Who has tried HiFi Tuning fuses in their Bryston amps?

larevoj · « **Reply #60 on:** 1 Oct 2010, 05:45 am »

Quote from: James Tanner on 16 Sep 2010, 02:26 pm

Hi folks,

After further investigation:

SST SQ versions of the (4B has 1 fuse) the (7B's have NO fuses), (14B - 1 fuse), (28B's NO fuses), (3B - 1 fuse), (2B LP - 2 fuses), (2B SST - 1 fuse), (9B - 2 fuses per channel), (6B - 2 fuses per channel).

All fuses are on the AC power side only and are NOT in series with the audio circuit path.

James

I have heard about folks changing fuse in their amplifiers and actually hear a difference in performance. I have a 4BSST2 and would be keen to explore this further if indeed its true...but it may be marginal since its at the AC power side and not in the audio circuit path??

Would be interesting to see the feedback from Anonamemouse

Anonamemouse · « **Reply #61 on:** 18 Oct 2010, 07:10 pm »

It took a lot longer than expected, but I got a call from my dealer this afternoon: The fuse has arrived!
Now getting it here and finding the fime to actually install it...

Before changing the fuse I will gather a bunch of people and have them listen to several things, change the fuse, and then listen to the same things to see if changes are audible, and how they are experienced by the listeners (the audience will include a 13 year old girl with very fresh and razorsharp ears, not deafened by in ear mp3 crap). Expect to read more on the other side of the weekend (cos I will be ridiculously busy this week...).

nonoise · « **Reply #62 on:** 18 Oct 2010, 10:12 pm »

Don't expect to hear any improvement right away. In fact, you'll most likely be disappointed upon first listening. When I replaced my fuses with some HiFi fuses, the only thing that improved was the elimination of any stridency. Bass and body were AWOL and only improved incrementally over a 4 day period. Everything was softer. That was with the tuner on 24/7. After that, I had a totally different integrated that I no longer want to sell.

Anonamemouse · « **Reply #63 on:** 31 Oct 2010, 02:08 pm »

It took a while (work got in the way of doing lots of fun things) but I finally found the time to install the Furutech fuse in my 4B SST2.

The pictures do the talking...

The actual fuse in the cute little box it came in.

My 4B SST2, still dressed, about to unveil its insides...

My poor amp, all nekkid.

The old fuse, hidden under a silicone thingie. This was rather annoying to remove, and I could not get it back on.

The fuse underneath the silicone. At this time my sweet little princess was making comments connecting the thingie to certain female body parts.

The new Furutech fuse installed. Nice and blue and more sturdy looking than the little glass tube that was inthere. This is the way it looks still, as mentioned I could not get the thingie back on.

Evaluation:

I put the fuses in yesterday morning, after sitting down with the entire family (girlfriend, 2 x 13 year old spawn and I) to listen to the first two tracks of Frankie goes to Hollywood's Welcome to the Pleasure Dome.
Why this album? It is very well recorded (if you are lucky enough to have the first pressing ever, that one sounds best by far), we know it pretty well and it has a lot going on soundwise.

This morning we sat down again and listened to the same two tracks. The differences noticed: more sub bass, bore bass overal, and a more detailed sound in mid. It also sounds more defined, as in a better separation between instruments. Vocals also sound even more natural.

In my opinion Bryston should give these fuses a try in their own labs as well, I think it is a fairly cheap upgrade which increases the soundquality. Not by miles, but definitely noticeable.

werd · « **Reply #64 on:** 31 Oct 2010, 08:10 pm »

Hi

Try using the old fuse with the silicone off, maybe thats the diff?

BrystonFan · « **Reply #65 on:** 31 Oct 2010, 11:56 pm »

Wow, a little fuse does all that,

1ZIP · « **Reply #66 on:** 1 Nov 2010, 01:40 am »

The changes sound much like those attributed to a power conditioner. Since the fuse is in the power path maybe it is a low cost replacement for a Torus?

Anonamemouse · « **Reply #67 on:** 2 Nov 2010, 10:53 am »

Quote from: 1ZIP on 1 Nov 2010, 01:40 am

The changes sound much like those attributed to a power conditioner. Since the fuse is in the power path maybe it is a low cost replacement for a Torus?

