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In Reply to: RE: Audiophile Grade Fuses posted by el34eh@yahoo.com on July 09, 2014 at 13:41:15
Here's an update on the Fuses, as from a letter sent to a bubbly of mine a few minutes ago.
And as the old adage goes - " YMMV ", but I hear what I hear, and trust what I hear.
Here's said letter word per word:
Brotha B,
I've been up since 7:13am and decided to drag my behind out to the living room for a brief listen, that turned into over three hours now, as I wanted to get a feel for the fuses I've in.
Well so far I absolutely love three of them so far, the Audio Horizon Platinum Reference - Audio Magic Super and Synergistic Research Quantum Red, over the Furutech and Hi-Fi Tuning, as each has a more neutral, yet spacious presentation that's hand to describe - but instruments take on a cleaner/quieter backdrop where little subtle clues like how a drummer taps lightly on the snare or cymbals and it's as if you can actually count the number of times he has stuck both, rim shots linger on and on for what appears like a minute afterwards, the highs shimmer as if ascending towards the very heavens with a sense of delicacy that has to be heard/felt to be believed.
There's a greater sense that timbre and tonality are even more truer to the source then what I've grown accustomed to with the fuse each replaced which happens to be an SR sr20 Quantum Fuse, which was extremely musical, but the others are on a totally different level scale wise - the music takes on a life of its own, as if freed from the confines of being held back for to long, and have been released to explore the greater reaches of the unknown - subtle piano shading take on new life, and I can hear more easily into each finger strike/bend with a greater emphasis on pitch and timing if you will.
Bass definition is on another plane all together, as it seems as if my little speakers have grown an 8" woofer overnight - how I'm hearing rumbling below one note that gradually seems to extend to one ever lower ( if that makes any sense? ), more importantly the pitch is spot on, and highlighted as a veil has been removed from the baffle of the speakers themselves, and allows the amp to play much louder at lower volume settings where as before, I had to approach say 9:00 on the knob to find a common threshold where each musician seemed to lock in as far as dynamic range went - now I'm hearing further into what seems like a hold dug about 10' into the ground, yet there's something flowing about the surface at about 3' which scares the shit out of me.
In the end, it seems as if the timing has been released and now each individual note has it's place in time as well as serves a purpose to the very fiber of the artist craft that seemed hidden just below the very surface of the notes, yet disjointed in a manner that one doesn't hear, until one hears what has been missed or glossed over to begin with, everything appears more calm as well as peaceful in a manner that relaxes ones body and mind state all at once, it's hard to explain, yet it's happening right before my eyes/eyes as the musicians are more evenly spread across the soundstage separated by what appears to be layers upon layers of new found drive or better put, a sense of freedom.
At this moment, the Audio Horizon and Audio Magic are maybe 28% more involving in away that comes across as more " natural ", while the SR Quantum Red, strikes me as a great sounding fuse on its own merits, but compared to the slightly more costlier fuses, it's not a grounded/refined in that area that draws one closer to the musical messages hidden directly beneath the very surface of musical bliss.
Weird shit, but the truth, and for those whom don't believe " that everything in audio makes a difference " be damned, I'm relying upon what my mind/body/ears/senses tell me sounds
" right ".
I intend to post this on both AA and AS for those whom might be interested in said findings, Brotha B, all this and more from fuses that cost a mere $90 - $115, shit.........., that can't buy a nice pair of desirable NOS Tubes to my mind, I'm reaching a place where many simply aren't open-minded enough to approach - it's called " Enlightenment ".
Later little Brotha.
Follow Ups:
I've tried HiFi Tuning Supreme, HiFi Tuning Gold, Isoclean, Furutech, AMR, and a couple of other brands. Can't get myself to try Synergistic Research because of a very bad experience with another of their products - there are some companies I just won't patronize.
In my amplifiers, HiFi Tuning Gold sound much better than HiFi Tuning Supreme. The Supreme sounds good at first until I realize that the smoothness comes at the expense of attenuated bass and smearing together of sound in general. Harmony vocals are not as distinct, guitar and piano sound thin, and the bass sounds tight but lacks proper weight. That's with both a pair of tube 120 Watt monoblocks and a lower power (25-30 Watt) stereo tube amps.
I was very pleased to snatch up a supply of the HiFi Tuning Gold for each of my amps on closeout for $12.50 each.
