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Thank You To The Inmates Who Lent Me The Fuses

75.25.148.228

Posted on April 25, 2015 at 14:20:05
Luminator
Audiophile

Posts: 8259
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000



I'm not going to name names, unless the three of you want to take a bow :-)

Readers of my blog know that I review a wide variety of gear. In the mean time, after-market fuses have become mature technology. My audio friends are now on their 2nd and 3rd generations of such fuses. We not only get to play with the new fuses, the old ones get to be passed from 'phile to 'phile. All of these fuses have aided me, as I've reviewed electronic gear.

My current review of the Simaudio Neo 260D is going to take a few weeks. I will not be able to blog about the fuses themselves for some time. Since several of you are clamoring for reports on the fuses, let me just give you the Cliffs Notes version here.

Audio Magic Premier Beeswax: if you want images carved with X-Acto knife precision, look elsewhere. The Premier Beeswax paints with an artist's bristle brush. But in terms of texturally and timbrally making voices and instruments sound more like, well, voices and instruments, nothing else in my decades of experience does them as honestly as this. This is not the usual ubiquitous fake warmth and "analog-like" BS. The Premier Beeswax helps my gear remind us that instruments are not just metal, plastic, wood, tubes, and paint; they are the result of machinery and handcrafting.

Hi-Fi Tuning Supreme: the bargain of the bunch, the Supreme allows my gear to become more chameleon-like. It does the best job of maintaining the mid-treble, AND the air and "breath" around each image. If you watch CSN Bay Area's broadcasts of Golden State Warriors games, the Supreme does the best job of getting right the squeaks, crowd chatter, clangs, swishes, scorer's table buzzes, and balls bouncing. Moreover, because these ambient sounds are placed in the largest, most accurate soundstage, the venue as a whole is better-reproduced. Yes, I live just two BART stops south of the Coliseum. Yes, I've been there many times. Given my system, the Supreme does the best job of making feel as though I'm in the Coliseum arena.

Synergistic Research Quantum Red: clean, glossy, and fleet of foot, when it comes to PRAT, the Quantum Red doesn't mess around.

Each of the above sounds different. Some of you will like the Premier Beeswax for its "organic" renditions of the music. Some of you will appreciate the Supreme for allowing your system to differentiate each recording. Some of you can't do without the Quantum Red's modern sound. Please don't be the bigot, who proclaims that one is universally superior to all others.

Despite what the manufacturers say, all three fuses are directional. So you'll have to try each fuse both ways. Don't worry, the wrong direction will be easy to discern.

The Supreme takes just a few days to burn-in. The Premier Beeswax and Quantum Red take 3-4 long weeks to burn-in. Moreover, they can sound terrible, for the first couple of weeks. So be patient.

All of my non-audiophile guests* can easily tell the sonic differences between each fuse. Once you hear one, and then go back to whatever stock fuse came with your gear, you're going to curse the stock fuse.

The Audiophiles' DJ,
Lummy The Loch Monster

* Last night, my guests were reminiscing about the early 90s. We brought back the trio of Cathy Dennis' "Too Many Walls," Kylie Minogue (with Keith Washington)'s "If You Were With Me Now," and Kathy Troccoli's "Everything Changes." These were anti-grunge pop songs of the 91-92 school year. They were instrumental in highlighting the sonic differences between the three after-market fuses.

 

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Question, please..... , posted on April 25, 2015 at 15:49:05
Winston Smith
Audiophile

Posts: 1014
Location: PNW (summers) and Southern AZ (winters)
Joined: December 2, 2006
The HiFi Tuning fuses are marked for directionality, allegedly based on refined resistance measurements (but who knows?)

Did you find the directionality so indicated to be reliable, or were they wrong any amount of the time, in your testing?

TIA

Cheers,

WS

 

That Depends On the Circuit, posted on April 25, 2015 at 16:23:17
Luminator
Audiophile

Posts: 8259
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000



Both the Hi-Fi Tuning and Synergistic Research fuses have writing going in one direction. Without electrical measurement tools, you don't know what direction current flows, within the fuse-holder.