I definitely would not go that far. The changes with a (for example) Torus (I have a Kemp that does the same but with a better filter than the Torus) are significantly larger than the changes with this Furutech fuse. I would consider this a tweak with pretty good results.

I know someone who spent a few hundred dollars on little piramid like thingies to lift his cables off the ground. I have spent a few hours comparing, but could not hear the difference.
Changing the $0.20 fuse into a $50.00 Furutech one DOES make a difference.

I also got a Furutech fuse for in my TV receiver box. This resulted in a MUCH better picture, skin tones actually look like skin tones now, and it is MUCH nicer to the eye (as in not harsh, sharp edges are no longer irritating, subtitles look crisp and easier to read etc.).

SoundGame · « **Reply #68 on:** 21 Jun 2012, 02:20 pm »

I'm just wondering if anyone else, other than Anonamemouse, tried changing out the fuse on their Bryston 4B amp, as this is something that I'm considering as a quick tweak.

drummermitchell · « **Reply #69 on:** 21 Jun 2012, 02:58 pm »

I really think that Bryston or any other high end audio company would have tried a few different fuses in their amps
to see if it was worth the 35-75.00 extra cost.
If it made an improvement that they actually could hear then perhaps they would have installed a certain brand.
just like they test all their parts.
They seem to test all their parts quite extensively so why not fuses.
If Bryston found a noticeable difference,I'm sure that they would be installed.
The time it takes I'm sure would be less than when they test bench for faulty parts.

1oldguy · « **Reply #70 on:** 21 Jun 2012, 03:38 pm »

Well those of us with 7B.s and 28B.s need not fuse with fuses.

( Pun Indented).
I'm a no fuss type so it fits fine with me.
However I would try it if I had something other than what I have.

rollo · « **Reply #71 on:** 21 Jun 2012, 03:40 pm »

Ok then have not tried in Bryston gear however in the gear that i have used Hi Fi Tuning Fuses the result was consistent. A clearer picture into the music. More information with yes more powerfull bass. Everytime an improvement go figure.
Now for the nutty stuff. The Cable Company is offering these Quantum Dots with the fuses purchased. Warning these just may confuse the heck out of you as to what they do. I still do not believe the outcome even better yet, oh my !! We are NOT dealers of such.

charles

larevoj · « **Reply #72 on:** 27 Jun 2012, 05:05 am »

Hi Anonamemouse, I am about to give a try on changing some if not all the fuses in my system. Btw, you didn't mention anything about the highs after the change...was it any less?

James - Why do the 4BSST2 has a fuse in it when we already have a circuit breaker?? Are there any fuses in the Torus BIT 16 and BDA-1...what would be their ratings?

I am torn between Furutech or Hi-Fi Tuning but surfing I found this in the web an extract of what Steve McCormack has to say about fuse:

As a high-end audio designer, I am always on the lookout for new ways to improve the performance of my electronics. It has been clear to me for a long time that anything done to improve the quality of my power supplies has a direct beneficial effect on the sound of my equipment. What has been surprising (and not a little frustrating) is how important the “little details” have become - the AC power cords, AC inlets, internal wiring, and now the fuses themselves. Like most audiophiles, I was skeptical at first - the truth is that I didn’t "want" fuses to make any difference and become yet another detail to worry about. And yet when “audiophile grade” fuses first appeared, I knew I had to try them - the quality of the AC power path is simply too important to ignore.

So I tried the fuses from HiFi-Tuning and Isoclean, and was impressed by both. Here was a simple tweak that made a larger legitimate sonic improvement than many absurdly-high-priced cables I had tried, and cost a LOT less! Being happy with the HiFi-Tuning fuses, I did not immediately jump on the Furutech fuses when they first appeared, but I kept them in mind. Since I use a number of other Furutech products in my equipment designs and upgrades, I finally gave in and ordered some fuses.

Holy Smoke! To say I was impressed is an understatement! I was very surprised to hear that the Furutech fuses were outperforming the HiFi-Tuning fuses in every respect, and installing them throughout my system brought it up to a new level of performance. The Furutech fuses have quickly become my most highly recommended tweak, and one of my all-time favorites. I urge you to try them in your own system. Check the value and size of the main AC line fuses in your gear and order some Furutechs for at least your amp and preamp. As always, your mileage may vary, but I suspect you will be impressed and pleased with the improvement in clarity, dynamics, and engagement. Enjoy!"

