We Need A Separate Forum for Fuses


LOL, I'll bet I gotcha on that Title! ;)  BTW, I put this thread under "Tech Talk" category as it involves the system physically, not tangentially. 

More seriously, two question survey:

1. Do you think designer fuses are A) a Gift to audiophiles, or B) Snake Oil 

2. Have you ever tried them?  Yes or No

In the tradition of such questions on Agon, I'll weigh in as we go along... 
Feel free to discuss and rant all you wish, but I would like to see clear answers to the questions. :) 
douglas_schroeder
If I wanted to know the difference that bad I'd just jump the fuse block.
Didn't you see the link to where Paul McGowan and a friend designed a wonderful sounding amp only to have it suck when they incorporated the fuse? It completely messed with the sound. Even gold plating the holder didn't help much. They didn't try aftermarket fuses back then (it was in the 80's). It never sounded as good once the fuse was added. The fuse is the bottleneck. Some amp designers figured it out way before this discussion came along.

All the best,
Nonoise
@nonoise 
.....for a bad design. And by definition, something so prone to such a nuance back behind the power supply is a poor design. The entire point of a power supply is to filter noise and smooth the incoming power. The ideal power supply provides the rail voltages and current the circuit requires with no noise or perturbations. By saying a single fuse made that kind of difference, one is also saying the power supply was garbage. All you're hearing in a stereo is the modulated output of a power supply so it better be good. That's why good amps have very robust power supplies resistant to all kinds of garbage. In a good amp, it's the most expensive thing, second to only some of the ridiculous chassis some build, like D"Agostino. 
kosst,
What can I say to someone who knows so much, that he cannot learn any more? The air must be rare up there.

All the best,
Nonoise
@nonoise 
No. It's of average density. I'm kinda wondering what it's like down where you're at though. Molasses? How confused do you have to be to consider a poorly designed component virtuous because it's sensitive to things it absolutely should not be? You don't understand that a power supply so prone to the influence of a fuse is probably prone to all kinds of garbage coming in over the mains? You know something that justifies that obvious failing of engineering? If so, do share. 
kosst,
Yeah, right. All that great gear out there so horribly designed, and you can do so much better. An amp of yours couldn't possibly benefit from a better fuse. But then, we'll never know, will we?

Looking forward to seeing your line of gear at the next audio show. Will you be on some of the panels denouncing everyone who disagrees with you like you do on practically every thread here? It would be worth the price of admission.

All the best,
Nonoise