Wasn't gonna post this...

[Marco]

There exists the possibility of another explanation here. I'm with Jez that the fuse cannot made an audible difference, however I believe Gaz when he says he heard a difference. How can the two be reconciled? The first possibility is expectation bias. The second possibility is an overlooked variable. Let me digress slightly for a moment.

I once heard a tale about a miraculous horse that could do maths. The horse was asked to do some simple arithmetic and it would give the answer by stomping its hoof a number of times. It was correct with nearly every question! How could it do it? It turned out that there was no deception on the part of the horse's owner, but there was an overlooked variable - the reaction of the observers. When the horse had stamped its hoof the correct number of times the observers would subtly change their body posture and facial expressions and the horse would pick up on that and stop stamping. When this overlooked variable was spotted the horse's miraculous ability was shown to be something else entirely.

So how does that relate to the "magic fuse"? Well, it would be entirely understandable that before replacing a fuse the equipment is turned off and disconnected from the mains. Maybe the volume control was turned down too. Without taking some measures to ensure the system was played at exactly the same volume after the fuse was replaced it would be quite possible for the playback volume to be a smidge louder. A smidge louder often leads to a better sound. So the observer does detect a real improvement, but it isn't due to the replaced fuse. It's just an overlooked variable.

Anyway, that's just something to ponder.

Interesting about the horse, and unquestionably what you're inferring, especially in your last paragraph, is relevant to the discussion. That indeed could've happened, and without the knowledge of the listener.

However, how about a simpler explanation, in terms of 'audiophile' fuses having lower electrical resistance, due to how they're constructed internally and the materials used, compared with standard ones, which is perhaps why using them in a revealing, well-sorted system, results in both an audible sonic improvement and a reduction in safety!

In the absence of what you've suggested happening, I'm happy to go with that - especially as I know first-hand, from many years of experimenting with how hi-fi systems react, sonically, to receiving power from the mains supply, just how significant it can be removing a major 'bottleneck' from that chain.

Marco (who hard-wires his system, for that very reason, as far as is practically possible).

[RothwellAudio]

However, how about a simpler explanation, in terms of 'audiophile' fuses having lower electrical resistance, due to how they're constructed internally and the materials used, compared with standard ones, which is perhaps why using them in a revealing, well-sorted system, results in both an audible sonic improvement and a reduction in safety!

That would seem extremely unlikely to me, if not impossible. As Jez has pointed out, after the fuse comes a whole load of stuff - transformer, rectifiers, capacitors, regulators - and there would seem to be a lot more possible explanations to eliminate before that one is the only one left.

[struth]

I know we're not supposed to be abusive on the forum but the guy in that video is a nob.

He makes a very good case . His camera shots not observing the curvature is great print. Unfortunately he fails to grasp that its extremely difficult to do that at anything under 35,000 feet, while having a 65 degree view unobstructed. If he looked through binoculars at a ship on horizon he would probably notice it, and that indeed was how man first found it. Alas that doesnt sell so well in the sticks....much better a conspiracy

[Marco]

That would seem extremely unlikely to me, if not impossible. As Jez has pointed out, after the fuse comes a whole load of stuff - transformer, rectifiers, capacitors, regulators - and there would seem to be a lot more possible explanations to eliminate before that one is the only one left.

Sure, yet, it was the only variable altered, during the experiment, with everything else remaining the same? That was certainly the case when I tried it and concluded, after much testing, subjectively, that the Hi-Fi Tuning fuses were effecting a notable sonic improvement, over standard fuses, in all equipment fitted with them.

Perhaps we'll just have to agree to disagree, as I've heard the effect many times of reducing resistance (and also lowering impedance) in the mains supply, powering hi-fi systems, and the nature of the sonic effects gained with the use of the above fuses aligns with what I've heard before, when I've achieved the same improvements by introducing mains upgrades elsewhere in the chain.

Marco.

[struth]

Standard fuses my induce noise into system that the fancier ones dont. Its after the main transformer supply that youve maybe cleaned with your fancy doodas, and may reintroduce it. Maybe why some folk dont use fuses in their designs... just a thought

[anthonyTD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8m1u2ORXmE

He makes a very good case . His camera shots not observing the curvature is great print. Unfortunately he fails to grasp that its extremely difficult to do that at anything under 35,000 feet, while having a 65 degree view unobstructed. If he looked through binoculars at a ship on horizon he would probably notice it, and that indeed was how man first found it. Alas that doesnt sell so well in the sticks....much better a conspiracy

[struth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8m1u2ORXmE

Was of course the Greeks that first noticed it.... damn splitters

[Joe]

It simply baffles me how kids are tought theories in school as if they are fact. I could give a load of examples. I always believe that there is FAR more that we don't know than what we know, for me that's a correct perspective as it keeps you leaning forward scientificly.

Yeah. I reckon that instead of kids just being told sulphuric acid is poisonous, they should be given some to drink.

[Marco]

Probably won't be much worse than them drinking Coca-Cola!

Marco.

[anthonyTD]

And then, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GDhVoWSrMg

Standard fuses my induce noise into system that the fancier ones dont. Its after the main transformer supply that youve maybe cleaned with your fancy doodas, and may reintroduce it. Maybe why some folk dont use fuses in their designs... just a thought