@johnfritter Interesting. I can't really imagine that combination of parts sounding good at all.
What is the science behind audiophile fuses?
There were many threads on the topic of "audiophile fuses" on this forum, and I sure don't want to open old wounds and trench warfare. The fuse on my preamp blew suddenly two days ago, which prompted me to search for a replacement. That's when I came across the term "audiophile fuse" and the fact that they demand far-out prices. Deeper curiosity brought me to several other fora, where users posted glowing praises about their Zero fuses and other exotica. Now I am a scientist, but not a physicist or electrical engineer: so please enlighten me! How can a fuse have an audible influence on the signal, when the signal does not even pass through it? How can a fuse be "directional" when it deals with alternate current? I mean, if I recall my university physics, a fuse is basically a safety valve and nothing more. Am I completely missing an important point here? My scientific field is drug discovery, and because of this background I am thoroughly familiar with the power and reality of the placebo effect. I that's what I am seeing here, or is it real physics? I need objective facts and not opinions, please. I really appreciate your help!
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@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 |
Not entirely clear whether MC had a room with his personal kit that happens to use Townshend products, or whether his was actually a room representing Townshend. BTW, back to fuses, I have done the Teflon tape thing, and also used small orthodontic rubber bands across the tops of the fuse holder tynes to insure a secure connection, after first treating the end caps with a conductive material (i.e., ProGold, etc.). |
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