But by ear, you can easily tell which way is wrong. Images will be bloated, soundstage is a mess (or non-existent) and PRAT will be f----- up. Even in my mid-fi Rotel RCC-1055, non-audiophiles can tell when the fuse is oriented the wrong way.

I find it interesting that the manual and even the unit itself may indicate a fuse value. Yet, the manufacturer often has placed a fuse which has a different (higher) value. For example, I'm reviewing the Simaudio Neo 260D right now. The F2 fuse calls for a slow-blow 20mm 0.200A fuse. Yet, this unit came with a 0.400A fuse.

Audio Magic claim that their fuses [pictured is a Premier Beeswax] are non-directional. My friends and I have disproved that. Just like the other brands, an Audio Magic fuse in the wrong direction will sound lumpy, grainy, congested, and bloated.

Only you can decide if a given fuse is the right sonic match for your gear, budget, tastes, and goals. That's where we as an audio community come in. We need to share our experiences, wares, and music.

 

You didn't answer the question....., posted on April 25, 2015 at 22:45:47
Winston Smith
Audiophile

Posts: 1014
Location: PNW (summers) and Southern AZ (winters)
Joined: December 2, 2006
...but that's cool, if you never checked.

I always determine current flow before installing, and the HiFi Tuning fuses have an arrow indicating directionality (which is, by the way, in the same direction as the writing.) I have yet to find one that is incorrectly labeled, and only sought your findings in that regard. I have been using them since their introduction eons ago, and find them to offer fair value for their (somewhat high) prices. Other premium fuses have not fared so well in my evaluations (especially gold-plated fuses), but YMMV and all that.

As you may (or may not) be aware, even shit el cheapo fuses are directional, at least in my experience. They can be improved sonically for nothing by subjecting them to a simple 24 hour freeze in your freezer, but then wrap them in a cloth that also has been frozen, and then let thaw in the fridge for another 24 hours, as per the Belts, Stu and Geoff Kait (am I allowed to say his name?) The sonic improvement wrought by same is pretty impressive, especially when cost (zero) is factored. Adding silicon O-rings on the glass/ceramic body can also improve the sonics for pennies. But I still use the HiFi Tuning fuses as my go-to premium fuses. I wouldn't be without them.

 

They Seem To Be Consistent, posted on April 25, 2015 at 23:28:41
Luminator
Audiophile

Posts: 8259
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000
Over the years, I think I've gone through about 30 different Hi-Fi Tuning fuses, either Gold or Supreme. Some were 20mm, others were 32mm. Most were slow-blow, but some were fast-blow. As I have not tried their Silver Star, I am not at liberty to comment.

I have multiple samples of the Supreme in the slow-blow 20mm 0.200A value. I haven't found any to be "mislabeled." That is, when pointing in the same direction, all of the samples did indeed sound correct.

Moreover, I've had the slow-blow 20mm 0.500A value in both the Gold and the Supreme. Fortunately, the direction indicated by the arrow on all of these samples was consistent.

That doesn't mean that someone else's samples will be consistently labeled. But at least mine seemed consistent.

This past week, I've had six different audiophiles ask me about these after-market fuses. The fuses I'm currently using have also been used in other people's equipment, none of which is the same as mine. The other guys may have different tastes and values not just from me, but with each other. Nevertheless, these fuses seem to perform the same, regardless of who has had them, or in which components they were placed.

It all depends on the fundamental sound of the component itself. For example, in many mid-fi components, the Synergistic Research Quantum Red ROCKS! Its shortcomings lie in areas where the mid-fi gear doesn't resolve. But when I use the Red in gear which has higher resolution, we notice losses in breath, texture, and organization/scaling of the soundstage.

