Isoclean Fuse


Recently, I purchased an Isoclean fuse for my ARC VT100 MkII. The value of the fuse for the amp from ARC, is 6.25A / slo-blo type.

When ordering the Isoclean fuse the sales person informed me that Isolclean doesn't have the exact value of 6.25, so I should go up to the next fuse value of 7A (they either had a 6A or 7A).

When I installed the new fuse, what I noticed (and I don't know if this has anything to do with the new fuse) is that the bias of the amp dropped severly (from right at 130mV, down to around 88mV). After installing the new fuse I rebiased the amp but I couldn't get the amp back to 130mV. The best I could get was around 127mV, and this was with the trim pot turned up all the way. (Please note that all biasing was done after letting the amp warm up, with no music playing, for a minimum of 30 minuetes).

Just to check, I removed the Isoclean fuse and inserted the original fuse. Now, the amp showed a bias of 145mV, which I was able to lower back to the proper 130mV setting.

My questions are:

1) Is it OK to substitute a fuse value of 7A for one that is supposed to be 6.25A?
2) Would putting the 7A fuse in the amp cause the amp's bias problem?
3) Are there any other problems that may occur by installing the wrong value fuse?

Any remarks / recommendations that you can make will be appreciated.
louisl
A couple of comments. First, the only way I know of that a fuze can effect the bias is if it has a high enough resistance to cut the voltage from the power supply. It seems unlikely that a fuze would reduce the bias by over 25%. Something else is going on here.

Second, the MK II has 2 trim pots that need to be adjusted to set the bias, and it is an iterative process. Did you adjust both? Here is a link to an excellent treatise on how to bias this amp.
http://mycollins.net/audio/artube1.html
Since you are familiar with biasing, you probably know this already, but I put it here in case others may need it.

Third, I agree that you should not use a fuze of higher value than the manufacturer recommends, even though it is only marginally higher and would probably still protect the amp. The risk is just not worth it.
I encourage everyone to read the reviews and comments written below by the press.

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue22/isoclean.htm
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/isoclean3/fuses.html
http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/isoclean/isoclean.html
http://www.soundstageav.com/audiovideonews.html
http://www.ultraaudio.com/equipment/isoclean_superfocus_80a3_pt3030g_ii.htm
What artistic audio is doing here is tantatmount to posting an advertisement. There is a separate section of Audiogon for such activity. Please refrain sir.
first of all, $25 for a fuse is insane. second of all, if the sales rep suggested you use a higher value fuse than you needed, then this company doesn't know s&%t about how a fuse works or what a fuse does. thanks for the heads up, i'll be 100% certain to not waste my money on this tweak.
Might I suggest using silver contact paste like Walker SST rather than wasting you money on the slower and inferior gold. The fuse is not unique here, only the gold plating...

Also keep in mind how many fuses you may have to protect you circuits. My Sony SCD-1 has three inside and one power, my Plinius SA-102 has four inside and two additional...

Silver treating these will do far more than one $25 fuse in one spot.