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

TheChairGuy · « **on:** 16 Jun 2006, 09:43 pm »

Just got this in my PS Audio newsletter this month:

Quote from: Paul McGowan

Fuse Mania
We could use a little help. We're in the process of securing the exclusive
North American rights to the hottest German high-end OFC gold fuses on the market and we need to know what sizes to order. Do you think you might drop us a note?

Please email Barrows in customer service at barrows@psaudio.com . If you're interested in upgrading your fuse, then we need to know what size and what amperage you might need. These fuses make a remarkable difference in the way equipment sounds. We would appreciate your help.

Where is that little shill 'soundideas' when you need him

I imagine this post may raise the ire of Monsieur Banquer

nelamvr6 · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Jun 2006, 10:55 pm »

I think that "Audiophile" fuses are a great idea!

Of course, you'll only really be able to appreciate the difference after you completely rewire your house with 'Audiophile" romex.

But that will only be a partial solution. You're gonna have to convince your utility company to rewire your neighborhood with "audiophile" wiring all the way back to the substation.

That will be a good start, but you're not done yet. Those transformers at the substation? They could sure use some improvement...

And that wiring in the power plants generator?...

eric the red · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Jun 2006, 11:27 pm »

How can you doubt the evidence of tests like these? (From the AC archives and whose participants will remain anon...)

"The gold and silver plated fuses I believe had the original tinning/plating stripped before plating with gold/silver. Let me just say that none of us expected to hear a major difference. I for one was preparing myself for some nit picky, strenuous listening. Well that was not necessary, as the difference each fuse made was immediate, and in some cases dramatic. The first fuse was the Hi Fi tuning fuse. It blew us all away with the amount of improvement it brought. It was almost as dramatic as adding a Bybee. Soundstage opened up, the sound was more organic, and detail went up another notch. The silver ceramic fuse really kicked it up. Bass was more present, tighter and more tuneful. The gold ceramic fuse was not as dramatic, and did not perform as well as the Hi Fi tuning fuse. This may very well be a system matching thing. The glass fuses overall sounded veiled after listening to the ceramic ones. No need to write further on them.

The winners were (in order):
- Silver plated ceramic fuse
- Hi Fi Tuning gold ceramic fuse
-Gold plated ceramic fuse
- Silver plated glass fuse
- Gold plated glass fuse

Notice a trend? The ceramic fuses faired better overall. They were simply not veiled in comparison to the glass fuses."

Wayner · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Jun 2006, 11:29 pm »

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

Doublej · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 02:34 am »

eric the red - Where can I find silver plated ceramic fuses?

Unlike the naysayers I am willing to give it a listen based on the positive experience I have had with other power tweaks.

_scotty_ · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 02:00 pm »

As a general rule all of these basic fuses have brass ends that are nickel plated to resist corrosion. Try the basic ceramic fuse first and then listen for a difference then maybe the silver plated version and see if you get a further improvement.
Scotty

Dan Banquer · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 02:39 pm »

Where is Soundideas now that we need him?
d.b.

eric the red · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 02:45 pm »

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?

nelamvr6 · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 03:14 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?

Naw, all you really need is an active imagination. Of course I'm not sure what good audiophile fuses would do if you don't also have one of these in your listening room. Or at least somewhere in your house.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 03:45 pm »

DAM listening session... http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=28274&start=10 ....concerning different fuses.....brought over by Wayne.

After trying different power cables, and hearing better performance...might be something to these fuses....just gotta listen and decide. I thought , how good could a PC be....but I heard a difference, and I liked what I heard. Why ? Don't know....but it sounded better....and thats what counts.....[/list:u]

eric the red · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 03:59 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

DAM listening session... http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=28274&start=10 ....concerning different fuses.....brought over by Wayne.
After trying different power cables, and hearing better performance...might be something to these fuses....just gotta listen and decide. I thought , how good could a PC be....but I heard a difference, and I liked what I heard. Why ? Don't know....but it sounded better....and thats what counts.....[/list:u]

Again, I'd really like to find out from experienced, well-established audio manufacturers why they aren't putting these so called audio-grade fuses in their gear when such (claimed) sonic improvements could be had for such little $$$. And I REALLY don't want to hear that it's because "The manufacturer leaves it up to the audiophile to flavor the sound of his/her system by letting them choose their favorite audiophile fuse"...

art · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 04:06 pm »

You mean the truth is not acceptable?

