Do you believe in Magic?

04-17-12: Almarg
...I would suggest that you make a point of separately assessing the results with music having narrow dynamic range and modest peak volume levels, that presumably would not cause your amp to leave Class A, and, for example, symphonic music having wide dynamic range and brief peaks that reach very high volume levels.

My expectation is that the fuses would be most likely to make a difference when the amount of current flowing through them fluctuates widely and rapidly with the music...

Your expectation was borne out by my experience. It went like this: I installed a Hifi Tuning fuse in my Meridian preamp. Sat down, listened...

Hmm, not sure. Is it a little better? I think it's a little better. Maybe I'm imagining it. I can't tell. I better order one for the amp to make sure.

That's an exact transcript from my brain, which I am sorry to say, reflects very poorly on my judgment as a consumer. I buy a frivolous item for $35, and when I'm not sure whether it does anything, I buy another one for $50. Good thing my wife controls the money around here. But that's not the point. The point is: I bought another fuse for the amp. Installed it, sat down, listened...

Well, that's definitely something. A little less grunge. A little more relaxed. Neat. Let's enjoy some music.

And I did. Here's the important part: When I went from John Lee Hooker's acoustic blues to this recording of L'Estate 2 from Vivaldi's Four Seasons...

What the [expletive deleted]!!

The headroom had increased by, say, 30%. I was stunned. I scratched my head...

Maybe the old fuse was dirty. Or defective. Or maybe these things actually work.

My money is on #3. All $85 of it. Plus shipping.

And btw, Al, all of this happened BEFORE you posted your comment about trying music with a wide dynamic range. So my experiences aren't so easy to dismiss as a product of my overactive imagination (I'm looking at you, MrT).

Bryon

"Maybe the old fuse was dirty. Or defective. Or maybe these things actually work."

Or perhaps the old fuse was installed in the wrong direction. What are the odds, 50%?

G

Now someone, tell me again this hobby is about music enyoyment, musical artists and artisans, and not about gear, tweaking and ''sound''.

Reading this thread, I am torn between memories of reading Polular Science and the British Journal of Psychology.

Must admit this is all quite entertaining all the same, while being SO serious at the same time. Think about it...

Or perhaps the fuse hadn't been teleportation tweaked? Or polished with brilliant pebbles? Or synchronized with clever clocks?

You just never know dear readers.

04-19-12: Sonicbeauty
Now someone, tell me again this hobby is about music enyoyment, musical artists and artisans, and not about gear, tweaking and ''sound''.

Haven't we been through this Sonicbeauty? And on this very thread. Since you are repeating yourself, so will I...

01-26-12: Bryoncunningham
Sonicbeauty... Criticizing hobbyists for how they conduct themselves is odd. If a person flies kites as a hobby, is he subject to criticism? That seems to defeat one of the most significant joys of having a hobby, namely that it provides a place where you are FREE FROM criticism.

I will also dispute the validity of your assumption that audiophiles who are avidly interested in equipment cannot also be avidly interested in music. That is false. I am interested in music and I am interested in equipment, both audio equipment and technology more generally. I suspect there are a great number of people on this site for whom that is true. Interest in music and interest in technology are not mutually exclusive. They are different activities. They are different experiences. They employ different regions of the brain. The enjoyment of one says nothing about the enjoyment of the other.

It’s also worth pointing out that our fascination with BOTH music and technology is ancient and transcultural. They both have their origins in human prehistory. They both exist in some form in every culture on earth. By the prevailing standards of evolutionary psychology and evolutionary anthropology, music and technology are both elements of WHAT IT MEANS to be human.

I would guess that at some level you already know all this, in light of the fact that you are a self-described music lover, yet you yourself have initiated a large number of threads here on A’gon relating to sound quality and equipment design...

The absolute best and worst-sounding CD you own?

Will a transformer, 220 to 100v, ruin the sound?

Are tone controls worth a second look ?

Preamps/amps that look great and''feel' great?

Single speaker wire on bi-posts with jumpers...?

Your ''best kept secret'' speaker choice ?

Most improved last 10yrs: Speaker, amp, or pre?

Anyone went back to using bare wires on speakers?

Amazing ''Overachieving'' products...your pick?

Record weights 'n clamps: Audible improvements?

Your best ''outstanding'' products in last 5 yrs?

Amplifiers: A Keeper for Life. Do you know of one?

Evidently, you have an interest in equipment. If you also have an interest in music, then you are your own “existence proof” that the two can peacefully coexist.

The criticism that "it's about the music, not the gear" contributes nothing substantive to the discussion. And it rings false when it's in the mouth of a person who has routinely initiated topics of discussion that are about gear and not music.

Oh, and I can't help but notice that your name is Sonicbeauty, not Musicbeauty. Think about it...

Bryon