Isoclean fuses: definitely worth it

As i've mentioned in other threads, simply pulling and replacing fuses can improve conductivity. This is due to breaking up corrosion and making fresh metal to metal connections. Whether or not this is audible would depend on how corroded those contacts were.

Other than that, maybe Isoclean has found that the corrosion takes appr 6 months to build up to the point of measurable degradation, hence recommending this as the interval to replace their fuses. Replacing the fuse at this point "might" achieve the same results as simply cleaning the contacts on the old fuse and replacing it.

One approach is obviously a lot cheaper than the other whereas the manufacturer stands to profit from the other. Use your own judgment and go from there. Those with the Isoclean's and / or HiFi Tuning fuses aren't the only folks that can try this either : ) Sean

"replace their fuse" "Nowhere did I mention that this situation is limited to Isoclean"

If you care to look closer, the writer of the article actually wrote "replace our fuse". To quote in full, "Looks like we have to replace our fuse from time to time to keep up with the sonics". I think the writer was referring in a general sense to most fuses and not specific, but I won't make it out of proportion one way or the other. Tbg, why the Freudian slip ? Take care.

So if I read all this right, the fuse replacement is more a sales ploy than a fact. The sound will improve by replacing the fuses at around six months, but this would be true in any situation because of corrosive buildup on the fuse and or the holders. Cleaning the fuse every time I change my clock with day light savings will solve this issue.

I tend to not agree with the fuse degradation or my 35 year old Marantz tuner would have surely died by now. Or Grandpa's '50 Scott amps would would certainly have died. No the fuse I believe will not degrade to a point of needing replacement or we would see this problem more often.

I do think fuses matter however, I just don't buy Isocleans comments. This type of comment tends to make me shy away from them as a company, for they can not be fully trusted???

Jade

Jadem6, you read the thread wrong in my opinion. There is no question that there are multiple replacement fuses that are superior to what you normally get in electronic. I have replaced fuses in 9 components thus far. Some are dramatically improved; others are less improved.

Fuse direction with all fuses often makes a great difference. IsoClean marks their fuses direction and thus far I have found them right.

All fuses get brittle with turn on surge. I have never tried replacing fuses just to see whether or not I got a sonic improvement doing so. Your expeience with a fuse lasting 35 years on your tuner may not invalidate this as you have not replace it to see whether sonics improve.

I do not know whether the IsoClean comments have validity or not, but I have much experience to suggest that their fuses offer a great improvement. I have been using some of their fuses for well over a year now with no problems. I guess I could try replacing them to see whether sonics improve, but I probably will not. I am still struggling with which products best clean cds and sacds. I have resolved to my satisfaction what is the best vinyl cleaner.

Interestingl little thread. Let me see if I can stir the pot a little.

If I need to replace a fuse every 6 months, what about the rest of the power supply? For that matter, maybe I need to replace my whole stereo every 6 months.

As to directionality, even a piece of wire will exhibit some amount of inductance, capactance and resistance. Lots of capacitors are constructed by rolling an inner and outer foil together with an insulator like polypropalene in between. There will be a lead attached to each foil. Depending on whether the inner or outer foil lead is connected to the higher or lower impedance point in the circuit will affect the capacitors tendancy to pick up noise from radiated fields around it.

So what am I driving at? It is possible that the construction geometry of the fuse makes it more susceptable to noise pickup in one direction than in the other and this will be dependant on the SPECIFIC circuit it is used in. Meaning that it is possible that one direction will be preferable to the other and that this will vary from one piece of equipment to another.

OTOH maybe it's all BS.