fuses
Some years ago I was using an Audio Research D52B to drive some Quads and jumped the fuses mounted on the front panel that were the +/- voltages for the amp.Much to my amazement the difference was easily heard at least using the Quads,on other speakers not much difference.I tire of those that think such things make no difference and perhaps on their system that would be true but not on all systems nor if your mind is closed to such.Cheers.
Some years ago I was using an Audio Research D52B to drive some Quads and jumped the fuses mounted on the front panel that were the +/- voltages for the amp.Much to my amazement the difference was easily heard at least using the Quads,on other speakers not much difference.I tire of those that think such things make no difference and perhaps on their system that would be true but not on all systems nor if your mind is closed to such.Cheers.
@scott "What makes you think you will know for sure after you've tried it?" is that a trick question ?? lol
Don't omit to buy an audiophile fuse for every single item of equipment in your Hi-Fi system, Gaz.
And don't stop at mains fuses, you must upgrade all internal fuses, both fast blow and slow blow.
Remember that you can't afford to leave a single weak link in the chain - even though a fuse is a weak link!
Talking about 'afford'- your upgrade shouldn't cost you more than a few hundred pounds.
Russ Andrews - Hi-Fi mains and cable specialist
Personally, I'd prefer to buy more LPs! 😉
And I'm sure you'll come to the same conclusion about all that silly stuff that I already know about.
But please, don't take my word about it.... play, waste time, enjoy.
Yep...we all need to have our power company re-wire your line from outside the home., then put our extra-special wiring in the abode, coming to our special ultra uber ceramic outlet, thru the pure silver six-foot power cord, that "special" fuse...of course our gear has been dunked in liquid nitrogen for "cryo" treatment....all of it, run in for 100 Hrs, (beyond warranty limit of course), our 900 lb LP platter...onto our $6000 cables to our amp, don't forget the "brilliant pebbles" attached to those interconnects, thru our $35,000 Three-watt amp, our $15,000 speaker cables, suspended off the floor of course, don't want that...onto our 2-way $75,000 loudspeaker with that eight-inch woofer, the cone made of ultra-virgin rice paper harvested in the Himalayas of course above that premium 7,500 foot altitude area, processed of course by "blessed" local monks...the pure silver wire inside our speaker, stuffed with Alpaca pure wool of course for "proper" damping...the dome tweeter of course of the diamond vapor deposit version...The cabinets made of matte black Ebony wood, (not the inferior "shiny" Ebony of course), .........
Did I forget anything???
-------------------------------------------------------------------------Rick.........
Did I forget anything???
-------------------------------------------------------------------------Rick.........
Last edited:
Better to talk about the topic itself rather than talking about the people talking.
AS to jumping a fuse making a difference. I have novice techs check a fuse and think that is that. Doesn't occur to them the fuse holder is part of the circuit. ANyone encountering a fuse clip that suffered from heating and went resistive can appreciate that.
AS to jumping a fuse making a difference. I have novice techs check a fuse and think that is that. Doesn't occur to them the fuse holder is part of the circuit. ANyone encountering a fuse clip that suffered from heating and went resistive can appreciate that.
I tend to "pinch" the board-mounted fuse clips tighter before replacing a blown fuse.
Plus I inspect the inside contact area to verify that it's clean and not corroded.
If it's one of those vintage old German/European table/console radios, they commonly have discolored clips - sometimes a small round file to the inside helps make for better contact.
Other than that, I don't allow myself to get all stuffy as to fuses and their potential resistances, I leave that for the nervous obsessed crowd.
I've heard it said that glass fuses are microphonic, and filling with sand or whatever that is in there, reduces that microphony.
Snopes does not mention this....
Snopes does not mention this....
It has nothing to do with microphonics, this is why:
"Current limiting fuses contain a granular filler, usually high purity quartz sand of a defined grain size and packaging density. The specific grain size distribution provides room to expand for the vapours and gases produced by the arc and offers a large surface for efficient cooling. The filler does melt under the influence of high arc temperatures, absorbing an enormous amount of energy and extinguishing the arc well before current zero. Fused quartz and metal form a non-conductive fulgurite body that prevents re-striking of the arc."
"Current limiting fuses contain a granular filler, usually high purity quartz sand of a defined grain size and packaging density. The specific grain size distribution provides room to expand for the vapours and gases produced by the arc and offers a large surface for efficient cooling. The filler does melt under the influence of high arc temperatures, absorbing an enormous amount of energy and extinguishing the arc well before current zero. Fused quartz and metal form a non-conductive fulgurite body that prevents re-striking of the arc."
No doubt..... I was just reporting that *microphony* was a suggested mechanism as to why fuses have different sounds.
Suggested....?
I've heard all sorts of "wives tales" about things.
I honestly don't know where people come up with these ideas.
Ya know, years ago, before the internet came along, things were quite different. People at that time traded information, and yes, some myths about things as well.
It's a human thing, of course, hardly harmful, sometimes amusing.
But today, with the speedy information available to them, all sorts of goofy things are made up.
And a good part of it is not credible, due to the anonymity of the internet.
People read, believe, don't question the information, assuming since it's on some website, it must be true.
People don't have any real basis to challenge the subject at hand.
I hate to sound cynical, and maybe sometimes I do, but knowing what I know and reading things like fuse related "sounds" and such nonsense, I have to speak up.
Perhaps in my own small way, I'm contributing some honest truths in order to dispel all that goofy stuff that I find among various communities.
I like being honest.
And no, in case someone assumes that "I'm living in the past" and out of touch with the real world, they can forget about it - those types always seem to pop up and want to argue, debate, or something.
It's like - it takes me 4 steps down from my front door to walk to my garden....
And someone wants to argue with me it's only 2 steps. 🙄
We know WHy they put sand in the fuses, but that doesn't stop people from assuming things and from rationalizing that ...microphonics.....
People believe all kinds of stuff. I hired a technician once. He interviewed well, knew his color codes without reciting a poem. But when I showed him around the shop, schematic files here, parts drawers there, etc. He grew impatient and asked, "I want you to show me the weak parts they put in amps so they fail. The ones they make a lot of money selling replacement parts with." They don't do that, if it ever got out, that company would never sell a product. "OH no, they are all in on it."
People believe all kinds of stuff. I hired a technician once. He interviewed well, knew his color codes without reciting a poem. But when I showed him around the shop, schematic files here, parts drawers there, etc. He grew impatient and asked, "I want you to show me the weak parts they put in amps so they fail. The ones they make a lot of money selling replacement parts with." They don't do that, if it ever got out, that company would never sell a product. "OH no, they are all in on it."
