i want to thank oregonpapa for starting this thread. And both the supporters and naysayers, alike, for sharing their experience and doubt within. Honestly, both have been a big help.
I recently installed a black fuse in my Parasound P7. The consensus about the 70ish hour was right on. Upon insertion, the sound was promising, then after a day, everything collapsed, and became sharp and fatiguing. All hifi, no music.
After about 4 days, it sounded better, but still not as good as it did the day I inserted it, so I played with reversing the fuse, and sat for hour long sessions with the same playlist, to determine which way the fuse wanted to go. One way, the music was exciting and visceral, if a little flat. The other way, just sounded like music in my room. Instead of the system's bass or soundstage creating the drama in the music, musicians are as close to being in my room as they ever have been, and THEY are creating the drama in the music.
The space, and utter silence that music now breathes out from is uncanny! And the ambiance that fills the space between solid performers is not only the best I've ever heard, it is beyond anything I thought my system was capable of before.
Best of all, it's made all my non audiophile approved music (basically, the majority of what I listen to) sound better. Tool, Deftones, Boston, Smashing Pumpkins, Shawn Mullins, XTC, Katy Perry, New Order, Depeche Mode; it is all more engaging.
But when i put on my hi res recordings of Billie Holiday, Vladamir Ashkenazy, Stan Getz, Ben Webster, Rush, Van Morrison, I'm left utterly bowled over at how convincingly the performance is taking place in my god damn room.
I just wanted to say thanks to Oregon, and David, and many others in this thread who shared their positive experiences, which got me looking at this product.
And, thanks to Wolf, George, Geoff, and other who expressed their skepticism, which forced me to listen with my own ears, and form my own opinions.
But, after putting the stock fuse in last night, i heard a pleasantly decent system that was fun to listen to, but no where near as engaging and uncannily real as it sounds with the Synergistic Black Fuse in place. Returning the black fuse this morning, and my system went away, and music returned into my room.
I encourage people to continue to share their experiences and sketicism, because these things help guide all of us, to make decisions that are right for us as individuals, and helps us find commonality as people in an ever increasingly isolated world. Even if most of the pro fuse camp doesn't agree with people like Geoff, i assume most of us agree that he has a fantastic sense of humor. Commonality comes from what we connect with, not who we agree with.
Thanks to all of you for all of your help, even if it was given unknowingly, it was taken with the deepest appreciation I can offer.
Regards,
Jason
