Thanks, Frank! Of course something else in the system might be out of polarity, that's why I asked to see which way sounded best. Not to mention the Mercury CDs sound great even out of polarity. 😀
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?
Any comments from anyone else who has tried these fuses?
4,833 responses Add your response
^^^ geoffkait ... I have a polarity switch on my pre-amp. I'll check it out and get back to you, although what this disc was doing last night was uncanny. Huge sound stage, instruments all separated and tonally correct. The brass was incredible and the kettle and bass drums were spectacular. And no matter how loud I played it, short of my neighbors running after me with torches, it all held together. As a side note, two days before this listening session, I switched the amp (ARC REF-75se) from the 8 ohm taps to the 4 ohm taps. I'm getting a lot more slam and bass response now. Slightly better overall clarity too. Frank |
I understand the Mercury Living Presence CDs are out of absolute polarity. Can you do me a solid and reverse speaker connections on both speakers to see if one way sounds better than the other? when the CD is in correct polarity it should sound much more dynamic and coherent with huge soundstage. thanks in advance. |
^^^ Thanks, fleschler. I'll bet it sounds terrific on your system. I listened to it all the way through during last night's listening session. The band was in the room. How can you go wrong on this CD with this caliber of musicians ready to jump out at you? Here's another one that I dug out of the vault last night. If you have it, play cut #14 and crank up the volume. Its a good test of a system's dynamics and the ability to "hold together" while blowing the walls down ... not to mention that its great music a well. :-) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antal-Dor-ti-Stravinsky-The-Firebird-etc-Antal-Dorati-CD-5LVG-/302233218987?... Frank |
Robert and I use this CD which he introduced me to, for testing equipment and changes in our audio system. If it doesn't sound great, there is something wrong with the system. I found out that my mid range drivers on my Focus speakers were lacking in polyester batting due to the hard and blurry/blurry horns. Upon remedying the problem, horns sounded rich and smooth. These were not due to factory error but the guy who rewired my speakers prior to purchase didn't replace the batting which they needed plenty of. Great CD! |
To all ... Okay jazz lovers ... especially lovers of West Coast jazz. Here's a must have CD or LP. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Conte-Candoli-All-Stars-LITTLE-BAND-BIG-JAZZ-/252807781998?hash=item3adc849e... I'm only listing the CD here. I have several copies of the album on vinyl, including one on red vinyl (the best sounding one) and one copy on CD. The vinyl records have excellent sound ... but the CD is just as good in the sound department. This is West Coast jazz at its best. Frank |
Hi Jond, I’ll certainly seek that recording out. Thanks for the recommendation as I really enjoy his playing. Jond one current vibraphonist I failed to mention is Jason Marsalis. He’s know primarily as a drummer (for good reason) but he’s also a very accomplished vibraphonist without question. I saw him live in Ann Arbor on vibes leading a quartet 2 years ago. Saw him last year as a drummer with pianist Marcus Roberts. He’s excellent with either instrument. Charles |
We've gotten rid of most gods (there used to be a lot of them hanging around), so it really is time to get rid of that last big one. I realize for some it's hard to keep their silly religious nonsense from permeating forums, but when it's as inane as the stuff being posted by Shubert it really points out the need to keep some things to yourself. |
^^^ Jond ... A good orchestral rendition of Bach's "Air on a G String" seems to move me. This is good too: http://www.ebay.com/itm/So-Many-Stars-by-Kathleen-Battle-/152488092296?hash=item2380ffa288:m:mCOQX7_... Frank |
I'm with Charles here faith and religion being very tricky subjects which can tend to divide us, music on the other hand has a tendency to bring us together. For whatever that is worth. Sunday morning classical with Bach Trios by Yo Yo Ma, Chris Thile, and Edgar Meyer. Not much of a classical listener but I love it on weekend mornings for some reason. |
When God becomes the topic things can become very complex and philosophical. I feel that this is such a personal matter that it can be difficult to discuss as one’s beliefs, conviction and relationship with God vary all over a wide spectrum. This goes deeper than discussing politics. I’m in no position to dictate what others want to post about but I will keep my participation simple and limit it to the topic of music which I find fun and gratifying. Best Regards to all, Charles |
God made us all unique. I respond to God through lyrics and the emotion/passion of the vocalist. From this perspective I respond to God and others though an artist like Sara Groves (Christian artist) more than Bach. One artist is not better than the other and certainly not in God's economy. Just the wrong question and thought process. |
droleg Geo: Broken in or not , i'm just in it to enjoy the music. To each , his own. If someon thinks that doing this or buying that hightens their pleasure or enjoyment, i believe it does, to them. It's all in our perception and expectation. Much of this is phsychological, which , by no means , lessens the validity of what they percieve. If i buy or try a tweak, i usualy believe that there's a possibility it will help. Gosh, thanks for your insight. I'm sure we all appreciate it. |
Geo: Broken in or not , i'm just in it to enjoy the music. To each , his own. If someon thinks that doing this or buying that hightens their pleasure or enjoyment, i believe it does, to them. It's all in our perception and expectation. Much of this is phsychological, which , by no means , lessens the validity of what they percieve. If i buy or try a tweak, i usualy believe that there's a possibility it will help. What have you got to lose, within financial reason. Enjoy the music, all. |
Droleg, by deduction I conclude that if you’re playing music though a wire or fuse you can never get to 100%. In fact as I understand the situation even cables that have been thoroughly broken in on the inestimable Cable Cooker the cables still befit from breaking them in on the Cable Cooker or whatever again a year later, ad infinitum. Besides I implore you, what audiophile worth his salt is going to sit there patiently - without making any change to his system - for 100 hours and be able to tell when the cable or fuse has finished breaking in? Give me a break, besides an audio system when it is well tuned doesn't even sound the same from day to day, night time to day time. Too many variables. |
