Ted Smith said
FWIW I don't mind the "unicorn glitter" remark - I took it as a humorous version of "FM".
Yes. And I remind everyone this is a silly little hobby, except for the few talented here who make their living in audio.
Joe Appierto said
Still offended by the cavalier attitude of some remarks made by persons who perhaps haven't bothered to try things because they "already know" that it doesn't make a difference.
You are easily offended. You must be a New Yorker.
You are also making a number of unfounded assumptions. But jumping to conclusions is great exercise in an otherwise sedate, sedentary hobby.
Remember, I have been careful to recognize others’ subjective experience. You hear what you hear, as do others. I merely am expressing a view different from yours. I question even my own experiences and conclusions. I am not the least offended your views are different from mine.
Ted Smith said
. . . including most of my AQ cables: "Because all drawn metal is directional, all audio cables are directional. AudioQuest analog and digital audio cables are all controlled for correct directionality. Please use the cable with the arrows pointing from source to receiver or component."
Accepting that wire sounds different merely because of the direction in which it is drawn might explain why some find a fuse to sound best in one direction; and for others, the opposite direction.
I do not even want to think what this means for selecting wire directionality within a preamp or other component, especially one with point-to-point hand wiring. It would take many months to explore all the possible variations.
I would enjoy learning an explanation why wire sounds different in one direction than the other, if in fact this is the case. However, it makes a great deal more sense with a DC signal than an AC circuit. (Both power fuses and interconnects carry an AC signal. Affecting one-half of the waveform differently than the other does not intuitively appear to be a good idea.)
Elk said
I do not even want to think what this means for selecting wire directionality within a preamp or other component, especially one with point-to-point hand wiring. It would take many months to explore all the possible variations.
I think some point to point wirers just assume that they want the wire to consistently "point downstream" or something like that.
Affecting one-half of the waveform differently than the other does not intuitively appear to be a good idea.
Perhaps it depends on how many half wave power supplies you have in your system :)
A consistent rule of some sort would make sense. Do you happen to know of a manufacture that does this? Plenty component and speaker manufacturers employ specialty wires in their products. If there is an advantage of direction, I would think they would try to take advantage of it.
As an aside, I enjoy how pretty many point-to-point products are, with all of the wiring carefully dressed. Others look like a rat’s nest of color. Both seem to work well.
You know, I’ve seen reviews of some point to point wired products that are all wired with consistent wiring direction and some kind of unobtainium wire, but I don’t remember their names (it’s been more than a few years.) They looked like rat’s nests. I don’t think that wiring with wire harnesses is a good idea for audio quality, except for, say, twisted pairs of balanced signals.
I’ve repeatedly heard people over the years that are incredulous that everyone doesn’t take advantage of the potential improvements of paying attention to wire directions - many of them don’t explicitly advertise that they do, perhaps they consider it a competitive advantage.
Personally I don’t think I’ve ever heard a difference in wire direction that was consistently better (mostly I don’t hear any differences at all when changing wire/cable direction), so I rationalize that I can make a bigger difference in using my brain other ways
Ted Smith said
I don't think I've ever heard a difference in wire direction that was consistently better (mostly I don't hear any differences at all when changing wire/cable direction), so I rationalize that I can make a bigger difference in using my brain other ways :)
I have not heard a difference, but I also have not sat and carefully listened. But it might add up to noticeable if many wires are all in their optimal direction. The concept alone is intriguing.
The most interesting twisted pair I have come across was when working on a car’s brakes and the service manual specified the number of twists for the ABS control sensor wires.
The SR Black fuse is out and they are so confident that this fuse will sonically outperform any other fuse on the market. Given the success that many folks had with the Red fuse with the DS, I am wondering ifanybody tried and what do they feel about it ?
Polyglot said
Fuses matter a lot, don't skimp on them and try the newer ones like Audio Horizon Platinum Reference and Audio Magic Premier w Beewax. The effect is at least as strong as upgrading the power cord. AH fuse has a much better midrange and more natural (hard to image but IME true) than the already very good SR Red, which easily beats the older HiFi Tuning Supreme.
Polyglot said
P.S. The AH Platinum should be burnt in by now so I tried the combinations of AH+AH (F1, F2) , AH+SR, SR+SR, SR+AH and come to the conclusion in my system that SR Red in F1 and AH in F2 has, for my ears, the best sonic results. YMMV
Since only F1 is active, what you found is that the SR Red sounded better than AH Platinum, even though that's not what you said. Hmmmm....
So this forum started with SR Red in F1 being the holy grail but has quickly morphed into Platinum and Black supremacy. Is there a consensus as to which sounds best in the DS; redhead, brunette or blonde?
Seriously though, which fuse is performing best in the DS?
