Is $2,844 too much to pay for a fuse?

I want to thank all the naysayers who haven’t tried the fuses for all of their profound statements. It is hard for me to understand why so many are downright angry about these fuses. If you do not want to  pay the money for them, that is your prerogative and I am completely content with your decision. But don’t tell others who have tried them and have done a/b tests with stock and other audiophile fuses that they do not make an audible difference or that you can trick them by placing an arrow on the fuse. 

But let’s say for craps and giggles, these fuses do not scientifically make an audible difference. But for those of us who bought them, our brain tells us we can hear a difference. If our brains tell us we hear improved sound quality and believe the fuses make an audible difference, doesn’t it mean they do? If my brain tells me I hear improved sound quality due to the fuse and I believe the improvement is worth the money I paid, then I’m completely satisfied and don’t really care what anyone else thinks. Even though that’s not the case because the fuses do make a huge difference. Every tweak out there has those who think the tweak is amazing and has made their system so much better, and others may say, meh. There are many audiophiles who believe cables don’t make a difference but most of us believe they do. I don’t really care if they don’t think they make a difference but they are missing out on some amazing improvements. 

@stevebohnii 

"I want to thank all the naysayers who haven’t tried the fuses"

Specifically, which are "the fuses" you are speaking about?  I have tried multiple fuses by Furutech, HiFi-Tuning, Synergistic Research, Acme Audio, and more.  Those long-term listening experiences in my own system have shaped my impression of aftermarket fuses, which I have specifically shared in previous posts.  No, I haven't tried the $2,844 fuse posted about in this thread.  It appears Clement Perry got half-way there with his review of the $1,422 Red fuse, but I don't remember reading from any posters here who have tried the $2,844 fuse.  I am sure the buyers believe it is amazing.

I won’t even pay a $895 record clamp? And fuse for almost 3k?in this during inflation? Vivafuse,com has it?

Mitch2 - I’m currently using two QSA Yellows and four Blues. Mike just sent me a Violet to replace the Yellow fuse currently in the IEC for my Atoll IN300. If the Violet sounds as good as everyone states, I plan to upgrade to the Red within the three month period. I have not found anyone who has bought the Red/Black QSA fuse but I did find someone from What’s Best Forum (romaz) who bought the Silver fuse and compared the Silver to many other tweaks he’s made (which are some impressive tweaks). He said the Silver is the best tweak he’s made. Below is the link, so please take a gander. Quick question, have you tried a QSA fuse?

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/qsa-my-take-on-their-expensive-products.33833/page-3

@stevebohnii

Quick question, have you tried a QSA fuse?

No, I have not tried one and do not plan to go down that particular rabbit hole. The aftermarket fuses I have tried have done basically nothing of significance to improve the sound of my system over long-term listening. OTOH, I have heard profound changes and improvements resulting from component and speaker changes, smaller changes due to cables, damping/support of components and speakers, and digital filtering, but basically nothing noticeable from changing/adding fuses and other small tweaks.

However, I have seen many accessory type products marketed to audiophiles as “game changers” and then when sales plateau, the manufacturer releases an upgraded version of the same product - i.e., the next game changer. I also find it interesting when posters on this site and other sites “review” these products and proclaim fantastic levels of sonic improvements resulting from the tweak yet then a few months down the road they have moved on to the next level of the same product or one from another manufacturer. How many times can a tweak transform someone’s system? The audio industry is far from alone in propagating repetitive cycles of manufactured demand for upgraded products. I used to see it annually with ski equipment and mountain bike parts, and I see it with everyday stuff like mattresses. It’s the American way.

Buyers must judge for themselves which products and improvements are worth the money. If someone chooses to spend their money and if they hear an improvement, then great for them. Based on my own experiences, I simply choose to no longer play the game, at least not with fuses.  Good luck with your QSA fuses and happy listening.

Sent from my iPad