As one of my audio friends wrote, the Quantum Red can make the Hi-Fi Tuning Supreme sound "feminine." We liken it to the girl who writes logical, factual, grammically-correct arguments. Sometimes, you want that girl to pen searing speeches, intense thrillers, twisted humor, or salacious gossip - but she's just too intellectual, see-through honest, and non-violent.

The Audio Magic Premier Beeswax is bound to be polarizing. It goes to work on the mids and bass, but that work leaves the treble sounding proportionately too small. But when we listen carefully, the treble quality is fine. For a lot of people, the tonal balance will preclude the Premier Beeswax from consideration. But those who can get over the "skewed" tonal balance can find lots to like. Simply put, I haven't found other tweaks, which bring about the instruments' natural textures, quite like the Premier Beeswax.

Everyone bitches about the $175 price. But if this is one's sonic cup of tea, then the $175 for the Premier Beeswax is a cheaper way to attain what, for example, the Cardas Clear and Clear Beyond try to achieve.

Obviously, there are other brands of "audiophile" fuses. I haven't tried most of those, so I can't comment. Other users will have to chime in, and let us know if any was "incorrectly labeled."

 

Well, maybe not always, posted on April 26, 2015 at 01:57:07
Joe Appierto
Audiophile

Posts: 1086
Location: Central NJ
Joined: January 3, 2004
I've tried the three varieties of the Hi-Fi Tuning fuses in my conrad-johnson CA200 integrated amp. In one application, the mains fuse, the preferred orientation was always the same. I also do not have any measurement equipment to test current flow and so had to do it by ear. The "right" orientation was pretty much apparent from the beginning although I did let the fuses settle in for a few days before reversing them.

The exception to the rule, at least in my case, has been the pair of B- and the other pair of B+ rail fuses in the CA200. I found that the Gold and Silver landed-up in two different directions. Just as a note, I keep all four of them pointing in one direction because the combinations of B+ rails going one way and the B- rails going the other or alternating every other direction, etc. proved too daunting a task even for me.

I find the Gold and the identical sounding Gold XT to be the warmest sounding of the trio. Very pleasant and a definite improvement in almost all ways over the stock fuses. The Silver was the most detailed to my ears in these applications with the best inner detail/timbre. The Supreme seems to be somewhere in between combining characteristics of the Gold and Silver although not to the same degree of either. In a sense, it was the most neutral and did the best job of not leaving a sonic signature.

As a side note, based upon a conversation with John Pharo at The Cable Company, I purchased the WA-Quantum GmbH's Quantum Chips and tried them on stock, Gold and Silver Star fuses. In my estimation they work in producing positive results without any downside that I could detect. He advised not using them on the Supreme fuses as the results would be very small so I never did try them in that application. Also, contrary to the picture supplied by the manufacturer, do not place the Quantum Chips on the fuse's end caps. They do not conduct electricity and will therefore produce no sound if tried that way. I know because I tried it anyway. John recommended placing them as close to the end cap as possible without actually touching the end cap itself.

For whatever reasons, system synergy, personal tastes, etc., the final configuration for the CA200 was an all Silver Star line-up. I have purchased a Supreme to use in my PS Audio DirectStream and as soon as I get the nerve up to open the case, I'll be trying one in there.


Joe

 

Create Audio Luxury Nano Fuse, posted on April 26, 2015 at 03:41:22
aupiho
Audiophile

Posts: 200
Location: south france
Joined: February 28, 2015
For those who don't want to spent too much for fuse but with very good results you should test Create Audio Luxury Nano Fuse.
I've test a another brand of fuse wich use quartz crystals and that was very bad: it seemed a blanket was put on speakers!
Maybe with more burn-in???

 

RE: Create Audio, posted on April 26, 2015 at 04:15:12
Winston Smith
Audiophile

Posts: 1014
Location: PNW (summers) and Southern AZ (winters)
Joined: December 2, 2006
I tried those. They have gold on one end and rhodium on the other. The idea is to balance the roll-off of the gold with the peakiness of the rhodium. For a cheap (relatively) fuse, they are not bad. Not nearly as good as the HiFi Tuning Silver Stars, but not bad for the money. Nowhere near the resolution of the Silver Stars, though, but nowhere near the price, either.

