|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 12, 2015 19:36:39 GMT
My final SR Red fuse has arrived - a 20mm 3.15A to fit the rear panel of the P10 regenerator. This means that regenerator and power amp are now fully fitted with SR Reds, the rest of the system with AMR Golds.
The Red replaces a Hi-Fi Tuning fuse, curiously rated at 5A. I cannot remember why it's that value. I checked recently with PS Audio and 3A is the correct rating for UK P10s. So my 'expectation bias' (LOL) says it should sound worse (due to greater thermal non-linearity).
Putting on one of my most severe test CDs, Damien Rice's O, was quite revealing. I played the opening track delicate after having just played it previously with the Hi-Fi Tuning. I noticed more spatial cues in the soundstage, a tap (error?) stage-left and greater detail in his guitar picking. The drum has even more clout, highly dynamic as it already is. There are two parts of the song where what sounds like analogue tape drop-outs occur. Harshness in the uplift when the cello joins in, and later when he starts belting out his vocals, is reduced. Just this one track confirmed what I had already heard when trying out an SR Red for the first time. Stupidly expensive, it gives equally outrageous performance benefits. Before you go thinking I'm talking about big improvements, that isn't the case. It's subtle, but it's definitely there, and it's better than any other fuse I've tried. |
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Jan 12, 2015 20:57:20 GMT
Revealing what is not supposed to be revealed !
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Jan 13, 2015 8:00:13 GMT
I use AMR fuses in my system having been given a freebie at a Show many years ago. I tried it and bought a few more - good marketing!  Sound is 'cleaner'; mids a bit thinner, bass a tad lighter but tighter, images a little more focussed than standard fuses. The overall impression is of the sound being more articulate, faster but also lighter and less tonally rich. Just a bit, not hugely. I've heard situations / synergies when it was not a benefit making the overall sound a bit too lean for my tastes. The AMR fuses are a subtle fixed tone control in my view. I've not tried any others. |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 13, 2015 8:13:10 GMT
The AMR fuses are good and great value for money.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 14, 2015 19:08:19 GMT
I had one spare SR-20 fuse (the predecessor to the Red) so I decided to put it in the next component down the line, the preamp power cable. I heard another small uplift in performance in the areas of detail, soundstage and some startling micro-dynamics that I hadn't been aware of before. I haven't compared it with a Red in the same position, but it has a similar family sound in the improvements it made over the already good AMR Gold.
So my shortlist of good fuses goes in order of price, I'm afraid. AMR Gold -> SR-20 -> SR Red.
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Jan 14, 2015 21:01:54 GMT
It's an insane amount of money for a *fuse*, but sounds like great VFM for such a music uplift
Classic speciality sales
|
|
|
|
Post by BilliumB on Jan 15, 2015 17:56:11 GMT
I'm wondering if you really need to fuse the cables that are connected to the outputs of your mains regenerator. What sort of current will the regenerator supply? I assume the regenerator has over current protection internally, and your cables are all rated at 13A or more, and the input mains lead is protected by a 13A fuse.
There is possibly an issue if the regenerator stores energy and can supply 'overcurrent' for a short time. I assume that all of your kit has additional lower current fusing internally, so the plug fuses are basically there to provide protection as far as these internal fuses.
Clearly safety is paramount, but I'm not sure that there is an issue.
Any thoughts?
Cheers. Bill
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Jan 15, 2015 18:36:20 GMT
Good point Bill
I wonder if the P10 would protect enough and be safe
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 15, 2015 23:18:58 GMT
There is possibly an issue if the regenerator stores energy and can supply 'overcurrent' for a short time. I assume that all of your kit has additional lower current fusing internally, so the plug fuses are basically there to provide protection as far as these internal fuses. The P10 does store energy, lots of it. That's how it can provide an output impedance lower than the mains feed itself. I'd rather keep safe and also keep my cables standard. There would be the danger of forgetting that I've bypassed a fuse and then using the cable elsewhere. |
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Jan 16, 2015 9:49:52 GMT
I'd love to do without those fuses, but safety first
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 20, 2015 9:15:14 GMT
A quick update: having completed my footers/platform strategy, I have been gradually implementing fuse upgrades. I now have four SR Reds in the main regenerator feed, power amp and preamp. There is also a slightly lower spec SR-20 in the SACD player. All other fuses are AMR Gold. The system sounds tremendously detailed without being harsh, with the area of greatest improvement being imaging, dimensionality and air.
Good CDs are imaging like a bastard. Nearly all CDs are improved and some of my precious SACDs are simply epic. The Police Every Breath You Take SACD features Can't Stand Losing You, one of the very best recorded tracks I've ever heard on the format, shockingly immediate.
I'm going to cause controversy by saying that I think the SR Red fuses represent excellent value for money in the context of my system. I can't think of another way that £59 could give me this level of improvement. |
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Jan 20, 2015 9:40:55 GMT
The key is what the item does.
Is it value ?
Yes.
Would anyone in their right mind pay £50 for a fuse ?
See above
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 20, 2015 10:36:02 GMT
Speaking of The Police, I searched for Outlandis d'Amour and found it on SACD in Amazon.co.jp! Then, blow me if I didn't find Wishbone Ash Argus on SACD. Never even knew it existed. That's two SACDs winging their way from Japan  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2015 18:33:57 GMT
Argus! Wow - one of the earliest (vinyl) records I bought. Must listen to it again - like very soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 20, 2015 18:36:52 GMT
Argus and There's the Rub are must-haves for me, the latter especially for Persephone.
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Jan 20, 2015 20:03:03 GMT
Argus - I had it on LP (back in its 1970s heyday) and now on CD. Must be one of the wishy-washyest recordings known to man! --- like a 1950's London pea-souper --- I wonder what SACD can do for it?
-- great album, though.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 20, 2015 20:43:07 GMT
Agreed, Jerry, Wishbone Ash's recordings are not great, although I think There's the Rub came out better. I have no idea what the SACD can do for it, but I felt it worth a try. The Japanese seem especially good at obtaining excellent copy masters and performing great digital mastering from them. Witness the Japanese SACD of Genesis' Selling England by the Pound, which is quite superb.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisB on Jan 20, 2015 21:01:20 GMT
I have a copy of the Japanese SHM-CD of 'There's the Rub' it sounds pretty good to me - the growl of Martin Turner's bass guitar at the beginning of 'FUBB' is quite something to behold.
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jan 20, 2015 21:18:52 GMT
Footers - Just When You Thought I'd Finished!
Well, they did arrive late! I'm trialling the interestingly named Ecstasy Prop feet from China. They come with 7 removable springs each so the springiness/load is adjustable. Trialling with a slab of granite, I decided on 6 springs each. They all creaked as they were compressed so I used a dab of lubricant on each one to stop the noise of spring against Perspex. Resting the turntable/platform on them, they are well damped with no bouncing at all. I think this is natural damping from the multiple springs each having slightly different resonant frequencies.
The first test, listening for bass feedback and footfalls when the volume is set to 60, passed with flying colours. They are the first of many footers tried to actually outperform the sorbothane pucks in this respect. I haven't decided on sound quality yet as I'm still listening to different music, but they are quite promising.
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Jan 20, 2015 21:38:12 GMT
Saw Wishbone Ash live a few times. Must have been around Argus time - superb
|
|
