2. tech-talk
  3. 1238881163

Iso Clean Fuses

I just installed the Isoclean fuses in my Marantz SA-11S1 SaCd player. This player has 5 fuses inside. Turned it on and boy did it sound bad. The worst tweek I have ever tried. The highs were gone. In fact the over all volume was reduced! My heart sank. Faintly remembering the info sheet says these fuses have a direction to them, I had hope. Out comes the player from the stand. Fuses pointed in the other direction, now towards tha front of the player. Back in the stand, all connections remade. When i turned off the amp I left the volume at the same level. Power on. Hurray! SET magic sound restored. The crystal clear mids are there and the delicate highs have returned.
These fuses are supposed to be placed following the direction of current. I do not know if I have each circuit fused correctly as I do not have a diagram of the current flow. But in the Marantz the fuse arrow sounds better pointing to the front versus all pointing towards the rear.
So if you try an Isoclean fuse, try it in both directions before deciding if it helps or not.
David Pritchard
128x128davidpritchard
rodman99999
6,121 posts
 
What you consider, "too much" to pay, or what effort you're willing to expend for improved sound, is directly proportionate to you love for music and your ability to hear. Then, of course, there are always the Julian Hirsch disciples(everything sounds the same).
chashas1
596 posts
 
Oh, I think you can hear this change regardless of your abilities or loves....
bicycle_man
100 posts
 
It is a non-issue with me. I am very happy with my system thus far.

$39 is too much for me to pay for a fuse.

I read Isoclean's website information on their fuse. It contained implications, but no solid information about the how's and why's of their fuse and improvement in sound. They just basically said, "it improves the sound."

I simply reiterate, $39! It's just a fuse. Although I might add it is gold plated; that looks neat. And you can show it to your friends. Oh, and it says "audio grade" on it; you can point that out to your friends, as well.

But hey, if you are happy with your choice, good for you.

Cheers.
moonguy
148 posts
 
Bicycle man,

Put one in your amp and tranform your sound. The amp makes the most difference. I have one in my cdp and pre as well. I really hope you don't have a lot invested in your system , the musical enjoyment you are missing out on for a measly $39 bucks is quite entertaining.
chashas1
596 posts
 
Now leave Bicycle man alone, he seems quite content, as do we who have upgraded our fuses. Investment is a good point, if someone only spent $20 on zipcord for speaker cable, they'll think it total lunacy to spend $40 on a fuse.
Remember the saying, you can sometimes learn by observing those that can't.
More to discover