Oh no, PS Audio is in on it, too...audiophile fuses

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #20 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 05:54 pm »

Despite the cheeky title of this post - I am open to the idea of fuses mattering. It was written more to get many, and good, responses on the subject.

I bought two cryoed fuses from Cryo Parts a year ago on my Maggie MMG (Lee's website appears to be down right now)....it definitely changed the sound; but I could never ascertain whether it was positive or slightly negative. Pretty much a wash for me....but, I was intrigued that it changed the sound at all.

I've owned 4 (recent vintage) PS Audio items...each underwhelming relative to the cost. Now, that's purely subjective on my part.....but because of less-than-stellar experience Paul McGowan's announcements don't hold much weight with me.

So, I'm slightly agnostic on the subject...but willing to see the 'light'

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #21 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 06:00 pm »

John....You said "it changed the sound"....do you remember in what way?

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tweaks/messages/133002.html [/list:u]

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/isoclean3/fuses.html [/list:u]

http://www.thlaudio.com/fusemne.htm [/list:u]

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue22/isoclean.htm [/list:u]

Another....

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_13_2/aurum-acoustics-integris-cdp-cd-player-4-2006-part-4.html ....comparison...IsoClean and HiFi- Tuning[/list:u]

And more.... http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1782[/list:u]

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #22 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 06:57 pm »

Chris (welcome back, bud!)

It just changed the signature I was used to...I have music on for 8-10 hours daily while working here, so slight changes are noted.

Most get a 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down' - the fuse change-out was not so clear cut

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #23 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 07:01 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy

Chris (welcome back, bud!)

It just changed the signature I was used to...I have music on for 8-10 hours daily while working here, so slight changes are noted.

Most get a 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down' - the fuse change-out was not so clear cut

Thank you John.

Were these the Isoclean fuses ? (I know you said Mike's site is down)....[/list:u]

Doublej · « **Reply #24 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 08:12 pm »

Chairguy,

Explain how one buys 4 products from a particular vendor and finds them all underwhelming. Why didn't you stop buying from them after the first or second underwhelming experience?

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #25 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 08:50 pm »

Quote from: Doublej

Chairguy,

Explain how one buys 4 products from a particular vendor and finds them all underwhelming. Why didn't you stop buying from them after the first or second underwhelming experience?

Doublej,

Because I'm an ignoramous? Maybe.....

I bought a P300 Power Plant and Ultimate Outlet in one purchase from my dealer...of the two, the UO was passably okay. But, not near as worthwhile as cheaper BrickWall filter.

A month later, I bought Power Ports (2 for PP300) and one for wall (upgrade available for $99 to Power Plant owners that provided proof back then direct from PS Audio)...and found zero benefit over the hospital grade units they replaced.

I bought a top-of-the-line power cable and digital cable attractively sale priced at Music Direct despite this....and found that the power cable was notably worse than 14ga. computer cord and the digital cable was no better than anything you can buy for pocket change.

So, that was really 5 or 6 underwhelming experiences with PS Audio.

Of course, this is all subjective...and I suppose you have found your PS Audio experience to a good one? Well, hurrah for you

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #26 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 08:52 pm »

WolfyChris,

They were ceramic fuses (correct matching value of course), no audiophile pretensions, that were cryo'ed.

Unfortunately, Sonic Craft didn't ship back the fuses after the MMG upgrade last week back to me to look 'em over again

Doublej · « **Reply #27 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 10:15 pm »

Actually I don't own any PS Audio products. I looked into a few things but never actually purchased anything in part because a friend whose opinion I value says they are much better at marketing than delivery. This appears to be consistent with people's opinions on the various boards.

I am curious about their Noise Harvester but wonder how it compares against Blue Circle, Audio Prism, and other products. There are days when my system sounds like crap and I am convinced its the power company.

mgalusha · « **Reply #28 on:** 18 Jun 2006, 12:21 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Mike....Could you try the fuses in your RE Designs mono's ? (note...the DAM tested the fuses in the power sources for the SB.)
Thanks,[/list:u]
Chris[/list:u]

Hi Chris, (good to see you back BTW)

The fuses Wayne had were far to low in value to try in the amps and I'm not about to pop $30 each for the hifi tuning stuff. The thought of buying 14 of those is more than I can stomach, I would much rather buy 14 new LP's for the same amount, I know I'd get more pleasure from that.

I did supply Wayne with the values for the amps and I may end up with some to try without putting out a lot of cash. If I do, I'll post what I hear, good bad or indifferent. They certainly shouldn't have any effect but they did in the Squeezebox power supply.

SET Man · « **Reply #29 on:** 18 Jun 2006, 01:47 am »

Hi,

I'm late into this... Anyway, I'm not surprise that PS Audio is getting in to this audiophile fuse thing. Since they make AC power products.

First off I do own a PS Audio P600 Power Plant. And it feed every components in my system. I've never thought of buying any PS Audio products. Until couple years ago when I was looking for a new AC conditioner. And the P600 just came out and it make the most sense to me. So, I took the advantage of 30 days money back home trial and let just say that the P600 is still in my system.

Of cause for some this won't work. Still with that I don't really care about other PS Audio products... amps and etc. They might be good, too.

Quote from: Wayner

I think gold plated fuses would fit perfectly with the rest of the B.S. products from P.S. Audio.

