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Post by MartinT on Sept 28, 2014 9:48:56 GMT
When I received my new Coherent 6D power cable, it came with a stock fuse. This gave me an ideal chance to try the three 'hi-fi' fuses I have at my disposal. For non-UK readers, these are the 25mm (1") fuses used in our mains power plugs, not the typical 20mm or 1¼" chassis fuses used in some components. Nevertheless, the findings should be similar if the fuses are available in your local size. Remember that the 6D feeds my regenerator, and therefore the entire system, so it's the most important fuse in the chain for me.
The stock fuse was a Marbo, and the three specialist fuses I tried are a Russ Andrews original (£25), an AMR - Abbingdon Music Research - Gold (£15) and a Hi-Fi Tuning (£35), all 13A rating.
I've used Russ Andrews fuses in all my power cables for many years in the past, having felt that they gave a useful uplift in overall sound quality over stock fuses. Difficult to put a finger on, as the effect is very subtle, but improved transparency and 'cleanness' to the background are features. Putting the Russ Andrews first into the 6D and giving the system a little settling time, I found the same very subtle enhancement to the sound. Better than stock, and good value for money for a single fuse, but perhaps less so for an entire system.
Moving on to the familiar Hi-Fi Tuning fuse (I've been using it in my previous MCRU Ultimate HC cable), there is another more significant uplift in sound, giving better leading edge detail, more space to the soundstage and more micro-dynamics. Music springs to life. This is a good fuse and I am not surprised at the result. A couple of examples: Ry Cooder's The Very Thing that Makes You Rich starts at almost dead silence and builds to a very busy and exciting sound, with vocal harmonies backdropping some excellent percussion and guitar picks. Just wonderful, and sounds very alive. Van Morrison's Haunts of Ancient Peace features a very raw voice but the most vivid and beguiling sax I've ever heard, not to mention the fantastic slapped/plucked bass. A great performing fuse, but not cheap.
Finally, I put the AMR into place and gave it a similar settling time. Well, I'll be damned; it sounds as near as dammit to the Hi-Fi Tuning that I can't really tell the difference. This is a brand new, never used, fuse too. Soundstage: check. Micro-dynamics: check. Fine detail: check. It's all there, and the Ry Cooder and Van Morrison sound as wonderful as before. That makes the AMR extremely good value for money and way better than a stock fuse. I shall keep listening to it to see if it improves at all over time. Highly recommended, at least for your main feed cable.
Hi-Fi Tuning website (and if you can make sense of it, well done). AMR website.
  
Our standard warning about mains power components applies: if you don't know what you're doing, then get a qualified electrician to do it for you. And never, EVER bypass fuses: they are there for a reason. |
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Post by John on Sept 28, 2014 10:18:08 GMT
Its one thing I never really explored myself
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Post by MartinT on Sept 28, 2014 10:43:43 GMT
It's worth doing, John. The final tweak for when everything else is working well.
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Post by pre65 on Sept 28, 2014 10:56:03 GMT
Did you try each fuse both ways round ?
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Post by MartinT on Sept 28, 2014 11:30:23 GMT
No, I didn't. The Hi-Fi Tuning one has a direction marked, the others I used in the direction of the writing left-to-right. Life is too short!
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Post by brian2957 on Sept 28, 2014 14:40:01 GMT
You do realise that you're 'aff yer heid ' Martin .  I also use the AMR fuses in my system and find to be them very good . I once had a discussion with a valve enthusiast regarding the ' SQ ' of fuses and when I told him I could hear a difference with different fuses he nearly had palpatations . Don't really care what others think . It's all about my enjoyment of my system Martin . Thanks for the comprehensive write-up , very interesting regarding the AMR fuses V other fuses . |
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Post by MikeMusic on Sept 28, 2014 16:38:34 GMT
The whole thing is crazy Brian But if it works who cares More music is the key I'll be doing a critique of Granite place mats on top of kit soon  |
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Post by MartinT on Sept 28, 2014 17:15:44 GMT
Go for it, Mike. In the meantime, get an AMR for your P10 feed. I promise you it'll be worth it.