Steve McCormack · Designer · SMcAudio.com · Vista, CA

Quote from: Anonamemouse on 31 Oct 2010, 02:08 pm

The differences noticed: more sub bass, bore bass overal, and a more detailed sound in mid. It also sounds more defined, as in a better separation between instruments. Vocals also sound even more natural.

SoundGame · « **Reply #73 on:** 27 Jun 2012, 03:51 pm »

I'm going to order the Furutech fuse for my 4B-SST2 in the next short while but while I'm thinking of that, I'm wondering if my Bryston BP-6 preamp uses any fuses.

James: does the BP-6 use any fuses and if so, what type, size and power rating? Thanks.

Mike Pickett · « **Reply #74 on:** 27 Jun 2012, 05:00 pm »

Quote from: larevoj on 27 Jun 2012, 05:05 am

James - Why do the 4BSST2 has a fuse in it when we already have a circuit breaker??

At James' request, I'm jumping in on why some amps have breakers and fuses, while others have only breakers.

In almost all cases, it's a matter of the number of channels, and thus the number of power transformers. In stereo amps, like the 4B/14B, there is a transformer for each channel, and each channel has to be protected. We do this using a 2-pole breaker, so that if one channel fails, it trips that half of the breaker, turning the entire amp off. The actual switching of power is done using a triac (an electronic switch, really) which is located between the AC inlet and the breaker, and is a single pole device. We are required by law to protect the triac with an overcurrent protection device, so there has to be a fuse before the triac.

In the case of the 7B and 28B, we only have one transformer to protect, so the single pole breaker can be moved between the power inlet and the triac, taking the place of the triac protection fuse.

Now if only someone would come up with an Audiophile triac...

Mike Pickett · « **Reply #75 on:** 27 Jun 2012, 05:03 pm »

Quote from: SoundGame on 27 Jun 2012, 03:51 pm

James: does the BP-6 use any fuses and if so, what type, size and power rating? Thanks.

The BP6 uses a Time Delay, 250mA, 5X20mm fuse, at least in North America. Per the other request above, the BIT power Isolation units use breakers only, no fuses.

Ritchief · « **Reply #76 on:** 27 Jun 2012, 05:51 pm »

So Mike, would you recommend changing the fuses or it is just more snake oil ??

SoundGame · « **Reply #77 on:** 27 Jun 2012, 07:52 pm »

Quote from: Mike Pickett on 27 Jun 2012, 05:03 pm

The BP6 uses a Time Delay, 250mA, 5X20mm fuse, at least in North America. Per the other request above, the BIT power Isolation units use breakers only, no fuses.

Thanks Mike!

I'd be interested on your take on fuses and whether there has been any experimentation with some of the more highly-praised after-market ones like the Furutech. The statments from McCormack that are quoted are very complementary of the results.

larevoj · « **Reply #78 on:** 27 Jun 2012, 11:46 pm »

Thanks Mike!

Quote from: Mike Pickett on 27 Jun 2012, 05:00 pm

At James' request, I'm jumping in on why some amps have breakers and fuses, while others have only breakers.

In almost all cases, it's a matter of the number of channels, and thus the number of power transformers. In stereo amps, like the 4B/14B, there is a transformer for each channel, and each channel has to be protected. We do this using a 2-pole breaker, so that if one channel fails, it trips that half of the breaker, turning the entire amp off. The actual switching of power is done using a triac (an electronic switch, really) which is located between the AC inlet and the breaker, and is a single pole device. We are required by law to protect the triac with an overcurrent protection device, so there has to be a fuse before the triac.

In the case of the 7B and 28B, we only have one transformer to protect, so the single pole breaker can be moved between the power inlet and the triac, taking the place of the triac protection fuse.

Now if only someone would come up with an Audiophile triac...

SoundGame · « **Reply #79 on:** 28 Jun 2012, 01:34 am »

I also see there is at least one fuse in the MPS-2 power supply - for those who are interested.

I've ordered the same Furutech fuse that Anononomouse described in this thread and installed. I guess I'll be able to hear for myself is there are any improvements. Cheap upgrade, even if it doesn't provide any noticeable benefits in my specific case.