Quantum Science fuses.

[Lawrence001]

I think the equivalent argument here would not be do you hate marmite but do you like the taste of water. Some will claim it has no taste while others will have a favourite mineral water.

Having said that you can test that the water contains minerals and, if you think minerals have a taste, then you know it tastes different, whereas the argument here is that there's no difference other than psychoacoustic.

[struth]

I think the equivalent argument here would not be do you hate marmite but do you like the taste of water. Some will claim it has no taste while others will have a favourite mineral water.

Having said that you can test that the water contains minerals and, if you think minerals have a taste, then you know it tastes different, whereas the argument here is that there's no difference other than psychoacoustic.

most minerals in general have no real taste but they can affect your perceptions on taste re the mouthfeel you get.. ie hard v soft water etc.. its this mouthfeel you like or dislike. but minerals like magnesium can alter the way coffee tastes in a brew so they do have affects on taste too, just not really by themselves.
PS, some can taste acidic but not many your likely to get in water.

[Barry]

I must admit that I’ve been totally agnostic about fuses but reading some of the comments just shows that you seem to have closed minds. I asked the question to try to get an intelligent answer. Clearly none of you guys have actually tried an after market fuse.

I have tried an 'after market' fuse. I think it was an AMR device, given to me at one of the audio shows I attended a few years ago.

I put it in the plug top supplying the preamp, which is on 24/7. To my ears it made no difference to the sound of my system; and I gave it plenty of time to 'burn in'.

I also tried cryo-cooling the fuse with liquid nitrogen; which some think can make a difference. Again no difference.


So don't accuse me of having a closed mind - I would be more interested in your own findings.

[Barry]

Has anyone started selling audiophile versions of the trip switches in fuse boxes? If mains fuses can have an impact I imagine these could too

I believe Russ Andrews sells such. I'm awaiting for an audiophile electricity meter, followed by solid silver cabling back to the substation.

[Gazjam]

Clive,
Currently use SR fuses in my amps and CD Transport.
Moved up tbe range and noticed differences every time.

Notice I say 'differences' and not improvement?

Never got on with fhe SR Blue fuse in any of the kit I tried them in.
Too hifi sounding imo, all flash and no substance.

This could imply that maybe I DID hear differences (and noticable ones) and wasnt trapped in an improvement loop that only existed in my head.

Well, technically it DOES,
But you know what I mean.

Equipment dependant too,
But cleaner power is an improvement, just that (of course) its all relative.
And keep tbe fuse spending kit appropriate as well.

If you have good transparent kit (not neccesarrily expensive) then I would keep recommending them anytime tbe question comes around.

[Clive197]

Clive,
Currently use SR fuses in my amps and CD Transport.
Moved up tbe range and noticed differences every time.

Notice I say 'differences' and not improvement?
.

Gary, I think I agree with you re diffences against improvements but I have found that the soundstage has widened with the fuse installed.

I have installed on advise a yellow Quantum Science Audio fuse into the main wall plug that powers my IsoTek Orion power strip which has all my HiFi kit connected. I have a month or so to confirm or to give the fuse back.

I also try for good housekeeping in that there are no switch-mode power supplies on the Orion which is plugged into a non-switched wall socket.

As I’ve said before, I’m very agnostic on tweeks in general as I’ve had very mixed results over the years.

[CageyH]

Have you tried turning the fuse around? Apparently, they are directional.

[CageyH]

What I don’t understand about them is that they have nickel plated brass contacts. So you pay all this money for an audiophile product, that have quantum tunnelling procedures applied to it, with graphene etc. which is all connected to nickel plated brass?
You give with one hand and take away with the other?

Do they also carry the appropriate safety ratings?
The last dealer I asked never answered my question about the relevant safety standards.

[CageyH]

And before you tar me the “narrow minded” brush, I had an upgraded fuse in my upgraded Caiman SEG.
I don’t think it made any difference, having swapped backwards and forwards between a standard fuse.

I guess a fuse can make a difference on a straight bit of wire, but what happens when your electrons meet a capacitor?
Are the “flow” characteristics still altered as per the Mexican wave description on the SR website?

[Barry]

Do they also carry the appropriate safety ratings?
The last dealer I asked never answered my question about the relevant safety standards.

Are they even marked as conforming to BS 1362? And do they follow the accepted current /rupture time profile for such fuses?

BS 1362, the British Standard for plug fuses, specifies a maximum power dissipation of one watt when carrying the rated current. The actual current, where a BS 1362 fuse will blow, is about 1.66 times the rated value, so for a 13A fuse this will be 21.6A.