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Post by MikeMusic on Sept 28, 2014 18:19:39 GMT
I'll look for an AMR !
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Post by MartinT on Sept 28, 2014 18:37:05 GMT
Make sure it's a 13A one. MCRU has them in stock.
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Post by Chris on Sept 28, 2014 20:54:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2014 21:12:00 GMT
I would like to know if there is actually anything different about these fuses other than silver plated contacts etc. Difference may be down to 'cleaning' contacts while removing and replacing. Of course if you just paid £25 for a 5p fuse it's easy to convince yourself there is an improvement. I have found that a 13 amp fuse sounds marginally better than a 5 amp probably due to lower resistance.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 28, 2014 21:40:16 GMT
The AMR site gives chapter and verse on construction, certainly more detail than most of the other specialist fuses.
In my case, it's not cleaning the contacts. I have swapped around multiple times already.
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Post by MikeMusic on Sept 29, 2014 8:24:45 GMT
I see there are internal kit, 20mm ones as well
Have you thought of trying them inside the kit ?
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Post by zippy on Sept 29, 2014 9:12:27 GMT
I'm highly sceptical about the vfm for esoteric items such as silly price cables, etc, and now there's fuses.
I don't dispute the improvements necessarily, just that the amount of money asked does not to my mind justify them.
Having said that, as I'm thinking about it, however wonderful your house mains wiring, and whatever fancy mains cables you might employ, the fuse is undoubtedly the weakest link (sic) being a single strand of wire about 1mm thick.
I'm wondering if any hifi manufacturers have considered whether there are alternatives to the standard 'piece of thin wire' fuse, such as a micro circuit breaker or electronic cutout ? Or maybe they wouldn't be legal ?
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Post by danielquinn on Sept 29, 2014 10:25:53 GMT
Fuses for me are were the line begins to be drawn between actual unexplained empirical changes to the sound quality and psycho acoustic effects whose efficacy lies within the listener .
As far as i can tell , no matter what esoteric construction they still have a bog standard piece of 13 amp wire between the contacts .
I have zero curiosity about such items and it would be a remarkable post indeed that raised that level of curiosity to one in which i would consider purchasing .
[ for the record , in my reckless youth when i had much more time to piss about i have tried them to zero effect ]
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Post by MartinT on Sept 29, 2014 16:43:45 GMT
Have you thought of trying them inside the kit ? I have, but not yet. The P10 has a rear panel fuse and I have a Hi-Fi Tuning in that position. |
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Post by MartinT on Sept 29, 2014 16:48:17 GMT
I'm wondering if any hifi manufacturers have considered whether there are alternatives to the standard 'piece of thin wire' fuse, such as a micro circuit breaker or electronic cutout ? Or maybe they wouldn't be legal ? I dare say it's a cost issue. The manufacturer will go with the idea of most users not bothering, so why build in the extra cost? Remember the breaker cost + fitting labour + time will need to be multiplied at least x4 to derive the uplift in list price, probably much more. |
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Post by MartinT on Sept 29, 2014 16:53:10 GMT
I don't dispute the improvements necessarily, just that the amount of money asked does not to my mind justify them. Nearly missed this. It's a good question to ask. I've just ordered a bundle of AMR Gold fuses. Five of them will go in key equipment cables in the main replay chain (the five components which are connected to the regenerator).
So, for the cost of £75, what else could I spend it on in my system to yield the improvement I expect to hear?
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Post by danielquinn on Sept 29, 2014 18:35:56 GMT
You could always end what appears to be an endless quest for smaller and smaller improvements and spend your money on something else. Sit back and just enjoy.
There is no way imo that these minor improvements can be increasing the pleasure of listening. If you can't musical satisfaction for 10% of the money you have spent than I'd just buy an mp3 player.
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I also use the AMR fuses in my system and find to be them very good . I once had a discussion with a valve enthusiast regarding the ' SQ ' of fuses and when I told him I could hear a difference with different fuses he nearly had palpatations . Don't really care what others think . It's all about my enjoyment of my system Martin . Thanks for the comprehensive write-up , very interesting regarding the AMR fuses V other fuses .