If you get confused, listen to the music play (Garcia/Hunter)
Hello, I currently use Hifi Tuning Gold fuses in all of my stereo equipment that includes a B&K AVR505 Receiver, Belles 350A Reference Amplifier, Theta Digital Compli Universal Player, and Audio Research DAC7.
A few months ago I had been reading a lot of positive reviews of the Audio Horizons Platinum fuse, so I had one sent to me for an audition. The only fuse rating that Audio Horizons had in stock to audition was a fuse for the Theta Universal Player, so when the AH fuse arrived I removed the Hifi Tuning fuse from the Theta Compli and installed the AH Platinum fuse. After auditioning the fuse for a few days my impression was that the fuse somehow changed the timbre of the music. It was as if there was an artificial sheen that was applied to the music that I did not care for at all. Also, the bass became flabby and a lot less articulate than with the Hifi Tuning fuse. I left the AH fuse in the Theta for a full week thinking that it must need more time to burn in (that was one very long week!), but it never got any better and I just wanted to go back to listening to music again (and enjoying it) so I remove the AH fuse and reinstalled the Hifi Tuning Gold fuse and the music bliss returned. I returned the AH fuse within the audition period.
I didn't really understand all the positive reviews surrounding the AH fuse, but perhaps it just didn't work well in the Theta Player. Maybe it would be better in an amp. Any thoughts?
-Ionman
"An ounce of perception, a pound of obscure." - Neil Peart
Good morning ionman,
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience between the Hi-Fi Tuning and AH fuses, as it seems that in a lot of cases, it might come down to a matter of the systems overall sonic flavor if you will, while some components require more air/sparkle added at the very top end to enhance detailing properties, while others might need a warmer hue, while a few otters might yet - be better off with something more neutral.
I more or less see this factor as I hear/feel how tubes or cabling looms address the different needs of our respective systems as well, like many whom tend to migrate towards the use of Telefunken tubes to add a sense of awakening a somewhat reserved or sluggish component that otherwise glosses over the musical information to much to be enjoyed - while the opposite is needed for components that are a tad overly bright and/or slightly on the analytical side of the audio spectrum, and needs to be toned down - here is where certain British designed tubes come into play from the likes of Mullard - Brimar or original versions of Osram/GEC/Genalex offer what I often refer to as a more human effect to the sound, making things appear more pleasant in nature.
I'm primarily using these fuses in a tube based integrated amp, which I've taken the time to understand its sound, then through demos over the last 2 years, found a pure copper based speaker cable brand/line that worked perfectly between it and my chosen Mini-Monitors in regards to a signature that fitted both, and working further upstream at the source end, in adding a hybrid ( CU/AG ) IC from this same line that added more air/sparkle/attacking on notes in the higher frequencies, as a means of highlighting nunances hidden when it came to piano notes lingering in time as well as properly extended cymbal decay that can be both heard/felt as if they are floating towards the ceiling of the listening area, yet with every little strike put into its proper position across the sound stage/field in such a realistic manner, it draws me deeper into its void.
I guess in hindsight, like most things audio related, this is system dependant as well, so as I view/hear it, there aren't any right or wrongs, in so much as what our system and ears wish to hear that fits both of the requirements down to a " T ".
But as mentioned earlier on, someone else spoke of their fondness towards the HI-Fi Tuning Supreme, and how with both of your endorsements - I shall take both seriously enough to add it to my list of next two purchase, as one never knows what works best in any given system?, unless one is willing to listen more in-depth to said devices to begin with!, but in my mind it's enough to cause me a reason to continue the quest, because at these low prices
( to me, compared to what's invested into ones system that is ) makes it all the more worthwhile from a musical standpoint to investigate even further.
Thanks again for chiming in ionman, and now for something on a different matter.
I'd like to apologize for allowing several posters here get under my skin, and somewhat over reacted with some rather bitter words, which are part of who I am ( raw but real ) but shouldn't been written/spoken out loud if you will, but in the world/neighborhood I grew up in, it was always better to bite ones tongue if they weren't capable of saying anything nice, so I'd rather put that out there to the guys whom seem as if they're always on a negative vibe, trying to rain on someone's parade, once again, I see life as it should be - live and let live, but don't for one second think out the box thinkers should follow your lead, as some ( hopefully most of us? ) can more or less find our own paths with a little bite of assistances here and there, from those whom are willing to share their " truths " instead of misguided anger.
