
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Yeah. Right. Makes total sense.
so glad you finally see the forest for the trees.

bad contact with a standard fuse can account for a difference in the sound
You "fusers" did I say anything about the sound??, I think NOT!!
Like Ralph said it can be measured in an amp as a "very small" voltage drop across the fuse if it has a misaligned/dirty fuse holder, but your mains will be varying much worse than that.
And in the case of line level equipment, it’s just a non event even as it’s REGULATED!
cal91
233 posts
 
+1 ivan_nosnibor...It seems to be getting worse. Perhaps he should take his own advice from other threads and if he doesn't have anything positive to say then "move along". Hope he doesn't forget to delete his posts.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,172 posts
 
solder them in ! Then we can debate about what solder y’all like best..

I did unhook the whole shooting match when we had rolling blackouts the other day...thought it was God’s way of telling me to read some poetry....
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
11,186 posts
 
You "fusers" did I say anything about the sound??, I think NOT!!
Like Ralph said it can be measured in an amp as a "very small" voltage drop across the fuse if it has a misaligned/dirty fuse holder, but your mains will be varying much worse than that.
And in the case of line level equipment, it’s just a non event even as it’s REGULATED
The OP asked if something was done to the fuse because it does sound different. So, what relevance does your statement have to this discussion, other than to get up on your old and tired soapbox just to shake your fists and scream at the clouds?

All the best,
Nonoise


atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,116 posts
 
But even this Ralph is null and void also, when the equipment has regulated supplies, as many "directional fusers" claim differences in fuse direction on their preamps and source equipment with regulated supplies.
As for them blowing for no reason, if indeed they do cryo them, this "can" make the fuse element more fragile harder/stiffer and suspect to de-rating it’s amperage and hence (blow earlier), a bit the opposite to what happens to us the older we get.

This has been my experience too. Our MP-1 preamp is heavily regulated so that the drop out voltage (overhead) is around 100Volts on a 117VAC line- so it can sag quite a lot without any change in the preamp's performance. And while we can easily measure a voltage drop across the fuseholder, no amount of changing the fuse has any effect on the preamp at all (and for the same reason, its very immune to power cord changes too).


But if you have an unregulated power supply as seen in most amplifiers, the fuse is probably going to have some sort of audible effect.                       
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