Al: Thanks for your thoughts Shadorne: i can't find where to check the electrin level on my amp. I'm kind of new at this. Maybe you can helpme locate it. Geo: so how many hours would you recommend for 100%? jettet: cant seem to locate the reverse swich on cdp. Maybe it doesnt have one, so i just inverted the polarity on the power cord by swithing the hot and neutral. This should make it play backwards, i think. Thanks for the suggestion! |
This thread the past few days has been a genuine joy to read and participate in. This is the whole point of having an audio system, to listen to and connect with the music we are passionate about. Bill, Carmen was in prime form well into the mid 1970s. See if spotify has her "Great American Songbook " early 1970s live in a LA jazz club. I think you'll like it. Charles |
Another female singer I like a lot is Nancy Wilson ... but again, like Carmen McCrea, only her early work. On Patricia Barber (and other recording artists like her), my intent wasn't to insult anyone, especially anyone contributing to this thread. I love natural recordings, especially those that are right from the master tapes. They are far closer to what was happening in the studio or on site. For those who have heard master tapes played back through their stereo system .... they know what I mean. There is a "you are there" presence not available on ordinary recordings. So many times, the artificial reverb is added to cloak a faltering voice due to age or a lack of talent to begin with. On Tony Bennett ... I hope he lives to 190. :-) Frank |
Jond, I’m happy that you enjoyed those two recordings, I had a feeling they’d appeal to you. Regarding Nickolas Payton, he is one heck of a trumpeter. I really like Roy Hargrove but Payton has the better chops IMHO. Wolf, Yes, listening to Brad Mehldau yesterday Fred Hersch came to mind. It must have been fun to have worked with him. I’ll seek out Vijay Iyer. You could live 2 full lifetimes and still not cover all of the talented jazz musicians out there. Bill, Agree, music and audio components are the epitome of subjectivity, we simply like what we like. Charles |
Good is the enemy of the best. Good-enough is the enemy period . The main job of old-men is to impart the wisdom of truth to others , and for that you need to be as "elite" as possible ! If you told a teen the Beetles are as good as Bach, you'd need your mouth washed out with soap . What could be considered an "open-mind " at 18 would be an empty mind at 80 . |
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Fred Hersch was (and likely still is) an influence on Mehldau…I mixed a Hersch (his trio) show last year and he's basically a brilliant if somewhat quirky dude who plays his ass off. Interesting fact: He was in an induced coma at some point and wrote and performed music that was inspired by his thoughts while comatose. Another mind blowing fave is Vijay Iyer (the New Yorker said he may be the best pianist alive…a silly statement but interesting)...his trio album "Break Stuff" is not for the faint of heart and is an intensely rewarding listen. |
The best is 110% subjective. What is best to you may be mediocre, at best, to another. Surely we cannot say the other’s subjective reaction to an artist or style of music is less worthy than our own? That would be, well, elitist. Correct? In the end we all have different tastes and nobody is "right". This applies to gear and wire also 😊 |
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Charles has shared a lot of great music that I have very much enjoyed as well as others on this and other threads. I have been listening to Carmen McRae today. I like her recording of Billie Holiday tunes as well as Book Of Ballads. I do think her voice was better in the late 50’s and 60’s, but no doubt she sang with emotion after these years. I have also added Fingerpaintings to my favorites! |
Tolerance my fellow Agoners for music and artists others feel have value. I like all the artists mentioned including PB. Charles is very cordial and open minded as his comments always convey. I hope some are not saying she has no value because she is simply not their taste. I like the the style of her recordings and like reverb and creative atmosphere at times. There is a season for many styles of music in my life. I love Sarah Vaughan as well. i live in Nashville and while I am not particularly fond of country music, especially the new pop style stuff, I certainly respect the fact that many love it and feel the artists do add value to our culture and lives. |
Patricia Barber may be a great singer, but how can anyone tell? Her recordings are so drenched in artificial digital reverb it sounds like she's singing from the depths of an enormous cave. This isn't intended to put Patricia Barber down ... its intended to put down the ham-handed recording engineer who can't keep his mitts off of the reverb dial on his mixing board. Frank |
schubert ... "I know its heresy but I always thought Sarah was better than Ella." Not heresy at all. Its the down to earth truth. There's just more soul being released from Sarah, and its transferred to the heart of the listener. In reading your's and Charles' last couple of posts its apparent how close our taste in jazz is. It seems we've come to the same conclusions ... Monk over Peterson, Sarah over Ella. And this is with what? ... probably close to 100 years of cumulative listening combined? "It puzzles me why people think that Patrica Barber IS a singer." Thank you. :-) Frank Rep |
Bill (Grannyring) true. This is why I try to make it clear that I'm not putting down an artist who may not be my favorite. Surely Barber has many fans who adore her and her music and I respect that. It just so happens that Schubert, Frank and I have considerable admiration and love for Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae. As we all recognize we're simply discussing our own taste. Schubert, Miles Davis said the same thing about Sarah, saying that she was absolutely adored by all of the top jazz musicians of her era . Charles |
charles1 dad, you’ll never know how much you post meant to me . In my not very humble opinion what Sarah and Carmen both had in common was everything thay did was an act of love for both the music and the musicians they made it with . Sun-Ra once told me Sarah was the most beloved singer among jazz-men,as a person, he ever met . Carmen was a lover of a world which broke her heart over and over . She fought on. . Lovers are a takes one to know one thing . Simple . P. S . Just between us, a footnote to the "I never understood why Torme was such an underrated singer" . It puzzles me why people think that Patrica Barber IS a singer . |