From: tcheung@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Tak Cheung)
Subject: Follow up on power conditioners, fuses, and such.
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 12:54:11 GMT


Some weeks ago, I posted an article about power conditioners and solicited
some opinions on such and other power main tweeks.

One response I got from S. Klyne was that someone suggested that he 
changed the size of the in-line fuse for his Naim.  

So, knowing full well that this is risky business about changing fuses
in the equipment, I tried it anyway.

My setup has a Power Wedge II and the electronics are Classe and Wadia.
I have some fuses in my tool box so I just tried out some of them.

Here are some interesting results:

(1) Not all fuses sound the same, yes, this is odd but on the other hand
if you think power cords sound different, this should be surprising.

(2) Replacing original fuses with much higher amp ratings, such as 
replacing the 1A fuse in my Classe' preamp with a 8A one improves the
BASS and DEPTH perception  (I have already replaced the 18 gauge Belden 
power cord with a 14 gauge Belden cord).  Some fuses can introduce brightness,
some don't.  I use some Radio Shack fuses I had and sound better than the
1A slow-blow stock fuse.

    Similar results were obtained with bigger fuses in the Wadia processor
and the TRANSPORT !!  I mean if I say this to an non-tweeker or a REAL
EE, he or she would think I'm looney tune, but you see I have advanced
degrees in EE too, you know, like PhD (?!).  

    These results are absolutely mind boggling, I mean just the fuses.
If you don't believe me, just go to Radio Shack and get some 8A or 10A or
15A or even god forbid 20A in line fuses and try them out !!

    Yes, it sure is risky to do that kind of things to over 10K's worth of
equipment, say in a thunder storm or shorting the speaker cables, but if
you are careful, you can HEAR the difference.

(3) After changing fuses to the equipment, I then stared at the Power
Wedge II which had in line fuses for individual pairs of outlets.

    So I popped those 7/10 A fuses out and did the same thing as above, yes
believe it or not, same results.  Of course, you have to tweek your fuse
types to the sound you like but the obvious improvements are in the bass.

(4) So, I think this exercise explains why a dedicated power line with
good hospital grade outlets can improve the overall sound of the system.
Yes, old AC line in your house may have heavy oxidations at the power
panel, outlet, or ground, a new line certainly helps.  
But if the electricity service in your area is bad to start with, nothing you
can do  to improve the electric line other than in house tweeks. 
Maybe an independent power generating station next to your house :) :). 

    I have a 40+ year old home, but good copper wirings.  I opened up the old 
outlets and cleaned out the wires at the outlets and more importantly 
cleaned the ground wire and contact of the ground wire at grounding point.  
The sound also improved, but in my case NOT as significant as changing the
inline fuses !!

   This experiment may explain why TICE Power conditions and other related
products make sense.  Of course, whether you like the change in sound is
your call.  I also tried those TDK noise absorber stuff, didn't like them
in my system, but they do change the sound.

   If anyone who is adventurous enough to try this tweek, let me know the
results, I would like to know if this is a common phenomenon.  You know
my original posting about using silver wires for fuses may not be too far
fetch. 

   Hey, all those cable guys (AudioQuest, Kimber, Tara, the usual suspects,
are you listerning, oh ,yes Lindsay-Geyer guys, are you reading this ??  
Maybe your mu-metal type wires works great as fuses ??

   I guarantee you'll have a ball in tweeking your system with fuses.  I had
my fun, and drove my wife nuts, she thought I was hiding a woman in the 
basement and avoided talking to her, not to mention I played only FEMALE 
vocalists, arrrghhh.

   Lastly, to S. Klyne who had tried this himself, many thanks for posting it.

   Oh, please don't flame me if you fried your $20K Krell gear or $15K+ 
Watts & Puppy trying out this tweek.

   
					Tak Cheung



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