Replaced 4 components with silver slugs. Amp, pre, DAC, FOZ sound expander and all I can say is WOW! Not minor. Better than tube rolling or power cord upgrades. Time to consider some additional protection options. 🤔
Anyone else using slugs instead of fuses? Comments on metals used and sound please
I recently began experimenting with slugs in place of fuses on most of my components and the results have been VERY rewarding. I'll write up a full review eventually but am awaiting possible different metal slugs in the near future. I started with copper and the improvement from stock fuses to the copper slugs was quite noticeable but, honestly, nothing compared to the upgrade from copper to solid silver slugs from Golden State Silver and, shockingly, titanium slugs. Can anyone comment on their DIRECT experience(s) with slugs other than copper? I'm looking into tungsten and possibly molybdenum presently. I'd love to try platinum or palladium but that's probably beyond my reach. AND PLEASE, THERE'S NO NEED TO COMMENT ON HOW FOOLISH IT IS TO BYPASS THE FUSE WITH SLUGS-----WE ALREADY KNOW---YOU'VE TOLD US EXHAUSTIVELY.
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@lcherepkai, I don't like what you are doing. Love it. When listening to different fuses I briefly inserted a Cu. tube I cut to the correct size as a reference and thought I would find the fuse that sounded closest to it. I tried a bunch including Synergistic Research Blue, the most expensive, that I rated about middle of the group. I decided to leave the Cu. slug in place. I could not go back to a fuse after this. The amp I used for experimentation is a DIY Neurochrome so I have no problem modding it. After some time I decided to direct wire the input bypassing the cheap plated fuse holder by soldering in some 14AWG OCC Ag. This was an improvement again but now does not allow for swapping out different metals as you are so keen to hear your findings on Tungsten, Rhodium and also Cobalt should you ever get a chance to try. |
The assumption being made here is that the different metals used in the fuse affect the sound in that particular function as a fuse. But, have you considered the possibility that simply adding into the circuit these different metals might have the same effect? Have you tried something like putting a second fuse holder in line with the one in the gear where different slugs can be inserted without compromising safety? |
lemonhaze: Did you try any other slugs than the copper? In my experience, copper is, by far, the least impressive. The silver was quite an improvement in pretty much every way I find important, and titanium was quite a bit ahead of the silver in the way it images and precisely it does so. I'm not saying that the Ti slug has laser focus, rather, it makes everything else sound a bit blurry by comparison. I screwed up an ordered 3/8" molybdenum rod but have the correct replacement on the way. Really curious to hear this and tungsten next week. Thanks |
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