Another to try are the ARM gold fuses, if your system is bright. They have a typical gold sound, that is, they fatten the mids and bass and roll off the highs, which a lot of digital systems can benefit from, but sadly, not mine. Definitely a wet blanket on the air and extension. But if your system runs a wee bit on the 'hot' side in the upper mids and HF, I could see how they would be just the ticket.

 

Thanks, Lummy. Your findings are appreciated. (Nt.), posted on April 26, 2015 at 04:18:12
Winston Smith
Audiophile

Posts: 1014
Location: PNW (summers) and Southern AZ (winters)
Joined: December 2, 2006
.

 

Did you mean AMR fuses?, posted on April 26, 2015 at 04:34:28
Joe Appierto
Audiophile

Posts: 1086
Location: Central NJ
Joined: January 3, 2004
Totally agree with you regarding the Silver Star. Found them to be the most resolving of the few types I've tried.


Joe

 

RE: Create Audio, posted on April 26, 2015 at 07:47:52
aupiho
Audiophile

Posts: 200
Location: south france
Joined: February 28, 2015
Thank you for all your tests!

Did you try solder fuse?

 

RE: Well, maybe not always, posted on April 26, 2015 at 08:16:42
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
My CJ MF-2500 uses five fuses like your CA-200. One for the AC in. I wondered if you found the AC fuse most important or the other four. I replaced the four with a basic cryo'ed sand filled fuse from Cryo Parts and didn't hear much or any difference.

I consider the fuse area the last untried tweak area for me. I don't know how to determine a polarity on those fuses I bought to know if they are oriented one way or the other.

I usually always buy any tweak from a place where I return it if I don't like it. I can't find one for fuses and this is a major reason I haven't tried fuses.

There is a $50 Furutech for $30 at Sonicraft (see link) now that would work for my MF-2500. No fuses in my passive linestage, none for my CD transport because I wired the AC direct to the transformer primary (huge difference) because it is plugged into a P-300 which has a photo relay that would trip if it went to a dead short. I'll have to check my Trivista SACD I now use as a DAC for fuses and I think the P-300 has an AC input fuse.

E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Well, maybe not always, posted on April 26, 2015 at 08:39:12
Joe Appierto
Audiophile

Posts: 1086
Location: Central NJ
Joined: January 3, 2004
Surprisingly, because I didn't think they'd have much of an impact, I found the B rail fuses to have as much of an effect as the AC/mains fuse.

I looked at the fuses you mentioned from Cryo Parts and couldn't tell from the photos. Are they marked in any way such as with the voltage rating on one end and the amperage on the other? If so, you could use that as a basis for orientation.

I'm not familiar with Furutech fuses so afraid not any help there. What has impressed me is that fuses really do seem to make a difference definitely both by model and orientation.




Joe

 

CJ Amps, posted on April 26, 2015 at 09:02:27
Luminator
Audiophile

Posts: 8259
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000

I used to have the Sonographe SA-250, and CJ MV-55, MF-2250A (above), and ET-250S. It wasn't until I got the ET-250S, that I experimented with after-market fuses in CJ equipment. The guy who sent the ET-250S to me left the stock fuses in place. But he also sent me some Hi-Fi Tuning Gold and Furutech (sorry, I don't recall the model #) samples. Both after-market fuses were significant upgrades over the stock fuses.

That experience made me kick myself, for not knowing earlier about after-market fuses. As I looked back, I couldn't help but wonder, how after-market fuses could give a lift to the old MV-55 and MF-2250A.

What has been your fuse experience with the MF-2500?

 

RE: CJ Amps, posted on April 26, 2015 at 09:29:27
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 16067
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
Lummy-


which pieces of gear are you fuse-switching ?

