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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
t_ramey
366 posts
 
tsushima1, same thing happened to me. On the same page they have an email address off to the left that I just tried and it sent so I'll see what they say.

I'm thinking of trying one in my preamp to see how it complements the SR black fuses in my dac and amps. But I'll order a black for the pre as well and see which one works better...
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
2,850 posts
 
macdude ...

How long of a break-in time did you allow the SR Black fuse? Reason I ask is that in my experience, the Black fuses took about three times times as long ti break in over the SR Red fuses. The Black fuses took at least 70 hours to really start opening up and sounding good. At the 70 hour mark, things just snapped into place. After the 70 hour mark, additional benefits were to be had through hour 100. 

t_ramey
366 posts
 
On the topic of break in or burn in. When it comes to the preamp...can you have your source playing music through the dac to the preamp but have the preamp on mute to the amps and still get any benefit of burn in on the preamp?

skipping
22 posts
 
A very interesting thread.  You guys have really perked my ears up.

Davidpritchard- I would like to follow your lead as I have a SA11-s1 player, a step below yours, that I purchased as a trade in.  The problem I'm having is that I can't get the top lid off to see exactly what size and type fuses I have.  I've removed the three screws at the rear, but the top seems to be glued on and I don't want to bend it out of shape.  So, unfortunately I will have to leave it to a Marantz  tech.  But I would like to have the fuses in hand before I take that step.  Could you please inform me as to the size and value of the 6 fuses that are in your player as they should be the same since they are similar.  Much appreciated.
macdude
96 posts
 
Tsushima, contact berniceskaudio at gmail.com to order the Telos Quantum X2.

Oregonpapa, I didn't run the Black fuse for 70 hours. I just didn't like the tonality. I may put it back in, but I like the Telos at the moment.

Gwalt's Beeswax impressions are spot on. Voices and instruments are beautiful. I had many wow educational moments with it. But it's just too aggressive in my DAC for extended listening.
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