Got a PM so a couple details originally left out- the Melody I880 integrated amp is normally turned off and got its usual warm-up.
http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/the-melody-mi880-integrated-tube-amplifier
Also should maybe be clear, that while the new fuse is now probably pretty well burned it it is still just a normal factory fuse. So in other words the Synergistic Research Resolution Reference MkII that sounded so awful in the beginning (running backwards, cold, etc) now sounds so good it has made up for having been forced to downgrade from the Blue Quantum Fuse.
This could all probably be summarized as: Direction, warm-up and burn-in are so important they can not only wipe out the benefit of a major upgrade, but actually make a system sound much worse in spite of a major upgrade.
http://v2.stereotimes.com/post/the-melody-mi880-integrated-tube-amplifier
Also should maybe be clear, that while the new fuse is now probably pretty well burned it it is still just a normal factory fuse. So in other words the Synergistic Research Resolution Reference MkII that sounded so awful in the beginning (running backwards, cold, etc) now sounds so good it has made up for having been forced to downgrade from the Blue Quantum Fuse.
This could all probably be summarized as: Direction, warm-up and burn-in are so important they can not only wipe out the benefit of a major upgrade, but actually make a system sound much worse in spite of a major upgrade.