 

fuseholder?, posted on April 26, 2015 at 11:26:39
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 11013
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
What do you do about the typical crappy fuseholder in most mid-fi and even high end equipment? Like the one shown in your photo of the Beeswax fuse.
(Beeswax?... Fuse?...)

 

Yes. (Nt.), posted on April 26, 2015 at 18:09:33
Winston Smith
Audiophile

Posts: 1014
Location: PNW (summers) and Southern AZ (winters)
Joined: December 2, 2006
.

 

No. (Nt.), posted on April 26, 2015 at 18:10:09
Winston Smith
Audiophile

Posts: 1014
Location: PNW (summers) and Southern AZ (winters)
Joined: December 2, 2006
.

 

RE: CJ Amps, posted on April 27, 2015 at 08:09:38
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
Well I only tried some cryo'ed sand filled fuses for the four (not the AC in) from Lee back in the day at Cryo Parts. I didn't hear a change but this was also before I heard about directionality in fuses a few years ago.

That said directionality on the AC power fuse is easy just switch it and listen. However on the four fuses that's a whole new ball game. I don't know if they have one side marked so I could put them in all the same way and then flip them.

My 2500 was upgraded to an A in 2007 or so. Thanks!

E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Well, maybe not always, posted on April 27, 2015 at 08:20:50
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
Joe:

Thanks and yes looking at the markings would be a good way and I'll do that. However on the four two are + and two - so current is possibly flowing in a different direction on those fuse holders. Only measuring each with a meter will tell for sure. I emailed CJ to see if they know.

I'll take the plunge sometime this year on a AC fuse for the 2500A amnd fool with orientation on the four.


E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: fuseholder?, posted on April 27, 2015 at 08:27:12
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004




I can't tell the quality of the one in his pic below but the ones on the back of my CJ amp are really nice and fit really tight. I'm sure fuse holders like about everything do vary in quality.

E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Well, maybe not always, posted on April 27, 2015 at 08:33:29
Joe Appierto
Audiophile

Posts: 1086
Location: Central NJ
Joined: January 3, 2004
You're welcome, Earl.

I can already feel my audiophilia nervosa begin to twitch. Should c-j get back to you I'd really appreciate knowing what they have to say about the four B rails and current flow. Although ever since Ed D. left their customer service it's been kinda hit or miss with them getting back to inquiries.



Joe

 

RE: Well, maybe not always, posted on April 27, 2015 at 11:33:12
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
I got an email I sent to Ed or whoever is CSR now and Charlene said Ed is gone and she asked for my number to have a tech call me so we'll see.


E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: That Depends On the Circuit, posted on April 27, 2015 at 11:39:51
Palustris
Audiophile

Posts: 2460
Location: Cape Cod
Joined: September 12, 2008
"Without electrical measurement tools, you don't know what direction current flows, within the fuse-holder. "

One is disposed to wonder what "electrical measurement tools" one would need to determine "what direction current flows, within the fuse-holder."

One would hope that any high school student and most elementary school students understand that alternating current ALTERNATES e.g., reverses directions 60 times a second (in the USA).


 

RE: You didn't answer the question....., posted on April 27, 2015 at 11:48:29
Palustris
Audiophile

Posts: 2460
Location: Cape Cod
Joined: September 12, 2008
"I always determine current flow before installing"

That should be easy since it obviously flows in alternate directions 60 times a second. That's why it is called alternating current.

 

RE: fuseholder?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 18:12:03
unclestu
Dealer

Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010
picked up a bunch of silver plated ones from military surplus, along with silver plated fuses

 

RE: fuseholder?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 20:38:59
ipdtt
Audiophile

Posts: 123
Location: Northen Ca, USA
Joined: August 10, 2014
unclestu, will you do any tweaks to the fuses? if yes "what pray tell"

~D
Wherever you go there you are.

