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Fuses

I’ve read of views on whether amp fuses impart any sound quality or coloring. I had a recent experience that has made me re-think my views (fuses do not affect sound) and wondered if others had a similar experience. 
I have a Line Magnetic integrated amp. After heavy regular use for over 5 years, one day it just wouldn’t power up. After checking the power supply, I assumed it must be a blown fuse. I recalled that Line Magnetic sent with the amp two replacement fuses of the same type/quality that was pre-installed. I dug out one of them from storage, replaced the fuse and the amp powered up normally. 

What surprised and delighted me was the change in sound with the replacement fuse. Fuller bass, more detail and more warmth. I have rolled the tubes several times in the amp, and am attuned to the subtle changes that can make. Popping in a fresh fuse seems to have had a similar affect. And these appear to be cheap fuses, available for a few dollars at most. I don’t think I understand any of this. 
bmcbrad
femoore12's avatar
femoore12
683 posts
 
I thought a fuse was a sacrificial safety device that melts during an overcurrent condition to protect an electrical circuit. So isn’t the role of a fuse to melt if there is too much current in order to protect an electrical circuit/device? 
yuviarora's avatar
yuviarora
537 posts
 
And power cables just bring AC to your equipment, and conditioners are just useless junk.......
we can do this all day :)
Try bypassing your fuse for 5 minutes and see if the sound coming out of your speakers changes. (try a 26/28 gauge of copper  wire)
It’s a very quick easy experiment.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
For sure it is belief, and not knowledge, because water pressure definitely does affect how much water comes out the tap. Total logic fail. As usual.
femoore12's avatar
femoore12
683 posts
 
@yuviarora
I don’t disagree with you at all. My comment was directed to the post that assumes we don’t understand what a fuse does. To me it’s obvious that since the fuse is taking all the voltage then changing it would affect the component.

I honestly don’t understand the damn reference in relation to the fuse. The fuse isn’t holding back anything. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
femoore12-
I thought a fuse was a sacrificial safety device that melts during an overcurrent condition to protect an electrical circuit. So isn’t the role of a fuse to melt if there is too much current in order to protect an electrical circuit/device?

Correct. And you must have missed my earlier post explaining this. Ordinary fuses are designed to one spec, the current rating at which they melt and blow. They are not designed to perform perfectly linear or in any way at all really, at anything less than this. They are made to blow and nothing else.   

All wires, the more current the hotter they get. The hotter they get the more resistance increases. This is in effect a volume control, one where every dynamic peak increases current draw, which increases resistance, which turns down the volume. Ordinary fuses are in effect turning down the volume on transient peaks all the time. When you hear people saying the audiophile fuse sounds cleaner clearer more extended and dynamic this is all very easy to understand once you know about wires and resistance.   

Because unlike cheap fuses designed only to blow audiophile fuses are designed to perform with high sound quality all the way up to blowing.  

Pretty easy to understand, right?
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