For me no question AH Plstinum which also has a patent pending. Get it the right direction in both PWT and DS and results are best. Absolute transparency without the Blaire and upper midrange glassine as with hard top end of the Red I found fatiguing in the DS and PWT over time. It sounded tilted and lacking find details. The AH is stunning with micro detailing that Red glossed over.
Not even remotely interested in Black SR fuse. The design of the AH has it able to work like the filtering network of the magical and stunning Shunyata Sigma PCs do an astounding black pure sound field. I am using all tubes so the purity is revelatory.
Currently using 4 RED fuses in my Directstream and PWT. So two of them are still brand new just sitting in the empty slot. Stupid me.
I am waiting for the two Black fuses to come in mid-March. I won’t say if the Black fuse will be better than the AH Platinum or not as it is not my personality to say something that I have no experience with. I pick the Black over the Platinum just because I can get them at a discount and it must be better than the Red.
I received the AH fuse for the DS today. After trying it on the Preamp, replacing the hifi tuning fuse, I couldn’t wait to replace the SR Red fuse I have using currently in the DS. Joseph had told me earlier that try one way and if it sounds harsh and forward, reverse the direction. Unlike hifi tuning fuse, the AH doesn’t seem to print any direction on it. Do you remember which direction you installed it on the DS ?
Yes. And in my PWT as well both ways. The markings are not consistent so you’ll have to try it both ways. Ended up my PWT fuse was the opposite of my DS even thought both are the same value. Joseph advised me the fuse markings are random.
I carefully followed this topic and decided to give a try to the appreciated AH fuses.
I replaced fuses in - DS, PWT and my (darTZeel) dual mono power amplifier.
In the past 3 years I moved from HFT Supreme, to SR20, to SR Red and (partially) to SR Black. (Black - in DS and PWT)
Received 4 new AH fuses and replaced 2 Black SR and 2 Red SR, all at the same time.
After 2 listening days and practically before break-in, improvements are dramatic.
In my system and my private taste, these fuses are the best I have ever had.
Improved mids/voices, more weight on bottom end, better transparency, more “analog”, increased soundstage (which was huge already) - all resulted more emotional and involving musical experience.
PS
I left the Black fuses in DS and PWT in the spare fuse holder.
Amiglic if you think these are stunning you absolutely must try at least one Audio Magic SHD fuse.
These stomped my AH fuses into the ground and are flat out STUNNING in the OMG range. Jerry st AM has created something that just shouldn’t make a difference sand yet they do snd it’s NOT subtle.
Hive Jerry a call at AM. I am betting once the word gets out on these from an audio review he’s going to be backlogged for quite a while as these are extremely hard to make and time consuming.
amiglic said
Oddeophile, when did you replaced the AH fuse and where ? Was it in the DS or PWT or both ?
I will certainly give a try.
I took the AH fuses out about 4 months ago and replaced them with the AM super fuse beeswax in both the PWT and DS and those just smoked the AH. So much more musical and natural with huge open stage. Jerry just updated the fuse to the SHD version with a new compound and beeswax and relocated the beeswax to the middle of the fuse. The improvement was NOT subtle and the original beeswax fuse was by far the most musical and natural dynamic fuse I’d ever heard and I’ve tried everything except one fuse mfr. the SHD fuse has such natural beauty that just should not make a difference but does. The noise floor is virtually gone with air around each instrument and separation that blew the original beeswax away. The soundstage air is virtually transparent and massive. I’ve got several discs that are guitar that was recorded in church’s and the church is virtually here. No speakers as if your virtually in the church. The reverberant detail and decay is incredible.
I have them in my amp and ARC Reference 40th Anniversary preamp as well. I just installed them in the tube amps and preamp this week. That upgrade was immediate as well.
These are not cheap fuses. Jerry makes them all himself. They are very difficult and time consuming to mfr.
i also highly recommend cleaning the end that is worked on with Kontak to remove any excess black out material from the mfg process. Not totally necessary but you’re as OCD as I am it’s worth 10 min to clean before installing.
Trust me. This beauty has the most natural micro and macro dynamic shading and energy it’s gorgeous. Simply alive like none other. Buries SR HFT etc. they sound artificial compared to these.
I bought mine through Cable Co. You can also buy from Jerry directly but he’s very busy and doesn’t always get to his phone right away.
Try talking to Jerry he’s a super down to earth great guy.
Try one in the DAC first. The PWT is also very noticeable due to the noise reduction property of the fuse.
oddeophile said
Jerry makes them all himself. They are very difficult and time consuming to mfr.
Do you know anything about what they are, how they are made?
Boutique fuse prices are much more palatable if one knows someone lovingly made them.
Indeed. You’ll have to ask Jerry. It’s a proprietary process. All I know is he has a triple layer process that’s very difficult to get the layered mixtures of what he uses into the fuse.
