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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
fliz
63 posts
 
charles, you misunderstand.

I have one.  I can hear the [huge] difference it makes.  I agree it's well worth the money.

I remain dumbfounded as to how this is possible.
fliz
63 posts
 
If you want to be even further baffled, add a WA Quantum fuse chip to it.

Like you said, it'd be a waste of time to try to explain the difference it makes.
jazzonthehudson's avatar
jazzonthehudson
277 posts
 
Most amp manufacturers don't believe in after market fuse, and in lesser extend -power cords. I have had several well known brands (ARC, Krell, CJ to name a few) and they all HAVE to say that it does not matter from a corporate point of view. 

The IsoClean is of course better than stock but nowhere as good as the SR Red or the AH Platinum. I have tried most of the after market fuses in my systems and fuses provide indeed one of the highest ROI (highest is dedicated line(s), then AC outlet). When I try a new device, the first thing I do is to upgrade the fuse(s) after initial listening. 
knghifi
1,667 posts
 
Most amp manufacturers don't believe in after market fuse, and in lesser extend -power cords. I have had several well known brands (ARC, Krell, CJ to name a few) and they all HAVE to say that it does not matter from a corporate point of view.
Actually Kal at ARC concedes after market fuses are superior quality but timing is different so MIGHT not fully protect the component when it blows.

From my experience only ARC doesn't recommend after market fuses.
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
2,850 posts
 
This was the end of the first listening session with the SR RED fuses all the way down the chain ... phono, preamp and amp. The addition of the third fuse to the phono stage today was a nice improvement in the beginning. After a few hours of burn-in, the rear of the stage opened up like never before. Wow! Everything sounds so pristine. Way more inner detail. Records that I know by heart are a new experience. The experience I'm having tells me that the fuses really come into their own after about 10 to 20 hours. So ... tomorrow should be a banner day for playing records at my house. Best bank for the buck ever. 
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