2. tech-talk
  3. 1127245709

Fuses - Why do same size fuses sound different?

Because of recent reviews on fuses and some manufacturers using some fuses to voice their products, I am embarking on a fact finding mission of why some sound better than others.
Most electronic fuses have nickel plated brass caps with glass or ceramic tubes but vary in sound despite that. I have not been able to find any info on the construction of the elements themselves, is this where the variability in sound stem from?
So far I have compared a set of Cooper-Bussman Ceramic, Radioshack Ceramic, and Littlefuse Glass 10 Amp fuses on my amp. They all sound very different, the Radioshack is by far the worst of the group, its imaging is diffuse, timbres sound off, and it lacked tranparency and extension relative to the others. The Littlefuse have better focus than the Radioshacks, timbres are more accurate and it was more transparent, however, it was extremely bright and etched up top. The Bussmans sounded very good compared to the others, everything fell in place with this fuse, it had very focused images with added weight and detail, timbres were true, and it was the most transparent and relaxed of the group. It had very good dimensionality and musicality, but only when oriented in one direction only.
The moral of this story is that I hope all manufacturers spend the time researching fuses when they use them in their products, otherwise we have to start "fuse rolling" to get the best sound. The good thing about fuses is that they don't cost much.
plelko
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Red, I have not noted who made the supplied fuses in my equipment, but I have greater and lesser improvements depending on the equipment in substituting the IsoCleans. I have yet to have them sound worse. I suppose you did heed the directional arrow on the IsoCleans.

I still seek a silver fuse in which the fuse element is silver as well as the end caps. I think there are such animals from Germany, but I have yet to lay hands on them.
plelko OP
26 posts
 
Artg, are you willing to undertake comparing Bussman fuses to your Iso Cleans and sharing your impressions. I think it is important to establish tube, oops, I mean fuse signatures if there is such a thing so everybody can optimize their systems to their liking. To me, the implications are staggering when different fuses have such an effect.
A potential problem with the Iso Clean reviews is that their reported performance advantages maybe based on comparisons to some of the worst sounding fuses out there.
irish65
170 posts
 
I just talked to Steve at the Cable Company and he said it will be any day now before he lays his hands on the silver fuses from Germany. He said he will demo them and get back with me on their performance. Comparing them to the Isoclean he said the silver are a much higher quality. We will see, or hear in this case, if the higher quality fuses improves the sound.
red2
79 posts
 
Tbg, yes I did try the IsoClean fuses in both directions. There was a clear sonic difference in changing the orientation of the fuse. But neither orientation satisfied me.

Much of my system is solid state combined with a passive preamp which gives me lots of transparency. My source components all have tubes in them though. So this mixture of gear, with the Magnaplaner speakers is about the right degree of "warmth" to the music. Many of the tweaks I have tried tend to change the sound to a more sterile, neutral sound. Not bright. Almost too "white, clean" sounding, lossing the warmth to voices etc. I really think it may just be my system. But I am very happy! This is the most musical system and best natural sounding one I have ever owned. The bass traps behind my Maggie planers and the acoustical treatment in the room in general really just tightened up the bass, increased the width and height of the soundstage, everything. Very intimate, and sounding like one would hear at a LIVE venue such as a local piano bar or night club. More up front than really laid back and recessed sounding but warm and very transparent for the $15k or so that I have invested in this system.

Happy Listening

R.
jeff_jones
418 posts
 
Seems like it's time to debate double blind testing again . . . . .
More to discover