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Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 3:09 am
by Mcbrion
I've been experimenting with fuses for the past two years. Hi Fi Tuning gold, Then Hi Fi Supremes, then AMR, and now Synergistic Research fuses, the only ones with a 30-day money-back guarantee. And then putting the WA Quantum chips on them - which apparently Hi Fi Supreme has adapted to their fuse.
There are WA Quantum chips for everything, but the best results come from putting them on fuses, and on the cable that leads into your home's panel breaker box. The capacitor chips work sometimes (the CJ Teflon capacitors didn't seem to like them that much), but not on every cap. You have to play with the Quantums to see which components they help and which they don't.
My Arcam FMJ 23 Ring DAC did NOT like company [e.g. the Quantum chip] on its surface AT ALL. The music positively DIED. And there's not that much room on the chip to move it around, anyway, so I just removed it.

But on fuses, the WA Quantums are dynamite. And they're only 7.99 AND they're returnable if you don't mangle them beyond recognition. Try 'em.

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 3:07 pm
by Ray
so is there any kind of explanation for how these things work? (the quantum chips)

I'm assuming they are purely Placebo in nature, (and I'm not meaning to discount the Placebo effect) or, is there some technological explanation for what they do? 'just curious.

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 9:37 am
by admin
Ray wrote:so is there any kind of explanation for how these things work? (the quantum chips)

I'm assuming they are purely Placebo in nature, (and I'm not meaning to discount the Placebo effect) or, is there some technological explanation for what they do? 'just curious.
I have heard people talk about "audiophile fuses" in other forums as well. I think I put them in the same category as "cable risers, custom speaker feet/stands, vibration dampeners, etc.." As somebody that has many of these kinds of upgrades in my system I can say that they probably offer minimal if any improvement overall. However, when you setup costs five figures, it can be worth to experiment with these rather inexpensive upgrades. An $8 fuse in a $25,000 system is definitely worth a gamble in my humble opinion. If it makes a difference, then it is relatively high value, if not, you wasted 0.032% of your budget! :)

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 11:54 am
by Ray
I'd buy into something like "high-quality" fuses... couldn't hurt, not all that expensive...and yea with a big buck high quality system, why not have high quality throughout...and I've bought high-quality fuses before. no help mind you beyond my initial imagination.

...I though have a limit on what I'll buy into. when Magic and Serious Pseudo Science is used to market something, I get a bit twitchy and worry that I'm just supporting the snake-oil industry.

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:01 pm
by admin
Ray,
I completely agree with you. I'll consider buying something like this if it's under $10, if they asked $1000, then no way. Once again, I think experimentation on "questionable components" is ok if it represents a very small percentage of the overall budget. As in my example of a $25k system, a $8 fuse represents 0.032% of that system which is rather insignificant. IMHO.

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 11:32 pm
by Ian Millar
A fuse is a fuse. Just use the correct fitting type, correct voltage and current rating, slow blow or fast blow as appropriate for the position in the circuit and be done with it. It warrants no discussion. Money wasted on such rip-offs as gold plated fuses should be given to charity instead.

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 10:56 am
by Auriian
Ya, what Ian said.. on a different note I'm saving all my toilet paper rolls to use as cable risers, maybe I'll wrapem in alumfoil I'm looking for improved 'bottom end'. :lol: just kidding. If it works and you hear it use it and stay happy!

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 12:36 pm
by Ray
Auriian wrote:Ya, what Ian said.. on a different note I'm saving all my toilet paper rolls to use as cable risers, maybe I'll wrapem in alumfoil I'm looking for improved 'bottom end'. :lol: just kidding. If it works and you hear it use it and stay happy!
....and empty Charmin rolls sound best! and if you leave exactly 1/4" on the roll when using as a cable trestle, your system will be transformed.

The Charmin cardboard/paper causes electron phase distortion absorption at the sub-Quantum level. This translates into deeper tighter bass & wider sound-stage. An added benefit being if you suffer from hay-fever, it will be dramatically reduced. :mrgreen: :geek:

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 5:35 am
by Joe Appierto
Ian Millar wrote:A fuse is a fuse. Just use the correct fitting type, correct voltage and current rating, slow blow or fast blow as appropriate for the position in the circuit and be done with it. It warrants no discussion. Money wasted on such rip-offs as gold plated fuses should be given to charity instead.
The article is long, I know, but if you'd like to see another point of view:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthr ... lean-Fuses

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 9:58 am
by admin
Joe Appierto wrote:
Ian Millar wrote:A fuse is a fuse. Just use the correct fitting type, correct voltage and current rating, slow blow or fast blow as appropriate for the position in the circuit and be done with it. It warrants no discussion. Money wasted on such rip-offs as gold plated fuses should be given to charity instead.
The article is long, I know, but if you'd like to see another point of view:

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthr ... lean-Fuses
Interesting article. Fuses have always been in the realm of "voodoo audiophile land" and I have to admit that I have never tried upgrading my fuses. The fact that he has oscilloscope readings with different results when changing the fuses does put value on the reviewers comments. May have to play around with this in the future. :)

Re: Fuses...The FINAL Frontier

Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 10:41 am
by Joe Appierto
admin wrote: Interesting article. Fuses have always been in the realm of "voodoo audiophile land" and I have to admit that I have never tried upgrading my fuses. The fact that he has oscilloscope readings with different results when changing the fuses does put value on the reviewers comments. May have to play around with this in the future. :)
Glad you found it of some interest. Also embedded in there somewhere, or perhaps in one of the other installments, are oscilloscope readings showing the fuse oriented in both directions. One orientation yields a "cleaner" trace and helps explain why users show a preference for one orientation over the other. I can understand why something as seemingly inconsequential as a fuse could be thought to be just another "snake oil" ploy being foisted on an unsuspecting/gullible marketplace. But I, and others, have found that they can make a significant difference in some applications.