I agree, that’s an interesting question. But first, how do you know it’s the fuse that you’re hearing?
I don’t think so.
Every fuse degrades after inrush current durin PowerUp.
After several years, try replacing the fuse with the same type.
Thanks, can you say how one can hear this degradation, like what are the aural indicators?
Well, I can’t be sure if it’s the fuse, that’s what I am trying to figure out. I can say thatr there has been no other changes in my system in about a year and a half.
And for anyone who does hear fuse sound quality, about how long do fuses keep most/all of their sound quality, if being used in a regenerator 24/7?
Thanks.
It depends on so many variables and is hard to say.
But I would say give it a try.
I also got this tip from my dealer in the early 2000s.
SR fuses could not handle the inrush current of my Spectral.
Not even at double value (higher I don’t dare myself).
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That just adds another question in my mind about how the hell can a fuse have a sound.
Here’s something I choose to believe: When it first snows and I clean all my cable connections my system sounds clearer.
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The same effect can occur if you remove and reinsert the same fuse.
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I did away with as many fuses as I could with the better sounding (imo) Swiss Digital Fuse Box, but the fuses that I have still in use (Purple, M-1) have not suffered dimished sound quality over years of use.
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There may be something to it. I have been using Purple and M-1 fuses for P15, PST, DS MK2, and BHK pre for a couple of years. Then I bought a Master fuse, and I did not care for the sound in PST (sold Purple already). I put back the stock fuse and it sounded so good.
Then I put back the stock fuse in BHK pre, it sounded better than Purple resided there before. So, I sold all my M-1 and Purple fuses.
I am using M-2 fuses in all my components n0w, and so far, they sounded better than stock except one (MU2 made no difference). Some of them are in there for over one year. 
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As already mentioned, plugging and unplugging fuses or contacts of any kind from time to time could improve the contact. Contact cleaners and contact improvers ensure that the resistance of contacts is reduced and there are fewer eddy currents at the transition points.
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Have you tried lately reinserting back the stock fuses again compared to M-2?
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M2 made a bigger impression over the stock fuses at the beginning, so it will be interesting to hear the difference now.
I may try it at DS Mk2 to compare them, maybe even MU2 since I didn’t hear as much improvement on it the first time.
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I have put two PSA fuses into DSMK2 and MU2 for over four hours, The stock fuse for MU2 is a cheap one so I used PSA fuse instead. A few minutes ago, my wife just told me to put whatever I had earlier back. She could not stand the SQ anymore.
The sound is definitely not as clean, and even the soundstage got pancaked. Hmm, I wanted to let these fuses settle for at least a day, but my wife has had enough. Well, I am switching back now. M-2 is still a winner. I checked now I have four M-2, and one M-1 fuses in the system. The only M-1 is in LHY SW-6, and I never heard any difference anyway from any fuse in it. I am done with fuses.
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Great to hear.
Do you know the brand of the standard fuse?
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PSA fuses are very good, but there is no marking on the fuse, so I do not know.
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I replaced the MU2 fuse first, and the M-2 fuse sounded only marginally better. However, when I put back M-2 into DS MK2, the improvement was instant. This was consistent with my original impression. In fact, M-2 fuse seems to have given a bigger improvement than the first installation a year ago. Maybe it takes way more than 200 hours to break in fully.
The Grimm MU2, on the other hand, is not affected by fuse change much. I still have a hard time convincing myself that there is a meaningful SQ improvement.
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Have you played around with the fuse in a PS Audio regenerator in your system? If so, I’d love to hear your fidnings.
Before PZ, I had a P15. These fuses have been used in it: Ultimate Premiere, ACME, Purple, M-1, Master, and M-2. To me M-2 sounded the best and Master came in 2nd (after 300 hrs).
However, SDFB would be my choice. The issue was the pigtail made a SQ difference too, so I ended up using an expensive PC as pigtail. They have upgraded pigtails now available, and graphene sluggo seems to be the best but I never tried it. It could get expensive by the time you add them up.
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Thanks! With the M-2, is it necessary to get a higher amp rating, so that it doesn’t blow, or is that just a SR issue?
My P3 uses a 2 A fuse and i am wondeirfng if I should get a 2.5, 3, 3.15 A M-2 fuse for it.
I am also weary of the 2 week wait, as Cable Company reports that these fuses are made to order.
If you use a high power amp and listen to higher volume, then I suggest you get a fuse at 2.5A since these fuses are not cheap. But if you have Class D amp then there’s no need.
Two week is max, i usually get it within a week.