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Isoclean fuses: definitely worth it

I just installed Isoclean fuses in my Naim CD5x and Nait5i. I sort of felt like I was going to the fringe by installing these but keep in mind they are right in the AC path so it made sense to me after installing a dedicated line and an "audiophile grade" AC receptacle.

I tried Buss ceramic fuses beforehand and they were just slightly better than stock.

The Isocleans, however, definitely provided a noticeable improvement over stock or Buss ceramics. In a nutshell: smoother treble, a touch more overall resolution (especially in the mids and treble) and elimination of a bit of grain and veiling. Polarity does matter. I checked a few times to verify but arrow down for my equipment was more natural (less bright) than arrow up. You may prefer the other polarity, of course. Note that they didn't affect rhythm as many products do (especially a lot of isolation devices) nor did they add any brightness (at least in the polarity I prefer).

They're not cheap for what they are ($25 per fuse) but the improvement was definitely worth $50 total investment to me.
greg7
davemitchell
253 posts
 
Willster,

I was just trying to reply to Bob P. in the simplest conceptual terms.

As for his theory that fuses and capacitors can't sound different one way than the other, they unfortunately do. I have found that the vast majority of the engineer types who claim that things can't make a sonic difference, have never actually spent any time listening.
inpepinnovations
134 posts
 
Davemitchell, and those the vast majority of those who do 'witness' those sonic differences are often the same people who also witness proof that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones!

If sonic differences are indeed 'witnessed' by changing the direction of the wire or fuse in an AC circuit, it is not due to the direction of the device, but due to some other reason, probably the fact that the connection was changed slightly during the 'trial'.

Bob P.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Inpepinnovations, why do you persist in this nonsense? Once you have heard the impact of a better fuse or of the direction differences among fuses, then put yourself to work finding a test that would remove your doubts. By the way light objects and heavy objects fall at the same rate only in a vacuum.
inpepinnovations
134 posts
 
TBG, why do I persist? Maybe it is the 'educator' in me.

Your staement that all objects fall at the same rate ONLY in a vacuum is WRONG. Identically shaped and sized objects of different weights (actually mass) fall at the same rate regardless of whether there is a vacuum or not.

I think Galelleo demonstrated that a long time ago.
Take two basket balls and fill one with water and drop both from a height. They both will drop at the same speed.
You, however, might witness that the heavier one hits the ground a little ahead of the lighter ball and conclude that the scientific explanation is wrong or simply say that 'I know what I saw, therefore science can't explain everything'.
It has been proven over and over that the human senses are very unreliable.

Respectfully, Bob P.

PS. I have never heard a difference in fuses or proper wires for that matter, but I do hear a difference in sound when I move my ears less than an inch, so my hearing acuity is not in question.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
inpep, so your first statement was not sufficiently qualified.

Certainly you would not jump to the conclusion that since you can hear no differences with fuses that no one can actually hear differences. I know the lame argument that they are subject to perceptual bias and you are not, which itself is curious.

I guess this has evolved into an argument between educators.

Norm
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