what do you reckon?
- Thread starter fr0g
- Start date
Me, I'm too busy testing mains cables to be concerned with fuses! Now if they made a see-through plug case to display a glow-in-the-dark fuse a la Macintosh......
Andrew Everard:
Much more of that language and I'll move hi-fi down the list again.
Ok. Lets try ... ' for the man that has everything else' ...
Much more of that language and I'll move hi-fi down the list again.
Ok. Lets try ... ' for the man that has everything else' ...
chebby
Well-known member
Andrew Everard:
Much more of that language and I'll move hi-fi down the list again.
I'll be good.
Much more of that language and I'll move hi-fi down the list again.
I'll be good.
fr0g wrote the following post at Wed, Jun 18 2008 6:33 PM:
Audiophile fuses
"What do uou reckon?"
I probably should not mention this, but I did exchange the fuses from a mid priced marantz cd-player to a budget one. Result? There was definately a smoother sound coming out of the budget marantz... My guess is same as with audio cables: quality parts can be had for peanuts, but seen from the manufacturers point of view- why bother!?
If people want better than there's always that mid-priced cd-player....remember that players like the rega apollo and saturn (just an example) share most of the parts. I bet you could make that apollo sound better (or would they have taken preventative measures against this?)
I must say I was quite shocked to see that the consumer price for the best quality dac was 20 euros! Bought in bulk they would cost much less.
FWIW I do think there's lots of marketing involved in hifi, but I wouldn't bother with high priced fuses from 'specialist companies'.
Audiophile fuses
"What do uou reckon?"
I probably should not mention this, but I did exchange the fuses from a mid priced marantz cd-player to a budget one. Result? There was definately a smoother sound coming out of the budget marantz... My guess is same as with audio cables: quality parts can be had for peanuts, but seen from the manufacturers point of view- why bother!?
If people want better than there's always that mid-priced cd-player....remember that players like the rega apollo and saturn (just an example) share most of the parts. I bet you could make that apollo sound better (or would they have taken preventative measures against this?)
I must say I was quite shocked to see that the consumer price for the best quality dac was 20 euros! Bought in bulk they would cost much less.
FWIW I do think there's lots of marketing involved in hifi, but I wouldn't bother with high priced fuses from 'specialist companies'.
Solomon1:fr0g wrote the following post at Wed, Jun 18 2008 6:33 PM: Audiophile fuses "What do uou reckon?" I probably should not mention this, but I did exchange the fuses from a mid priced marantz cd-player to a budget one. Result? There was definately a smoother sound coming out of the budget marantz... My guess is same as with audio cables: quality parts can be had for peanuts, but seen from the manufacturers point of view- why bother!? If people want better than there's always that mid-priced cd-player....remember that players like the rega apollo and saturn (just an example) share most of the parts. I bet you could make that apollo sound better (or would they have taken preventative measures against this?) I must say I was quite shocked to see that the consumer price for the best quality dac was 20 euros! Bought in bulk they would cost much less. FWIW I do think there's lots of marketing involved in hifi, but I wouldn't bother with high priced fuses from 'specialist companies'.
I just recently had an interesting conversation and meeting with Darren_dm1, a very interesting and knowledgeable young chap with a history of good quality hifi as long as your arm. We talked about the cost of DAC's and good quality ones can be had for a few quid (single figures). Whilst I appreciate that software licensing and R&D can be relatively costly for smaller independant companies the fact remains that material costs for most parts which are usually from the same parts bin are very low and some (not all) 'high end' products and their associated high end prices, leaving sound quality aside for a moment, are a complete rip-off.
I just recently had an interesting conversation and meeting with Darren_dm1, a very interesting and knowledgeable young chap with a history of good quality hifi as long as your arm. We talked about the cost of DAC's and good quality ones can be had for a few quid (single figures). Whilst I appreciate that software licensing and R&D can be relatively costly for smaller independant companies the fact remains that material costs for most parts which are usually from the same parts bin are very low and some (not all) 'high end' products and their associated high end prices, leaving sound quality aside for a moment, are a complete rip-off.
drummerman:
Solomon1:fr0g wrote the following post at Wed, Jun 18 2008 6:33 PM: Audiophile fuses "What do uou reckon?" I probably should not mention this, but I did exchange the fuses from a mid priced marantz cd-player to a budget one. Result? There was definately a smoother sound coming out of the budget marantz... My guess is same as with audio cables: quality parts can be had for peanuts, but seen from the manufacturers point of view- why bother!? If people want better than there's always that mid-priced cd-player....remember that players like the rega apollo and saturn (just an example) share most of the parts. I bet you could make that apollo sound better (or would they have taken preventative measures against this?) I must say I was quite shocked to see that the consumer price for the best quality dac was 20 euros! Bought in bulk they would cost much less. FWIW I do think there's lots of marketing involved in hifi, but I wouldn't bother with high priced fuses from 'specialist companies'.
I just recently had an interesting conversation and meeting with Darren_dm1, a very interesting and knowledgeable young chap with a history of good quality hifi as long as your arm. We talked about the cost of DAC's and good quality ones can be had for a few quid (single figures). Whilst I appreciate that software licensing and R&D can be relatively costly for smaller independant companies the fact remains that material costs for most parts which are usually from the same parts bin are very low and some (not all) 'high end' products and their associated high end prices, leaving sound quality aside for a moment, are a complete rip-off.