So, there Wayner, I don't know about other PS audio products but they do make non-B.S. products... to me is the Power Plant.

Okay, as for the audiophile fuse... again first I must say that I'm not 100% sold on this... yet.

But if we look at it closely... audio is all about electrical signel and I do know that a good solid tight connection is a key to good electrical tranfer. That is why most people prefer a tighten spade rather than banana plug.

We know that the PSU is the first stage of this audio chain. So, with that eletrical power tranfer is essential. When the out put stage demand it, the PSU better be able to provide it.

With that in mind. At the end these high quality fuse dose make sense to me. Better contact for better electrical tranfer for the PSU. Hey! isn't resistor acting much like a fuse right? Than why some resistor cost so much more than other at the same value and watt rating?

Anywa, I might give it a try if the price is not at insane point. This definately make more sense to me than the magical "Pebble" and voodoo "Clock"

Take care,
Buddy

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #30 on:** 18 Jun 2006, 02:26 am »

Quote from: Doublej

Actually I don't own any PS Audio products. I looked into a few things but never actually purchased anything in part because a friend whose opinion I value says they are much better at marketing than delivery. This appears to be consistent with people's opinions on the various boards.

I am curious about their Noise Harvester but wonder how it compares against Blue Circle, Audio Prism, and other products. There are days when my system sounds like crap and I am convinced its the power company.

I'm a homebody - except for research on AudioAsylum and VinylEngine from time to time....I stay at AC. So, my opinion was formed quite independently of others on PS Audio....I think there is credibility in numbers; especially if they are disparate parties to it

Tho Paul McGowan is an engineer (I think); he's terrificly talented at marketing. On the other hand, his former partner at the old PS Audio (Stan Warren) is a shrewd designer without a lick of marketing knowledge. The new PS ain't the old one, no how.

_scotty_ · « **Reply #31 on:** 18 Jun 2006, 04:39 am »

This may sound like blasphemy, but why doesn't somebody just take metal polish and remove the offending nickelplating and use the bare brass with
a high voltage dielectric grease to offset potential corrosion worries.
This should sound more neutral than anything but pure copper construction.
It would also be a cheap experiment but some may find it offensive to spend chump change on metal polish and cheap fuses as the entry fee to audio nirvana.
Scotty

Wayner · « **Reply #32 on:** 18 Jun 2006, 07:51 am »

Perhaps audio manufacturers should gold plate everything in the circuit. While they are at it, how about resistors to the .001% tolerance. After all, If the proper voltage in each stage is not exactly precise, I think the circuit is not operating at its full potential.

I wonder how many different metals are in the signal path to the speaker? They must all have an effect, right?

If you need to believe in gold plated fuses, go for it. The same people also buy $2000 power cords. I think we live in a time when people need to believe in something......if not fact, then fiction.

rbrb · « **Reply #33 on:** 19 Jun 2006, 10:52 pm »

Quote from: eric the red

Boy I'd REALLY love to hear what established equipment designers like Frank of AVA fame have to say on this topic. If you change the fuses on your gear to silver or gold covered ceramic does that mean you have to also change the copper fuse contacts on your equipment for maximum sonic benefits?

For an example of a "established equipment designer" look no farther than Yves-Bernard Andre of YBA/Audio Refinement. He has chosen specific fuses for his designs based on sound quality for years. There should be no doubt about the sound quailty of YBA gear.

Audiophile fuses are nothing new.

Soundideas · « **Reply #34 on:** 13 Jul 2006, 05:03 pm »

The FUSE is the weakest link in your stereo gear

Room treatment is the weakest link in your whole stereo system

Clever Little Clocks are the real deal!

eric the red · « **Reply #35 on:** 13 Jul 2006, 06:16 pm »

Quote from: rbrb on 19 Jun 2006, 10:52 pm

Quote from: eric the red
Boy I'd REALLY love to hear what established equipment designers like Frank of AVA fame have to say on this topic. If you change the fuses on your gear to silver or gold covered ceramic does that mean you have to also change the copper fuse contacts on your equipment for maximum sonic benefits?

For an example of a "established equipment designer" look no farther than Yves-Bernard Andre of YBA/Audio Refinement. He has chosen specific fuses for his designs based on sound quality for years. There should be no doubt about the sound quailty of YBA gear.

Audiophile fuses are nothing new.

Then why aren't ALL high end audio companies not using audiophile fuses? Seems like a very cheap way to maximize the potential of a piece of gear.

JohnR · « **Reply #36 on:** 14 Jul 2006, 01:31 am »

Or why not just get rid of the fuse and use a circuit-breaker?

eric the red · « **Reply #37 on:** 14 Jul 2006, 02:59 am »

Quote from: JohnR on 14 Jul 2006, 01:31 am

Or why not just get rid of the fuse and use a circuit-breaker?

Because then we'd have to have audiophile-grade circuit breakers

JohnR · « **Reply #38 on:** 14 Jul 2006, 03:00 am »

Oh right

and those would cost a couple hundred

nelamvr6 · « **Reply #39 on:** 14 Jul 2006, 04:36 am »

Quote from: Soundideas on 13 Jul 2006, 05:03 pm

The FUSE is the weakest link in your stereo gear Room treatment is the weakest link in your whole stereo system Clever Little Clocks are the real deal!

I really hope you're joking.

Clever Little Clocks are examples of chicanery at it's worst.

Only slight worse than "audiophile" fuses though.