Audiophile grade mains fuses

[Gerrardasnails]

Eddie Pound:By far the worst sound at The Gadget Show this weekend was Chord Electronics with WB speakers.

Right, let me get this straight. You listened to Chord Electronics with Wilson speakers at the Gadget Show and you think that it's the Chord Electronics that was the problem? Mmmm. I have an idea that the Gadget Show's acoustics were not the Royal Albert Hall or my lounge come to think of it. I've not listened to Chord or Wilson Benesch (I can't even spell it) but I very much doubt that they sound bad.

 

[Trefor Patten]

OK guys, let me toss this on the fire: While working at the BBC (Radio Gloucestershire) the resident chief engineer espoused a Cyril-style point of view; that all the gold-plating and litz-wiring did not make one iota of difference. He was certain, absolutely convinced. The one thing that did make a difference, however was clean connections and he would regularly de-oxit plugs and sockets INCLUDING THE MAINS.

ÿ

Following his example, I went home and cleaned all the connections on my trusty Nad 3020 (this was the late '80s) and noticed a big change in 'realism' - faster, sharper, cleaner response, better imaging etc, etc. Then having read an article in a hi-fi mag (not this one) I cleaned and polished the fuse in the amp's mains plug - big improvement. Then did the same to power lead for CD player (a basic Marantz model, can't remember the number) still greater imaging and sharper timing. ÿI have no real idea why. I had an idle Sunday afternoon, a can of Silvo and an aerosol of Caig borrowed from the radio station.

ÿ

I would agree that the whole thing could have been a placebo effect were it not for the fact that aforementioned engineer popped round for dinner and before I had made any mention of changes to the system remarked that it sounded much better than before and asked if I had changed the output transistors in the amplifier (in his opinion the only thing that could have caused such a change.

ÿ

SO: not only is it possible that a special fuse could make a difference, just cleaning the fuses can - and does - make an audible difference.ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Not ashamed to admit that I clean the phono connections and banana plugs about once every 6 months or so because when I did it earlier this year for the first time in at least 5 years, the sound improved. Have not cleaned fuses before but this weekend will be rainy.....

 

[Craig M.]

d4v3pum4:Andrew Everard:
Please stop this continual abuse of forum members and libellous accusations, as both are against house rules.

In my opinion there has been far too much of that in this thread, from both sides I might add and this thread shouldn't have been allowed to have sunk to this in the first place.....

true, but unless i have missed it only one side gets the big stick. unless calling someone a joke isn't an attack on them. i await the stick.

 

[Craig M.]

Tarquinh:I'm off back to the beach

is there room for another towel?

 

[matengawhat]

ok i'm prepared to take a kicking on this but here goes - i know the brain can't remember comparisons over time from our ears but would like to say this - listened to the same songs about 5 times and then replaced all the fuses in my system - 1 in the mains extension and 5 in my power leads and i would say this - the bass seems to have firmed a little and sounds more solid now not really noticied anything else but my speakers have a fantastic spatial sound anyway

as for the above about cleaning contacts its funny that been mentioned because was told today before changing the fuses to also cleans all of my leads and plugs pins ect but i don't have detox but will buy some and give it a go especially as have another new rack on order so need to swap everything around in a couple of weeks

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback.

It is on the lower end of the music that uses the most draw on the Mains current. So it doesn't surprise me that you will hear more detail to the lower mid and bass.

I better not mention 'burn in time' on fuses or I will start a riot!

 

[Anonymous]

trevor79:I better not mention 'burn in time' on fuses or I will start a riot!
Crikey Moses, you're pushing the envelope aren't you?...

 

[True Blue]

"its all twaddle"

Just thought I would say it for a change before anyone else does.

PS I do believe

 

[True Blue]

Clean connectors, whether fuses or plugs will of course make a difference to the sound due to the increased conductivity and not having any oxidisation.

Theres the bluetouch paper.........duck........incoming!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

I'm with you there True Blue. Now, I need a decent pre-amp...