 

RE: fuseholder?, posted on April 30, 2015 at 21:16:19
unclestu
Dealer

Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010
Kinda hard to spend time and money on a fuse, although I guess at $50 each it might actually be worth it.

PS Audio with their early 200 watt amps came out with gold plated rail fuse holders and gold plated fuse caps. The power supply caps were joined by actual 3/16 thick copper buss bars !

As an aside I've seen some pretty nice stuff coming out for automotive stereo, so you may scour the net for car audio parts...

Interestingly certain standard manufacture fuses do sound better than what you normally find at RS and other cheap supply houses.

#1 American made fuses do sound better than the cheaper Chinese cr#p.

#2 For fast blow fuses there is a model that has what looks like a lightning bolt inside for the fusible element. I find them occasionally on Ebay if I have the time to carefully examine the pictures. More dynamic and quite a nice sense of slam and punch to them

I believe they still make them but they are more expensive (Digikey wanted $5 each ), hence most electronic stores do not sell them (somehow Buss comes to mind)

#3 For slow blo fuses, without spending a ton, the spring loaded MDL series are the ticket (they are labeled MDL/MDX. BTW). They employ a thicker fusible element but the spring adds tension to break the link at the proper rating: Again thicker element means more dynamics. Just checked Ebay and there's a bunch for sale, of course you need the value for your gear....

Most slo blo fuses employ that spiral winding of very thin wire. Several strikes against the design: inductive by design and the continued flexing of the element will cause it to prematurely fail. Watch the element as you turn on gear the spiral winding literally stretches and then contracts, stressing the metal tremendously.

The MD fuses I recommend are spring loaded ( and a quite a hefty spring at that)at one end and then tapers down to the fusible element.

They are expensive to manufacture as they have many more pieces. Military like them a lot, so check out surplus depots

 

RE: fuseholder?, posted on May 1, 2015 at 00:02:39
ipdtt
Audiophile

Posts: 123
Location: Northen Ca, USA
Joined: August 10, 2014
unclestu, thanks!

~D
Wherever you go there you are.

 

RE: fuseholder?, posted on May 1, 2015 at 08:10:30
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 11013
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
I like MD fuses too, and they are not cheap, I agree.
Can you say where you found milspec silver-plated fuseholders? I've been using the Acme ones (the type that encases the fuse in a cylinder with a screw cap).

 

RE: Yes. (Nt.), posted on May 1, 2015 at 10:15:19
jhrlrd
Audiophile

Posts: 135
Joined: October 21, 2014
Has anyone tried the cryoed inline chassis mounted fuse holder?

 

RE: Yes. (Nt.), posted on May 1, 2015 at 12:05:30
ABliss
Audiophile

Posts: 1584
Joined: March 16, 2001
Contributor
  Since:
August 3, 2002
Yes, the Acme Audio Labs cyro silver plated are very nice.

AB.

 

Alas, posted on May 1, 2015 at 12:21:11
unclestu
Dealer

Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010
I found them in military surplus lots decades ago: not many too, and as a matter of fact, I recall removing them from equipment.

Back then I would follow up with the manufacturers stamping and see if they actually had the parts in stock. Trouble is virtually every one made special runs to mil specs and quantities and then discontinued them. Taught me why often Mil gear was so damn expensive, with seemingly innocuous parts tucked away. IIRC, I bought the gear for the tubes and sockets and the huge chokes

 

RE: Yes. (Nt.), posted on May 1, 2015 at 12:45:40
jhrlrd
Audiophile

Posts: 135
Joined: October 21, 2014
Oh, Acme. the one I was referring to was the regular one at Locus design, for $2.95.

 

PS, posted on May 1, 2015 at 12:48:38
unclestu
Dealer

Posts: 5851
Joined: April 13, 2010
haven't the time to research but I recall seeing some very impressive automotive fuse blocks. A quick google search reveals more of the blocks for bladed type fuses rather than the AGC types though.

 

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