Synergistic Red Fuse ...


I installed a SR RED Quantum fuse in my ARC REF-3 preamp a few days ago, replacing an older high end fuse. Uhh ... for a hundred bucks, this little baby is well worth the cost. There was an immediate improvement upon installation, but now that its broken in (yes, no kidding), its quite remarkable. A tightening of the focus, a more solid image, and most important of all for my tastes, a deeper appreciation for the organic sound of the instruments. Damn! ... cellos sound great! Much improved attack on pianos. More humanistic on vocals. Bowed bass goes down forever. Next move? .... I'm doing the entire system with these fuses. One at a time though just to gauge the improvement in each piece of equipment. The REF-75se comes next. I'll report the results as the progression takes place. Stay tuned ...

Any comments from anyone else who has tried these fuses?
128x128oregonpapa
David,

Might be a good idea to have a short listen are get the fuses correctly oriented before breaking and leaving them to further burn in for the weekend.
How many combinations of directions for two fuses?  

First fuse in WRONG direction, the other in WRONG direction.  

First fuse in RIGHT direction, the other in WRONG direction.  

The first fuse in WRONG direction, the other in RIGHT direction.  

Finally the first fuse in RIGHT direction, the second fuse in RIGHT direction.  

POP QUIZ: How many combinations for three fuses?

I agree with changing the direction of the Black fuses prior to mixing them with the Red fuse.  Oregonpapa I value your listening impressions, we share the same musical priorities. Audio products that diminish rather than enrich the emotional connection  with music aren't for me. It will be very interesting  to see how the Black fuses evolve. 
Charles, 
Geoff, I have 4, 10A fast-blow fuses in my big amp. I have a better chance of winning powerball than getting all the directions correct at the same time, and there is no f'in way I am going to sit around and try listening to every permutation.  The amp manufacturer used Hi-Fi Tuning fuses in the amp, and showed me which way to orient them based on their arrows and the direction of electricity flow.  If the SR fuses had an orientation indicator (i.e., arrow) then I would know how to orient them.

If SR is going to charge $100 bucks for a fuse, it seems they would take the time to test which direction their fuses sound best and then label them.  I am not saying they should test every fuse but, IF this direction thing is true, there must be a reason they sound better in a certain orientation and it must have to do with manufacturing since the parts at each end are the same.  So, what is left, wire direction, which end gets soldered first, which direction they run their 2,000,000 volts of Quantum Tunneling electricity, what else?  If SR can figure out which of those things affects directivity, then they would know which direction to paint an arrow on the fuse since they are all presumably manufactured in a sequenced manner.  Some might say the absence of an arrow on their fuses indicates they think the orientation issue is BS.  OTOH, watching audiophiles fumble with the direction of fuses probably gives them a laugh or two.
It's simple enough for me to reverse the fuse direction and just listen. Either you hear a meaningful difference or you do not. I do hear a distinct  change(but not drastic )  in the sound. If you don't  then just leave things as they are. 
Charles,