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?
oregonpapa
Oregonpapa

I will purchase the Von Gaylord IC you recommend. My initial reluctance to purchase an IC without an audition is because of my experience with the Audioquest Cheetah.  It performs excellently only when connected between the CD player and the Pre-amp. It simply does not work between the pre and power amps. Earlier this year I made the decision to upgrade both interconnects and so I began the search by auditioning The Wywires Platinum IC and the High Fidelity CT-1. The Wywires defeated the CT-1 by a wide margin. The connection between Pre and power amps is secure.

The designer of the Wywires cable ( I have forgotten his name ) was adamant that best results would be obtained if I connected his IC between source and  preamp, so I know it will work well there. When I get the Von Gaylord IC I will first try it between Source and preamp. It is my belief that the best IC should go there.

A quick word about the Wywires Platinum. It is truly awesome. Every now and then, I hear a component that is so perfect, in every possible way, that it
is a joy to own. The Wywires platinum IC is such a product. Enough said.

Just knowing you are using and enjoying the Von Gaylord IC is very reassuring.

good luck
Interesting stories, Wolfie.  Redding is a beautiful town, of course.  I'm not far from there, as I mentioned.

Re the mention by the other gentlemen of "For Duke," I don't have that recording but I do have another M&K Realtime direct-to-disc recording of that era, "The Power and the Glory (Volume I)".  It is a recording of classical music for organ, that was recorded in a large church that apparently has one of the world's largest organs.  I'm hard pressed to think of superlatives that would do justice to its sonics.  However I only played it via speakers once, as it is the only recording I have ever played that caused paint chips to fall from my ceiling :-) 

Best regards,
-- Al
 
Hello Al,
"The Power And The Glory " is this excellent  in music and "musicianship " terms or would you describe it as strictly  a sonic/sound demonstration type of recording? 
Charles, 
Hi Charles,

Well, the works on the recording include Bach's famous "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor," excerpts of works by Vivaldi and Wagner, and a piece by a 20th century American composer named Alexander Russell.  The performer, Lloyd Holzgraf, I understand was the long-time organist of the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, where the recording was made, and he certainly gives a noteworthy performance IMO.

However, organ music tends to be an acquired taste to many, and I would expect that there will be many to whom these pieces would not be appealing.  And for that matter they are not pieces that I find myself wanting to listen to with any particular regularity, either.

The following YouTube links appear to be uploads derived from CD transfers of the original direct-to-disc LP, each link corresponding to one side of the LP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd0bETda5uM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5nzfPi8w4E

Best regards,
-- Al
 
Hi David and Frank,
Off topic question, do  either of you recall visiting the Concert Fidelity room at the Newport Show? They were featuring their new 300b amplifer driving Maxonics speakers (104 db sensitive coaxial ).
Charles,