Is this the right thread?
Solomon1:fr0g wrote the following post at Wed, Jun 18 2008 6:33 PM: Audiophile fuses "What do uou reckon?" I probably should not mention this, but I did exchange the fuses from a mid priced marantz cd-player to a budget one. Result? There was definately a smoother sound coming out of the budget marantz... My guess is same as with audio cables: quality parts can be had for peanuts, but seen from the manufacturers point of view- why bother!? If people want better than there's always that mid-priced cd-player....remember that players like the rega apollo and saturn (just an example) share most of the parts. I bet you could make that apollo sound better (or would they have taken preventative measures against this?) I must say I was quite shocked to see that the consumer price for the best quality dac was 20 euros! Bought in bulk they would cost much less. FWIW I do think there's lots of marketing involved in hifi, but I wouldn't bother with high priced fuses from 'specialist companies'.
I just recently had an interesting conversation and meeting with Darren_dm1, a very interesting and knowledgeable young chap with a history of good quality hifi as long as your arm. We talked about the cost of DAC's and good quality ones can be had for a few quid (single figures). Whilst I appreciate that software licensing and R&D can be relatively costly for smaller independant companies the fact remains that material costs for most parts which are usually from the same parts bin are very low and some (not all) 'high end' products and their associated high end prices, leaving sound quality aside for a moment, are a complete rip-off.
Is this the right thread?
John Duncan
Well-known member
Of course. For starters, a dealers margin can be up to 100% of wholesale price. Take the manufacturers profit away and the fact that they're made in emerging markets, and you end up with components that cost tuppence to make. But that's not how it works, is it?
I'm no expert on things electrical, but would like to share my experience about fuses thus far...
I changed the standard power cables from my recently aquired Creek Destiny amps and CDP to ISOTEK Elite cables. The Creek cables came with 5amp fuses, the ISOTEKs with 10amp (not audiophile fuse though). I called ISOTEK and asked if the rating difference mattered. They said yes it does, and that I should put the same rated fuse into the Elite cables as those that came with the Creek cables. So for the time being at least, I'm using ISOTEK mains cables with standard 5amp fuses. I'd rather the 5amp fuse in the plug blows before the internal fuse in the equipment.
ISOTEK have also mailed their audiophile fuse manufacturer to ask whether 5amp audiophile fuses will become available. Their manufacturer is on hols till July, but hopefully I'll get an answer when they get back.
As far as whether it's worth buying audiophile fuses or not, I can only say that I've taken plugs apart, seen the connection that the fuse makes from the bottom right pin to the live cable and assume that it is perfectly possible for there to be a difference in quality between components which make that connection. The cost of audiophile fuses at £40 each is 4% of the list price of my Creek equipment so to me it would be worth trying - if they actually made a 5amp version.
I changed the standard power cables from my recently aquired Creek Destiny amps and CDP to ISOTEK Elite cables. The Creek cables came with 5amp fuses, the ISOTEKs with 10amp (not audiophile fuse though). I called ISOTEK and asked if the rating difference mattered. They said yes it does, and that I should put the same rated fuse into the Elite cables as those that came with the Creek cables. So for the time being at least, I'm using ISOTEK mains cables with standard 5amp fuses. I'd rather the 5amp fuse in the plug blows before the internal fuse in the equipment.
ISOTEK have also mailed their audiophile fuse manufacturer to ask whether 5amp audiophile fuses will become available. Their manufacturer is on hols till July, but hopefully I'll get an answer when they get back.
As far as whether it's worth buying audiophile fuses or not, I can only say that I've taken plugs apart, seen the connection that the fuse makes from the bottom right pin to the live cable and assume that it is perfectly possible for there to be a difference in quality between components which make that connection. The cost of audiophile fuses at £40 each is 4% of the list price of my Creek equipment so to me it would be worth trying - if they actually made a 5amp version.
WEll I hope my client isn't reading but I know a diamond ring that costs £1,700 to buy in costs £5,200 retail at a well known high st jewellers. Same in all retail I'm afraid which is why half price with double discount seems like a good offer. Actually you're just buying total sh*te.
JoelSim:WEll I hope my client isn't reading but I know a diamond ring that costs £1,700 to buy in costs £5,200 retail at a well known high st jewellers. Same in all retail I'm afraid which is why half price with double discount seems like a good offer. Actually you're just buying total sh*te.
Heh. I used to work as a programmer for a retail software company a few years ago, and I know what you mean... We had a well known jeweller as one client, and as a programmer, we have COMPLETE access to the system databases... lets just say that a £1000 engagement ring cost under £300...and far better value was to be had with cheaper rings, with much less mark up...
To be fair, the mark up in all areas of retail is NOT the same.
Heh. I used to work as a programmer for a retail software company a few years ago, and I know what you mean... We had a well known jeweller as one client, and as a programmer, we have COMPLETE access to the system databases... lets just say that a £1000 engagement ring cost under £300...and far better value was to be had with cheaper rings, with much less mark up...
To be fair, the mark up in all areas of retail is NOT the same.
nads
Well-known member
You're right, it's not. I bought an onion for 7p the other day from my local Turkish grocer. I bet you can't buy an onion in any supermarket for 7p including Lidl and Asda, let alone Waitrose and gadzooks M&S!
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