[eric the red]

Boed-while you're ranting, please list a few more audio manufacturers besides YBA who use and actively tout the use of audiophile fuses in their gear. Not reviewers or consumers, but manufacturers. Again, it seems that if manufacturers wanted to maximize the performance of their gear, an audiophile fuse would be a cheap upgrade.

The ones I’ve come across are hand made and cost way more then a $0.05 fuse. Manufacturers aren’t about to spend $25 on a fuse. However, manufacturers like BAT will tell you they make a difference and will love to hear about.

What makes you think manufacturers are always trying to maximize performance?  They are trying to make money and maximize profit. It’s up to YOU to try stuff if you’re interested.

nelamvr6, are you calling me a moron?

Again, if you’re a skeptic and have NOT tried things you claim can’t work or don’t then you’re being foolish. If you’re a skeptic and have NOT tried things you claim can’t work or don’t work AND you criticize others who HAVE then your just a Fool.

You're reaching here. A 25.00 audiophile magic fuse bought by a manufacturer in bulk would probably cost half that. 12 bucks seems like a small price to pay for a manufacturer to maximize the performance of their gear. Please give a few examples of manufacturers besides YBA who actively promote their use of audiophile fuses in their gear and their reasons for using them. Frank of AVA is easy to get ahold of right here on AC, as is Viktor of BAT over at Audio Asylum. Steve McCormack always answers his email. Email Conrad Johnson, ARC etc etc. And while you're at it ask Vinnie-an EE-at RWA to weigh in on the matter. Please post their replies on this breakthrough product on another thread as many of us would love to read what they have to say.

[bprice2]

I recently received a fuse like this one:  http://www.boldercables.com/servlet/Detail?no=376

I didn't ask for it, I didn't pay anything for it, and I was skeptical that it would make any difference.  However, I did try it out the other day in my Bolder Cables power supply for my Bolder modified Squeeze Box3.  Right off the bat, I thought it made a difference for the better...increased sound stage and imaging, and a very percievable tightness of bass.  Who knows, maybe it was the fact that this was later at night when my system tends to sound better, or it was the fuse, but I noticed better sound after placing it the PS.

I know this doesn't resolve anything, but it is one more person's observation and testimonial.  Which brings me to this obsersvation: 

Nelamvr6,  man, just when I thought you had recovered by way of an apology, you immediately bounced back to shrill.  I too consider myself to be an expert in my field, which, BTW, is not electronics.  However, If I were a self professed electronics professional for 28 years, I would not be bust'n some dudes balls on the internet.  Just seems a little insecure for a life-long "professional."

[lonewolfny42]

12 bucks seems like a small price to pay for a manufacturer to maximize the performance of their gear.

Seems in business today everyone is always worried about "getting sued"....so....I wonder if that may be a reason that manufacturer's don't use them ?   ....Just a thought....seems everywhere you look today there's a "warning label".....

[nelamvr6]

Nelamvr6,  man, just when I thought you had recovered by way of an apology, you immediately bounced back to shrill.  I too consider myself to be an expert in my field, which, BTW, is not electronics.  However, If I were a self professed electronics professional for 28 years, I would not be bust'n some dudes balls on the internet.  Just seems a little insecure for a life-long "professional."

I don't think that calling quackery when I see it indicates any sort of insecurity.

I apologized for my choice of language, I did not change my opinion.

[nelamvr6]

12 bucks seems like a small price to pay for a manufacturer to maximize the performance of their gear.

Seems in business today everyone is always worried about "getting sued"....so....I wonder if that may be a reason that manufacturer's don't use them ?   ....Just a thought....seems everywhere you look today there's a "warning label".....

Why on earth would someone get sued for using a particular fuse? Unless of course it failed to protect the equipment as it was designed to. In which case it doesn't seem to be a very good fuse at all, much less a premium fuse.

I can't buy that as the reason manufacturers don't use them.

I believe it's because manufacturers are well aware that they won't make any difference, good or bad.

[lonewolfny42]

I can't buy that as the reason manufacturers don't use them.

OK....it was just a thought.

I see Steve from SAS Audio has posted in this thread. Maybe he could try one of these fuses in one of his preamps and report the results that he hears....again, just an idea.

Spotted another fuse post here.......

[bprice2]

I know very little about this topic, but please help me.  It is my understanding that when a fuse is applied to an electronic device, all current powering that device travels through the fuse.  If the current spikes to a level that is damaging to the device, then the fuse breaks the circuit, and thus, saves the device from damage.

Assuming the above statement is correct, why would it be a leap of logic to think that upgrading a portion of the circuit (the fuse) to better conductive material would improve dynamics?

Ok, I've shown everyone my ass here...please don't hurt me for being stupid.

