Fuses!

[Baggy Trousers]

Originally Posted by Richard

Around the same time I tried a 3KVA mains isolation transformer before the power amp and it made the sound worse. Given the huge size there was no real reason I could think of but it was (is - I've still got it!) easily repeatable.

This caught my attention.

I am returning to the UK and rather than replace a load of stuff for no better reason than the voltage is different, I was planning to run everything (gramophone-wise) off a 240/120VAC transformer, isolating or otherwise.

Is running the supply power through a transformer really going to make a noticeable change to audio quality?

[Dave the bass]

I tried removing the fuse from my power amp. It deffo made a difference.

It stopped working

I put it back and you'd never guess what happened...

DTB

[alnewall]

Good research work DTB, cutting edge stuff.

[Dave the bass]

Originally Posted by alnewall

Good research work DTB, cutting edge stuff.

Dedicated to the cause Al, you know me

DTB

[Tourmaline]

Originally Posted by Dave the bass

Dedicated to the cause Al, you know me

DTB

That's why your sig is a big L, as in lesson/learn!

I'll get back to you when i had a listen to the furutech.

[soulminer]

I just CAN'T believe anyone would pay £40 for a fuse!!! It's ridiculous, frankly!!

http://www.audiophilecandy.com/prode...UR&0=More+Info

I guess you will also be needing one for your CD player, your amplifier, your pre-amp, your phono stage, your turntable, your tuner, your SqueezeBox, blah blah blah....

[andrew ivimey]

Well I spent a precious nearly two hours yesterday comparing the usual five amp fuse with ...... no fuse at all!!!!

I soldered a nice big chunk of solid 30amp copper across the fuse holder in the plug (You see, this is the next step up from what we can call the 'control' condition, reliably carried out by, DtB) and set about comparing 5ampfuse with solid copper.

a bit of vivaldi and a bit of shostakovich.

I listened, I listened and then I went to cook the dinner.

Now, dear reader, you might think I might be biased, you might think I am cloth eared anyway and that my amplifiers etc etc are ****. You might think this.

I couldn't hear any significant difference.

I also knew exactly which condition I was listening too. Preferably this should be carried out 'blind'.

But really............... eh..............I mean.......... Two more hours of my life wasted!

[pre65]

So-does that mean that having no fuse at all (can you get 3 pin non fused plugs) and perhaps a minature circuit breaker on the item in question is the ultimate ?




Philip

ps i see my question was answered before i asked it !!!!

[pre65]

So (again)-for those who can hear a difference with the mega expensive sooper dooper wow factor fuses-what is it they are hearing ????




Philip

[andrew ivimey]

My 'experiment' was in essence a three pin non-fused plug. But what Health & Safety would say about it, I think you could guess.

Back in the good old days of using a 100watt HiWatt amp; all those el34s! I put a broken chunk of the blade of a screwdriver in the plug. This was a temp. bodge about ten minutes before I was needed on stage to strut my stuff and entertain the troops. After that gig, I simply forgot about how dangerous I was being and continued not replacing the fuse.

I do NOT recommend replacing a fuse with a chunk of 3000000000amp metal. In my experience a 5 amp fuse is the max for almost any amplifier and fuses are a good idea.

But I am not always sensible and even when I am, am fully aware of what I am doing and how many risks I am prepared to take, when poking around in electrical devices.

Accidents still happen, though.