 

[Craig M.]

how long does it take for this oxidisation to occur? i don't mind having a faff about to see if there is any improvement, but my kit is months old rather then years.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Trevor,

Am with you that mains plugs and fuses are anathema to true Hi Fi .

To that end had installed a dedicated mains spur, and hardwired everything.

Not a mains plug in site, brass is a dirty metal in Hi Fi, enjoy your posts,

Nokton

 

[Anonymous]

Nokton, Alchemist Forseti APD 11, Magnum Dynalab 106 triode tuner, cables top end

from Russ Andrews

 

[6th.replicant]

Nokton:...To that end had installed a dedicated mains spur, and hardwired everything.

Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by "hardwired everything"?

What does this involve & what are the benefits?

Ta.

 

[simonlewis]

6th.replicant:Nokton:...To that end had installed a dedicated mains spur, and hardwired everything.

Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by "hardwired everything"?

What does this involve & what are the benefits?

Ta.

What he means is he's wired everything to the dedicated mains spur without a plug, (direct) so it's hard wired.

 

[6th.replicant]

slewis:6th.replicant:Nokton:...To that end had installed a dedicated mains spur, and hardwired everything.

Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by "hardwired everything"?

What does this involve & what are the benefits?

Ta.

What he means is he's wired everything to the dedicated mains spur without a plug, (direct) so it's hard wired.

Thanks for explanation, but what are the benefits of hardwiring? (I assume it also means a Tacima, Russ Andrews etc free zone?)

 

[Anonymous]

6th.replicant:slewis:6th.replicant:Nokton:...To that end had installed a dedicated mains spur, and hardwired everything.

Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by "hardwired everything"?

What does this involve & what are the benefits?

Ta.

What he means is he's wired everything to the dedicated mains spur without a plug, (direct) so it's hard wired.

Thanks for explanation, but what are the benefits of hardwiring? (I assume it also means a Tacima, Russ Andrews etc free zone?)

Full current at (usually) 20amps running on 40A wiring direct to Mains conditioning units (in my case) then onto each piece of equipment.
Benefits are the Mains follows ALL THE DEMANDS MADE off the rectifiers/storage caps when they are providing the power for the transiants in the music.

The result is the hairs on the back of your neck twitch to the music, and you can't stop listening to it!

200w x 7 properly fed is amazing, oh plus a 500w / 1000w peak sub!

 

[idc]

True Blue:

Clean connectors, whether fuses or plugs will of course make a difference to the sound due to the increased conductivity and not having any oxidisation.

Theres the bluetouch paper.........duck........incoming!!!!

For what its worth here is my incoming duck...............................

clean plugs etc are very important, more so that many imagine. Buy a new cable etc and you get a clean plug etc......and that is what makes the difference................

P.S - no ducks were tampered with during the writing of this post.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Golly, is this thread still going...?

 

[Tear Drop]

Andrew Everard:Golly, is this thread still going...?

No, it finished ages ago - you only believe it's still going because of the placebo effect

 

[Andrew Everard]

More of an amoeba effect, I think - these threads seem to divide and multiply...

 

[Anonymous]

Perhaps the people who are wanting to get the best out of what they have got is still growing strong.

It started in the 60's you know when tweaking turntables started it all off.

 

[clearer_audio]

Hello all,

As with everything quality of fuses can vary vastly. We have carefully selected the fuses we use in our products. They have silver-plated copper end caps with a silver fuse wire.

If trying fuses then audition if you can. Always try to go for a silver-plated type as these offer the lowest contact resistance and inductance. Gold-plated types have the benefit of very stable long-term performance. Avoid rhodium-plated fuses - rhodium is a good hard wearing material (hence it is used in the pro industry a lot) but its performance in fuse applications is generally poor.

Best regards,
Darren

 

[idc]

clearer_audio:.... If trying fuses then audition if you can.....

I love this, auditioning fuses, is that not just brilliantly mad! I think that it perfectly sums up the eccentric apparent lunacy (to many, but not us, we know that we are not mad, they are) of the audiophile. Deep joy