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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Given my sucess with the SR Quantum fuses the past few years The SR Red would have been my next move. All reports say they're better than the Quantum. Wig and Jazzonthehudson  have made direct comparisons and favor the AH over the Red. More so for my interest the AH seems better in the areas most important to me, naturalness,body and tone. The two published reviews of the AH note or confirm the same desired attributes. I'm going to give the AH a listen. I don't doubt that both are excellent choices.

In my experience fuses have had a level of impact very similiar to better cables placed in the system. The fuses acomplish this for far less money. Their performance/cost ratio is high. I don't know why the fuses have this positive effect sonically, I just judge by listening to them as I do everything ielse in audio.
Charles.
lak's avatar
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lak
3,516 posts
 
It's all very interesting, and I do believe the SR Red and/or the AH would make an improvement in high end audio equipment.
I'm waiting for charles1dad's thoughts and report back here, before I "bust a move" ;-).
audiolabyrinth's avatar
audiolabyrinth
4,483 posts
 
Hi lak, I'm with you on waiting for Charles1dad to report his impressions , his taste in sound is similar to mine,  I trust his ear's,  an example,  Charles said,  body, naturalness, tone.
fliz
63 posts
 
I'm dumbfounded.

I don't understand how this little thing can make such a difference.
t_ramey
366 posts
 
I've had both the AH fuse and Red fuse in the same Preamp and definitely preferred the Red. To me with the AH fuse in the imaging and stage sounded bloated and almost smeared. Whereas the Red lit everything up with great detail without being bright or harsh. The big difference comes when after having the Red in for a month or two then take it out and put the stock in, you can't put the Red back in fast enough.
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