" As I see it dogs and wolves are followers, while men are more then capable of standing alone, if need be, in other words, a follower I am not ".
The quest continues............
Regards,
O_o scar
How can a fuse ADD more air/ sparkle?
Hi Ubiquitous Biscuit,
I believe that a audiophile grade fuse can act in a couple ways in order to alter the sound of a stereo component/system or impart a particular sonic signature. The first way a fuse can alter the sound is by "Addition by subtraction". Think of the fuse as a type of filter or choke. If the fuse allows the component to perform better by reducing the filter or opening up the choke then the component can perform at a higher level. This is realized by a reduction of noise in the component or a lowering of the noise floor (i.e. blacker background), so to speak. If there is less noise in the compoenent then you will notice more air/space between instruments and there will be more resolution to the sound. The sound may even become more relaxed and natural.
The other way a fuse can impart a sonic signature to the sound would be from the materials that it is made from. I tend to lean toward copper mainly for my interconnects as I find it to offer a more natural/organic sound compared to silver, which adds speed and detail to the sound but may sound a little lean and sterile. I believe the Hifi Tuning Fuses use a silver wire, which should impart a very detailed but leaner sound. I do not find this to be the case, since the endcaps are coated with gold which tends to impart a warmer sound; therefore, you get the best of both.
These audiophile grade fuses are indeed expensive, but after having them in my system for the past few years there is no way I could be able to enjoy my system,at the level that I currently am, without them.
-Ionman
"An ounce of perception, a pound of obscure." - Neil Peart
The same way your mouth can obviously!, instead of asking weird questions, why not try listening for yourself, and then you tell us, how about it genius.
You had mentioned that some components require more air/sparkle while referencing ion man's use of two different fuses. Are you implying that if your amp does not have the requisite air/sparkle, then the addition of one of the fuses will address this need? Does that mean that the current fuse is somehow inhibiting the inherent air/sparkle lying within, or does that mean that the component is neutral (and doesn't exhibit air/sparkle in the first place) and that the fuse will add air/sparkle?
I think this is a relevant question to the topic.
Okay, relevant point, so it deserves a response.I was more or less referring to one system not so much as the fuses themselves that add a sense of air/sparkle per SE, but things like the metal plating in/on items like ones cabling - AC cord and even fuses to my mind alter the sound, as some would except the theory that gold plating general emphasizes the warmer side of the audio spectrum and is generally heard through the midband area, where as copper is more geared towards bringing a more neutral sound into the mix - by adding warmth, yet with a fuller/richer more pronounced weight that are concentrated between the upper midrange and lower bass extremes, metal plating like say Rhodium have a nice sense of adding extension at the top end with a little bit of refinement added, yet lacks drive/snap if you will.
While lastly silver plating/plated in one form are another tends to emphasize a greater sense of resolution and/or air/sparkle into the mix as far as upper frequencies go, but as always we hear differently, but I'm one that can hear the different frequencies affected by these alloys as presented by their sonic signatures on a whole, as someone mentioned earlier on about the caps being finished in either Silver - Rhodium or Gold, do in fact have an adverse effect on the outcome of what said fuses signature more or less hints at, based purely upon ones perspective of their known sounds as used in plating materials for said connectors or even the wiring harness within any given component - is altered by one selection of silver or copper wiring, but I'm not one for measurements or jargon and tend to voice things accordingly by ear, as they are capable of telling me if something sounds correct!, or if something's off/unnatural?.
It's merely a matter of what each of us then wants to hear?, it's all subjective at best, but where does safety guidelines or ratings have any effect on the outcome if one is merely seeking to gain a higher sense of fidelity or musicality through the use of said devices?, as cabling looms - power cords - isolation devices - tubes and cartridges have a sound of their own, and once introduced to one system, changes the sound/tonality/timbre/texture/pitch of the shading of the instruments themselves - in my mind everything that entered ones system changes the sound from dull/lifeless - neutral/transparent or finally aggressive/analytical as those are in fact the only three flavors/shadings of sound as rendered through our systems, it's merely a matter of which one, each of us then prefers and voice our systems accordingly.
Endgame.
Edits: 07/25/14
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