What is the science behind audiophile fuses?

This brings me to a question I’ve considered submitting as a topic for the group:

This is an "audiophile" forum made up of individuals (in most cases) with vast experience(s) in auditioning, evaluating, and commenting on those observations. Tryiing new things (or, reworking old things) is a component of the "audiophile" experience.

The question is: "Why can’t we offer some level of respect to those who try something different, hear something good and share those results with the group? Why can’t we try to embrace those findings and give the person the benefit of the doubt that they did, in fact, hear something? Be somewhat curious about those observations even if the basis of the technology sounds somewhat weird to us?"

I get it that the "science" may push back against all that you’ve learned and/or experienced. And, some have suggested that those who claim to hear improvements in those products, technology, or catagory are biased, duped, gullible, or even need professional psychological help.

I funded a survey here a couple of months ago related to a "hot topic" on this forum. It was determined (by those who participated) that they had an 80+% high confidence level in their observations of the product catagory. Many were on their 3rd or 4th upgrade of this product catagory. Then, there were the "deniers" who rejected the premise completely and, therefore, did not try the product. And, there were those who conducted their due diligence, gave it a shot, and heard nothing. As the creator and admistrator of the survey, my final thought was that we should create a GoFundMe account for the "deniers" and send them to a place where there is a high confidence situation and let them listen to that system.

Personally, I believe that if something changes in the environment of the signal or power path, it’s going to change what happens at the other end. It’s feasible that those changes will be audibile, even it is isn’t measurable. I’m not a scientist. But, I do enjoy being proven wrong. It means I learned somthing that day.

Intellectual humility has it’s benefits. Perhaps, even better sounding systems if we’re willing to give things a try?

@johnfritter Interesting. I can't really imagine that combination of parts sounding good at all. 

@oddiofyl Give the Swiss Digital Fuse Box a try, but confirm with Mark if he offers no questions asked returns on it...I know he does on the Puron.

I bet you won't return it.

Fuses have to heat up and blow to protect the downstream equipment.  So they have to have a significant resistance (to heat up) and as current goes up, they heat up, resistance goes up (a property of all metals) and they heat more and blow.  This isn't a problem for electric motors or household equipment.  but a high end amplifier can have dynamic changes in power requirements over a very short time which can be limited by the fuse.  If this happens to your air conditioner, it will still cool.  If it happens to your amp, it will still make music, it just won't be as dynamic. Bass will suffer as well.  

An audiophile fuse supposedly has less resistance and limits current less.  I have never bought one and don't plan to.

I replace fuses with slugs.  an overcurrent situation in an amp is very unlikely and when it does happen it is usually caused by user error.  There is a very audible difference in most amps replacing the mains fuse.  This is especially true of tube amps.   Also if your amp has fuses on the rectifiers they should be replaced.  

No your amp won't burst into glorious flames but if you can't get this image out of your head, keep your fuses.

I have tested the Swiss Digital Fuse Box that replaces the fuse with a magnetic current sensor and a relay, thus there are no heated components in the power circuit.  My opinion of this piece was that it was better than any fuse but not quite as good as a slug.  It is also cheaper than an audiophile fuse.

Jerry

@carlsbad2 when you refer to slugs what exactly are they, do you make your own or where do you get them?  Curious minds want to know