Oh, I forgot........we are talking high-end audio. The truth usually has nothing to do with any of it.

Pat............experienced, but not well-established.

Dan Banquer · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 04:48 pm »

"Again, I'd really like to find out from experienced, well-established audio manufacturers why they aren't putting these so called audio-grade fuses in their gear when such (claimed) sonic improvements could be had for such little $$$. And I REALLY don't want to hear that it's because "The manufacturer leaves it up to the audiophile to flavor the sound of his/her system by letting them choose their favorite audiophile fuse"..."

Let's see, I have fuses in my power amp on the AC line, between the transformers and the diode bridges, and between the power supply and the amp. I also have fuses in the loudspeaker right at the input.
Now let me describe the sound of these 3AG glass fuses that are either slo blo or fast blo. They give me a warmer midrange and a top end that is just never harsh. The bass is never bloated and the sound stage just envelopes you. They don't have the excessive hyper detailing that the audiophile fuses do, they keep everything in balance.

Now what I am experimenting here with at R.E. Designs are these very same fuses but heat treated at 200 degrees Celcius in a vacuum oven. We have found this so far to be a far superior way of treating components than cryogenics. The baked and dried method is starting to gain audiophile adherents across the globe, and at present I am applying for the patent.
I recommend that all of you get in on this ground floor opportunity soon as the company will go public in the near future and the stocks are bound to enjoy a tripling of value as the public is marketed and sold on these new advancements in heat treating technology.
So when all of the audio circle members get the letter from my represetatives in Nigeria to get in on this deal, empty your bank account and earn yourself three times your investment.

Yours in Audiophilia;

d.b.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 05:07 pm »

Hello Dan,

From reading the link I posted about the DAM meeting, I noticed that mgalusha/Mike was present. Looking at his system... http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=systems;system=1 ...he owns a pair of your R.E. Designs LNPA 150 Monoblocks. Maybe he can try those fuses that Wayne has in your amps....and post what he hears.[/list:u]

Chris[/list:u]

mgalusha · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 05:32 pm »

I was one of those at that gathering and I have zero explanation as to why fuses could possibly affect the sound. I was not trying to hear a change or even aware of which fuse had been swapped in or out but I did note a difference.

I am primarilly an objecttivist and I like things that I can measure. I have a pretty fair collection of equipment in my shop for doing just that. I also have heard changes (both good and bad) caused by things that from an engineering standpoint should have no effect and don't make any measureable difference, at least not that I can measure.

Adding an RC filter to a power supply and dropping the ripple by 12dB, that is a no brainer, less noise sounds and measures better but swapping out a 3AG fuse for another, no reason that I know of explians this but it was not difficult to hear and it was reapeatable.

mike

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 05:35 pm »

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.)

Chris[/list:u]

Wayner · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 05:41 pm »

I wish I had golden ears. I'm missing out on a lot of good musical delivery. I think I will cut off the ac plugs on all of my Van Alstine equipment and wire directly to the outlet. Of course, I will try and find some gold plated wirenuts. I also believe that if another link is added to a chain, the chain becomes stronger.

Gordy · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 05:45 pm »

Having 20+ years experience in carbon fiber research and 4 years in nano material research has had it's advantages. We are proud to announce our pat. pend. .9999999 pure nano carbon annealed fuses, but the path to this marvalous new product has not been easy. Many plating schemes were tried and none proved to be of sufficient sound quality until we were able to aquire a surplus 2800C carbon annealing oven. Still there were problems to overcome like a 98.7 % shrinkage rate, but eventually this was overcome by starting with a 6' 4" fuse from our Cape Fear facility.

Christened the SnoBlo Fuse, they are a tad expensive, but if you want the best...

DuPont, there's a million things we're doing nothing about

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 05:46 pm »

Quote from: Wayner

I wish I had golden ears.

No need for "golden ear's"....if you try it and like it....thats what counts....not what someone else says....they just give you the idea to have a listen. You can judge for yourself......

[/list:u]

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Jun 2006, 05:48 pm »

Quote from: Gordy

Having 20+ years experience in carbon fiber research and 4 years in nano material research has had it's advantages. We are proud to announce our pat. pend. .9999999 pure nano carbon annealed fuses, but the path to this marvalous new product has not been easy. Many plating schemes were tried and none proved to be of sufficient sound quality until we were able to aquire a surplus 2800C carbon annealing oven. Still there were problems to overcome like a 98.7 % shrinkage rate, but eventually this was overco ...

Send me a few...I'll listen.....