Aftermarket fuse to tame a bright system?

@audphile1 

Paul McGowan On Audiophile Fuses

Paul of PS Audio describes his astonishment at what a difference audiophile fuses made in his system. His first experience was a blind test during which he didn't even know what the tweak was. We also learn that PS Audio has been using such fuses in some of its equipment since then.

audphile1

... The fuse on the other hand is a 1” long safety device with a hair thin piece of wire that melts when the amperage criteria is exceeded ... the difference in sound quality this device can make is negligible at best ...

That's interesting that you think a fuse is such a trivial thing, but breaking in Furutech GTX-D NCF outlets causes an "absolutely psychotic rollercoaster that lasts over 300hrs." What do you think accounts for the difference?

@bolong I don’t doubt Paul heard a difference with an expensive fuse. I heard it too when I tried it in my amp about 15 years ago.

So I don’t doubt that fuses make a difference. The point I was trying to make in my earlier response is that no fuse change is capable of offsetting faults in a signal path that were introduced by cables or tubes. Or components.

@cleeds I do not know what is causing this phenomenon with the Furutech stuff.
But what I do know is that I installed two of these GTX-D NCF Rhodium outlets months apart and observed the same crazy break in these things go thru each time. Or to be more precise what these outlets put the listener thru while breaking in. The sound is gorgeous straight out of the box. 10+ hours in it starts. It goes thru several phases including almost all highs, glare in the mids, no bass; then veiled mids, all bass no highs, then everything there top to bottom but super harsh and lean basically unlistenable; then all fatiguing mids and after that it begins to even out. I’ve never experienced anything like this other than with Furutech DTX-D NCF outlets and AC connectors. Their power cords take forever to break in as well.

As to why outlets make a difference, I do not know. Just like Paul McGowan doesn’t know why fuses make a difference. Is it the alloy they use? The plating? Rhodium conductivity? Contact surface? Anything happening at molecular level? No clue.

You should order the furutech gtx-d NCF outlet and try it out. See how it works in your system. And may be have an actual option of your own based on experience rather than picking on my post in another thread.

This is my only response to you as apparently having a normal conversation without jabbing isn’t something you’re capable of.

audphile1

You should order the furutech gtx-d NCF outlet and try it out. See how it works in your system.

I’m tempted. My system is biamplified and basically runs on four 20A derated dedicated lines: one for the HF amplifier, one for the LF amplifier, one for the preamp and analog sources, and one for digital. I don’t think premium outlets such as the Furutech were available when I installed those lines decades ago, so I used the best quality Leviton devices that were available at the time. I have very poor quality AC where I live, so each line floats on isolation transformers and this has worked relatively well.

I’ve tried Furutech AC plugs on some of my power cords (using Wireworld cable) and wasn’t impressed with the build quality. I’ve thought about upgrading the dedicated wall outlets but haven’t been sure whose to use (Furutech, Audioquest, Oyaide, Synergistic Research, etc.) and which of the four lines to install it on first. I don’t rule out a possible improvement because I’ve been surprised by seemingly small things before. Hence interest.

I also haven't tried an audiophile grade fuse because, in the same vein as audiophile outlets, I wonder about their possible sonic influence.

... This is my only response to you as apparently having a normal conversation without jabbing isn’t something you’re capable of.

Suit yourself.