[Wayne1]

A ceramic fuse will sound different than a glass fuse for a variety of reasons.

Here is a thread from the Hagtech forum where the difference between ceramic and glass fuses are discussed.

Jim Hagerman, who IS an EE with lots of experience, has no trouble with understanding what may cause the difference.

Plating will also cause a difference. In AC applications, tin plated will sound different than silver which will sound different than gold. There are many folks who can attest to this difference in AC outlets and connectors.

In the power supply I make, I use a silver plated IEC and a silver plated fuse holder. In that application the silver plated ceramic fuse did make a fairly substantial difference in the overall sound of the system we were listening to. I have not heard any change in which way the fuse was inserted into the fuse holder.

[zybar]

A ceramic fuse will sound different than a glass fuse for a variety of reasons.

Here is a thread from the Hagtech forum where the difference between ceramic and glass fuses are discussed.

Jim Hagerman, who IS an EE with lots of experience, has no trouble with understanding what may cause the difference.

Plating will also cause a difference. In AC applications, tin plated will sound different than silver which will sound different than gold. There are many folks who can attest to this difference in AC outlets and connectors.

In the power supply I make, I use a silver plated IEC and a silver plated fuse holder. In that application the silver plated ceramic fuse did make a fairly substantial difference in the overall sound of the system we were listening to. I have not heard any change in which way the fuse was inserted into the fuse holder.

Well I just put in the cermaic fuse Wayne sent me, and you can put me in the camp that hears a difference and thinks it has improved.

I just listened to Blue Rodeo's "Five Days in July" and in track one the soundstage was larger and there was better definition and space.  In tracks 10 and 11 Sararh McLachlin sings with Jim Cuddy.  Both their vocals have more depth and presence.  A few more hairs on the back of my neck stood up when hearing Sarah sing her hauntingly beautiful backing vocals.  The bells, chimes, and triangles were also improved and seemed like they were being played live right in front of me.

Nice job Wayne!!

 

George

[mcgsxr]

I received the fuse on Friday.

Looked at it, and had little idea in the way of how to install etc - sent Wayne a PM, asking embarrassing noob questions.  Received an intelligent response that made putting it into play simple.

Played my daughter's favourite tune twice with the stock fuse, to acclimatize myself, then jumped up, swapped in the silver one, and repeated the song again.

Humph.  No idea why that would work.  Difficult to express how it became better, but for me it is better - just less analytical, and more flowing.

Not being one to believe just my own ears, I did the following today.

Had a buddy from the neighborhood come in, and told him how to install the fuse, and what the proper order etc would be for swapping it in.  He is not aware which is which, just can see the difference.  I sat in my chair, eyes closed, while songs would play, and then fuses would be swapped, and songs played again.

8 out of 10 times I chose the silver fuse as sounding better.

Scientific?  Hardly.

Good enough for me?  Absolutely.

Thanks Wayne, I don't really understand why, but thanks!

Cheap, simple, and better.  Hah, can you find THAT enough?

[HumanMedia]

OK, let me get this straight, you put a fuse into your system that gave the sound a "toppy fuzz" and yet you continued to listen to it?  For a week? And then the fuse, what, burned in?

And then you ordered more?

Do you also have a "clever little clock" in your system?

I find that almost everything needs a burn in, so I always give things more than a week to settle before final judgement.  I didnt think they were going to change but just like power cords and op-amps they seemed to clear up after about 125 hours use.  Capacitors seem to take about 200-400 hours.

Why simple conductors break in, I dont know, but Im sure there is an electromechanical phenomena there which there is no commercial incentive to study.  Maybe the cryo treatments work on this same principle also.

Anyway I am getting off topic.  Fuses particularly ceramics have definite audible influence and were posative on my high current components.  And yes I clean the fuse ends and fuse holders for even the stock fuses (and the breakout box for my apartment)

Try to keep an open mind and ears, and dont get patronising with the 'clever little clock' comments. 

[Cellist]

Though I am not a big fan of high$ "tweaks", replacing the fuses in my Maggies made a world of difference.

[TheChairGuy]

Though I am not a big fan of high$ "tweaks", replacing the fuses in my Maggies made a world of difference.

Cryo ceramic fuse (from Cryo Parts) made a slight difference in my Maggie MMG.....probably worth the $10 investment.  But, it wasn't tremendous.

[Scotty]

TheChairGuy.  If you bypass the fuse holders in Maggies with a good .1uF cap
you should hear an improvement that is larger than what the fuse replacement
produced. This should be SOP when modding Maggies but it is sometimes overlooked.
Scotty

[TheChairGuy]

Hey Scotty!

I did significantly more than that already to the Maggies recently.....

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=29387.0