fuses - the $39 ones or the 85 cent ones

(Assuming) the fuse isn't in the signalpath, and if it's the correct rating as specified by the OEM, then the equipment sees the same power quality as with any other fuse of the same rating. Sonic differences you hear are the result of otological axons in your brain losing their myelin insulation (due to age, stress, diet, genetics, etc) and lying too close to other axons carrying intense signals of unrealized desire to the hypothalmus (wishful thinking.)

". . . .and the Doctor said, 'them crazy dreams are only in your head!'"
-- B. Dylan
.

If anyone needs the 250 MA or 160 MA fuses we use in Music Reference amps we have them at $3 each or $25 for 10. They are sand filled in ceramic tubes made to our specification. The sand helps in two ways: It moderates the temperature as the current in the tube varies with the music and it fills the void when the fuse wire vaporizes as it usually does when 450 volts is applied across a short. The ceramic tube is more rugged than glass and will not shatter under the stress of vapor pressure.

BTW I agree that $39 fuses are a temptation that caters to those who believe commensurate amounts must be spent in each part of the system. Of course $39 is nothing to a listener who has spent $50,000 on a system or even a single component, but who is to decide what is commensurate. Does that mean we should replace all parts with ones that cost 10 times as much and expect the amp to sound 10 times better? Is this or that ludicrous part bought for "bragging rights"?

I have examined many amplifiers by many makers and when I look into the more expensive ones I often ask "Where's the money, I don't see XX,XXX dollars here"

There was a show on History Channel where an engineer was interviewed about structures. He stated and I agree "Anyone can over-build something but a good engineer gets the best results with the least materials". That's what engineering is about though I don't see much of it in the audio products these days.

Visit ramlabs-musicreference.com and see what we are up to.

Don't forget to install in the proper direction.

Users of the snake fuses have reported performance improvements by "reversing polarity".

Aside from the ac power reversing itself every 60 seconds.

So you'll need fast hands.

LOL

I really love my Hi Fi Tuning fuses. I needed someone to pull the covers off the amps to tell me what to order. When they arrived and he installed the fuses, he noticed an immediate difference in "weight" on my electrostats when the amps were fired up.

This is a person who likes electronics, but could care less about music, fidelity, or trying to stroke my ego. This stuff is REAL.

Count me in the group of fools (believers). I heard a difference with both the Isoclean and Hi-Fi Tuning fuses, and each sounded markedly different than the other. I liked the Hi-Fi tuning fuse better.