Impressions of the 5 types of slugs / sluggos I've experienced

To start, let's just say all slugs are hypothetically used in the Swiss Digital Fuse Box.  As described below though, all impressions are with slugs directly installed in the listed components.   Some will consider this dangerous and, of course, it can be but we're all adults here so you can decide whether it's worth the risk to run slugs directly in the components or to invest in several of the SDFB instead.  

 

A few years ago, I was looking for the next upgrade, was generally content with my components and cables, and didn't want to spend big bucks.  I decided to look into audiophile fuses and, after a lot of reading, concluded that the good fuses were expensive, especially for several components and there were many reports that some fuses would blow upon turn on so going with a higher rating would be wise.  By luck I found a discussion here about using slugs in place of fuses and that some felt them to sound better than the higher end fuses.  I started by ordering 3/16" x 12" rods of copper and titanium from McMaster-Carr, found precut silver slugs from Golden State Silver out of California, and then bought molybdenum and tungsten rods from a manufacturer directly and used a local machine shop to have the rods cut to the standard 20mm length.  I have had no issues with any of the slugs on any of my components and must say, even the least impressive (IMHO) copper slugs were a very significant upgrade from the stock fuses.  The others, to me in my system, were the kind of improvement I would expect from a significant component upgrade.  The differences were BIG!!!   I'll try to discuss each below as objectively as I can and will list my system at the end.

 

COPPER:   Compared to the stock fuses, the copper sounds more powerful and fuller, with greater bass weight.  The detail is more apparent but, overall, there isn't any brightness, actually taming a pesky sibilance I had been occasionally experiencing.  If I had just installed the copper slugs in all my components without hearing the other slugs, I would have been happy with that and my system wouldn't sound, at all, like it does now.  I would not have invested a couple grand in cables (used prices) as I have done this last year.  Knowing this, I'm thrilled that I did investigate these other metals as I find them all to be a big step up from the copper slugs but must still point out that the coppers are much better than the stock fuses and would definitely recommend giving them a try.

 

SILVER:  The silver slugs I tried, and I only had 2, sounded just about like what you'd expect good silver cables to sound like.  Generally, the detail is quite good, top to bottom, the soundstaging/imaging is well focused with a good sense of the performers and the recording venue, dynamics are quite respectable.  All in all, these do everything right.  The slugs I acquired are even a bit sweet sounding.   I could live with having these only, installed in all my components but, the next 3 do some things better but other things less well.   And this has led me to believe the best sound will be achieved by mixing/matching the various types of slugs.

 

MOLYBDENUM:   The molys have the top end air/extension/detail of silver.  However, they are more full sounding in the bass up to the mid-midrange, giving them more body and weight.  If your system sounds light-weight, the molys will put some meat on the bone.  They are also more dynamic than the silvers but still sound "musical".  For these reasons though, I have found they work best when mixed with tungsten and/or titanium slugs otherwise the low end can be a bit overpowering and sound too exuberant.   Of course, system matching and synergy are everything and, in a system lacking weight and vigor, these could be just what is needed.

 

TUNGSTEN:    These are a bit more detailed than the silvers and molys, I think because they lessen the "smearing" that has always been in my systems.  I didn't know it was there until the tungstens showed me what my system could sound like without it.  They are more focused with more lifelike images.  The sounds are just more "real"   It's the bass, though, that really has stood out to me.  While the molys have a big, full bass, the tungstens have excellent, tight, controlled bass with lots of SLAM.  I actually have to dial down the output and crossover point on my active crossover when going from any other slug(s) to the tungstens.   I'm less thrilled about the top end, though, as it seems a bit recessed...maybe.  It's not rolled off sounding nor lacking detail, it just doesn't have the sparkle of the silvers, molys, or titaniums.  And running all tungsten slugs give a detailed and well controlled sound, precise sound, but it lacks a bit on top and loses a bit of musicality, sounded too "matter of fact" for my taste.  Again, mixing/matching works best for these too.

 

TITANIUM:    OK, I love these and would like my system A LOT less without them but....they're kinda weird.  Positives first, the subtle inner detail is excellent, IMHO and I mean the kind of low level detail like decays, the oscillating tones in electronic music (usually these notes sound like a single tone but with the titaniums, it's easy to hear the warbling effects that sustain these notes), breath... and they do soundstaging like crazy, with precise locations and they track movement across the soundstage almost moving pixel by pixel, if that were how sound was reproduced.  In a way, they sound kinda spooky.  And I mentioned that the tungstens reduce "smearing" of sounds, well the titaniums do this to an even greater degree.  The sounds are just SOOO clear with titaniums in the mix.  On the downside though, they reduce midrange density and can push the lead vocals down in the mix while still displaying all sounds clearly and in their own specific location.  Vocals can sound downright "wrong" with the titaniums, mechanical even.  I don't really notice a problem with other sounds/instruments.  It's the vocal that really suffer.  So, I would never go all titaniums.  It would be almost unlistenable on most records.  I like to balance them out with the molys or tungstens, preferably in the amps and crossover.  The titaniums worst best, for me, in my DAC and transport.  If you want that saturated sound with tonal colors, these are not for you.

 

System--------------------------------------------------------

Custom speakers using Eton drivers (looks like Legacy Focus)--bass drivers are Peerless 1259s

pair of Red Dragon S-500 amps vertically biamped (not bridged)

either Bel Canto DAC 2.8 or Audio Alchemy DDP-1/PS-5 with RAL upgraded umbilical

2 Bel Canto CD3t transports----different digital cables and slugs to achieve very different sounds

NHT x-2 crossover

all plugged into Equi-Core 1800 with Cruze Audio Maestro outlets

 

speaker cables:  Ridge Street Audio Altethias

Interconnects:  from DAC xlr to Red Dragon xlr      Kitsune 

                          from DAC rca to NHT x2 xlr        custom DIY silver

                          from NHT x2 xlr to Red Dragon xlr      6sons Audio Golden Eagle

power cords:               to Equi Core 1800 and Red Dragons      6Sons Audio                                            Golden  Eagle  w/Acrolink plugs 

                                 to Bel Canto transports Furutech FP TCS-21 w/IeGO 8095                                        plugs

                                to DAC:    Wollf Audio BOHICA w/Oyaide 004

 

digital cables:   Grover Huffman Pharaoh w/Oyaide Focus 1 xlr   

                           Marigo Audio Apparition Extreme v2