What is the science behind audiophile fuses?

65 plus responses and nobody really tried to answer @reimarc ’s questions.  Not only can I not answer, but unless you improve the .10 cent fuse holder and the wires running to it, what’s the point?

@curiousjim

Ok, here goes:

How can a fuse have an audible influence on the signal, when the signal does not even pass through it?

I don’t believe that a fuse does have an audible influence on an audio signal, for the reasons presented in my previous post, among others.

How can a fuse be "directional" when it deals with alternate current?

I don’t believe that an input fuse subject to alternating current would display any different properties or sonic signature regardless of which way it is oriented. While electric current flows from higher electric potential to lower electric potential, in the case of alternating current, the flow of electrons is bidirectional, i.e. electrons flow in both forward and backward direction.

In case of direct current, flow of electrons takes place in only the forward direction so the flow of electrons is unidirectional. Therefore, if there were directional differences in fuses, they would likely only show up when used in a direct current application, IMO.

@reimarc also asked about our experiences. Although I hear differences in a variety of different equipment, all speakers, and, to a lesser extent, cables, I have yet to hear what I consider a meaningful sonic difference between fuses after trying many including SR, Furutech, ACME, several from HiFi Tuning, and others.

Also, I have yet to read a comprehensive explanation of how a power line fuse should change the sound of an audio component given that regardless of the materials used, it’s job is to pass current up to a given amperage to a power supply consisting of a variety of other parts. I have also never read about any listening tests where the listener reliably identified different fuses without knowing which they were listening to.

Finally, you asked for opinions and I gave you mine. My system is posted (but not quite up-to-date) so you can see the gear I am using to develop my opinions. I do not care what others here believe or how they spend their money, so for those here like @rodman99999 who want to turn this into a contest or dispute of one side against another, I simply don’t care.

@reimarc -

      Being so familiar with the LHC: you should also realize that the goal of it's use by the planet's best Physicists, is to determine (HOPEFULLY/one day) to determine what makes up the 95-96% of the universe, that the best in the world can't explain and how it all works.

       They and it utilize " the same basic electricity and electro-engineering principles, all the way to superconductivity. "  because that's the best they've got, to try to answer the questions how it all works.

        As I've repeated constantly in these threads: For centuries; humanity’s seen, heard, felt and otherwise witnessed phenomena, that none of the best minds could explain, UNTIL they developed a science or measurement, that could explain it.

         Anyone with a background in any of the natural sciences should be aware of those facts.

           And the Cargo Cult wants definitive reasons for a fuse to make an audible improvement?  

There is actually a reliability difference in fuse TYPES. ATO fuses are more reliable than 3AB or 3AG.  Yes, in my days doing failure analysis, I found termination issues in 3AG fuses. There is a tiny tiny inductance with some cartridge fuses. Sonically? I think that was covered.   🤣

Some "Madison Ave. Engineers" suggest breakers sound better.  Hmmm, resistive bimetallic, small point contacts, inductor and magnet?   Not sure I would bet on that. 

Jan Didden has a lot to say on fuses and protection circuits. Cordell and Self a little.  Like everything, you have to pick tradeoffs. There is no perfect answer. Fuses may protect your speaker, but I can verify first hand, they so not protect MOSFET outputs!  They do not protect for instability. They do not protect against over-heating.  They do not protect for DC leakage or bias inaccuracies.  My take away is you should use a fuse or breaker in your mains line where it has zero sonic effect and go to more advanced parameter monitoring for everything else.