2. misc-audio
  3. 131672-481

The new Synergistic Research BLUE fuses ....

New SR BLUE fuse thread ...

I’ve replaced all 5 of the SR BLACK fuses in my system with the new SR BLUE fuses. Cold, out of the box, the BLUE fuses stomped the fully broken-in SR BLACKS in a big way. As good as the SR BLACK fuses were/are, especially in comparison with the SR RED fuses, SR has found another break-through in fuses.

1. Musicality ... The system is totally seamless at this point. Its as if there is no system in the room, only a wall to wall, front to back and floor to ceiling music presentation with true to life tonality from the various instruments.

2. Extension ... I’ve seemed to gain about an octave in low bass response. This has the effect of putting more meat on the bones of the instruments. Highs are very extended, breathing new life into my magic percussion recordings. Vibes, chimes, bells, and triangles positioned in the rear of the orchestra all have improved. I’ve experienced no roll-off of the highs what so ever with the new BLUE fuses. Just a more relaxed natural presentation.

3. Dynamics ... This is a huge improvement over the BLACK fuses. Piano and vibes fans ... this is fantastic.

I have a Japanese audiophile CD of Flamenco music ... the foot stomps on the stage, the hand clapping and the castanets are present like never before. Want to hear natural sounding castanets? Get the BLUE fuses.

4. Mid range ... Ha! Put on your favorite Ben Webster album ... and a pair of adult diapers. Play Chris Connor singing "All About Ronnie," its to die for.

Quick .... someone here HAS to buy this double album. Its a bargain at this price. Audiophile sound, excellent performance by the one and only Chris Connor. Yes, its mono ... but so what? Its so good you won’t miss the stereo effects. If you’re the lucky person who scores this album, please post your results here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ULTRASONIC-CLEAN-The-Finest-Of-CHRIS-CONNOR-Bethlehem-Jazz-1975-NM-UNPLAYED-...

Overall impressions:

Where the RED fuses took about 20 hours to sound their best, and the BLACK fuses took upwards of 200 hours of total break-in, the BLUE fuses sounded really good right out of the box ... and that’s without doing anything about proper directional positioning. Not that the BLUE fuses don’t need breaking in, they do. The improvement continues through week three. Its a gradual break-in thing where each listening session is better than the last.

Everything I described above continues to break new ground in my system as the fuses continue breaking in. Quite honestly, I find it difficult to tear myself away from the system in order to get things done. Its truly been transformed into a magical music machine. With the expenditure of $150.00 and a 30 day return policy there’s really nothing to lose. In my system, its like upgrading to a better pre amp, amp, CD player or phono stage. Highly recommended.

Kudos to Ted Denney and the entire staff at SR. Amazing stuff, guys. :-)

Frank

PS: If you try the SR BLUE fuses, please post your results here. Seems the naysayers, the Debbie Downers and Negative Nellie’s have hijacked the original RED fuse thread. A pox on their houses and their Pioneer receivers.

Frank



128x128oregonpapa
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
I have done just that and was glad that I upgrade to the Blue fuse.
Order one and give it a try. After installing you should hear a difference after 24 hours and the final break in will occur on day 10. This still gives you 20 days to decide if you like the sound. My Blue fuse stayed in the sub. Any doubts send it back for a refund.

David Pritchard
Post removed 
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
I’ve been around here off and on for a number of years and never thought about the fuses in gear. Just got my Blue fuse last night in the mail. It replaced the stock fuse of my Krell S-300i integrated mains. This is the first fuse I ever purchased. When I bought the Krell, it came with an SR 20 fuse installed. I listened for a few weeks with the SR 20 installed in the integrated, and then tried the stock fuse just to hear the difference between it and the SR20. The SR20 was slightly better than the stock fuse, although I thought the stock fuse had slightly better clarity.

Here is the change that installing the SR Blue in the Krell has brought as it settles in:

1. I understand what others have posted who used the descriptor for the sound of the speakers now as "continuousness" (which is actually a word); there is a coherency to the sound that is very noticeable over and above the way my Klipsch speakers have sounded on the same recording before
2. There is an added density to the music (more fullness/ weight) to the sound of the speakers
3. There are definitely more details than before that stand out on recordings I have listened to many many times
4. There is more depth to the sound of the speakers
5. I hear bass notes I did not notice before on very familiar recordings
6. The soundstage is widening
7. The level of sound quality of the speakers has gone up (many audiophiles are chasing improved sound quality)

caveats:
1. I have not reinstalled the fuse in a different direction yet
2. More time for the fuse to settle in (break in/ burn in - whatever you may call it)-- time is needed that will take days to complete

The problem is that many of the people in this voluminous thread who criticize the idea of the SR Blue fuse being worth that kind of money (149), are thinking in terms of a traditional fuse (a small inexpensive thing to manufacture that traditionally is worth pennies on the dollar), which they are. These critics don’t think of the possibility that a fuse could have the effect in the audio chain that other gear could have; it’s just a fuse. But some of them would pay the price of the SR Blue (and more) for a power cord, or interconnects or a set of tubes, or a phono cartridge.

When you hear the effect of installing the SR Blue, that’s when the value comes in to play.

In my opinion, this little tiny fuse has the value it does because it can achieve the same or better affect as changing out a power cord, interconnects, a different set of tubes, or a phono cartridge.

The value of this relatively expensive Blue fuse is in the "cause and effect." From my brief experience, with the SR 20, stock fuse, and now the SR Blue, it really does have the effect of a power cord or other more expensive changes you can make to your system.

Could it be sold for less? I don’t know, but it works.

Until you put the fuse in your gear and listen you have no chance to know.
The only thing that beats a fail is a try.








davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
foster_9:
Your post is a great description of the sonic changes I heard when I upgraded my Pass Lab amplifier to a Synergistic Research Blue fuse.
I think in 10 days your fuse will be fully settled in and you will hear further improvement. 
David Pritchard
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
Thanks davidpritchard. 
More to discover