Audiophile Fuses

[Geoffkait]

This just in: glass vs ceramic fuses, let’s get real

Glass vs Ceramic Fuses, What's the Difference?

Searching through the tremendous amount of fuses available at Digikey can be a bit overwhelming. We have several parameters to select from including glass body or ceramic body fuses, let’s take a look at a common size 3AB, 3AG, 1/4" x 1-1/4" glass and ceramic fuse. You might ask yourself...

forum.digikey.com

 

[Republicoftexas69]

This just in: glass vs ceramic fuses, let’s get real

Glass vs Ceramic Fuses, What's the Difference?

Searching through the tremendous amount of fuses available at Digikey can be a bit overwhelming. We have several parameters to select from including glass body or ceramic body fuses, let’s take a look at a common size 3AB, 3AG, 1/4" x 1-1/4" glass and ceramic fuse. You might ask yourself...

forum.digikey.com

Still not an indicator of blocking RF or EMI just that ceramic has a higher tolerance for thermal expansion, rupture over glass. Also is not an indicator that one will have enhanced performance in regard to the audio signal.

 

[Geoffkait]

If you want to reduce RFI just use graphene around the fuse body, like the big boys do. A lot of RFI is generated by the microchips so you can use RFI shielding material on the chips and around the fuse. You will get better performance if you address RFI, vibration and wire directionality. Also consider better materials, cryogenics, isolation, better fuse holder.

Geoff Kait
Machina Dynamica
Not too chicken to change

 

[Kingrex]

If you want to reduce RFI just use graphene around the fuse body, like the big boys do. A lot of RFI is generated by the microchips so you can use RFI shielding material on the chips and around the fuse. You will get better performance if you address RFI, vibration and wire directionality. Also consider better materials, cryogenics, isolation, better fuse holder.

Geoff Kait
Machina Dynamica
Not too chicken to change

Coating the fuse is not easy. Space is limited. And some RF materials are condutive. It might be easier to get inside the chassis of the equipment and coat the whole power/fuse socket.

And what are you trying to block? Noise from the equipment or world. You have a whole lot of wire that is exposed to RF and EMF in the power chain. The fuse is pretty small. And a small solid wire does not couple to RF so well. Stranded couples better as well as larger wire.

 

[Geoffkait]

You’re trying to block RF from ANY source getting to the fuse wire, RF blockers are *very conductive* - that‘s the whole point, like copper, for example. Graphene is extremely conductive, that‘s why you see some audiophile fuses use Graphene.

You also want to block the entire system from vibration from ANY source.. You’re right, the fuse is small. But why is it sooo sensitive? Who knows? Another point of RF entry into the system is an unused wall outlet, audio or non-audio.

 

[Kingrex]

I heard a small solid wire does not couple to RF well. I don't know RF mitigation at the fuse is a thing.

Do you have any technical f
Data to show a fuse is sensitive to RF?

I can see vibration. But wrapping a fuse would do little. Packing the fuse would maybe stop some frequency.

I believe its all about the materials to make the element and caps as well as the solder.

 

[Geoffkait]

Generally speaking, I find that most audiophiles tend to believe in what they choose to believe. Maybe that’s human nature.

“People would generally be much better off if they believed in too much rather than too little. - PT Barnum

 

[Republicoftexas69]

If you want to reduce RFI just use graphene around the fuse body, like the big boys do. A lot of RFI is generated by the microchips so you can use RFI shielding material on the chips and around the fuse. You will get better performance if you address RFI, vibration and wire directionality. Also consider better materials, cryogenics, isolation, better fuse holder.

Geoff Kait
Machina Dynamica
Not too chicken to change

Big boys? So do you have RFI issues? Vibration can be isolated with Nobsound Spring kits from Amazon. Better fuse holder? Sounds to me like you are chasing phantom issues and sometimes the so called remedy can induce issues. All my cables are cryo treated. Fuses have been eliminated.

 

[Geoffkait]

Let me turn your question around, how do you know you don’t have RF issues?

 

[ssfas]

Generally speaking, I find that most audiophiles tend to believe in what they choose to believe. Maybe that’s human nature.

Certainly never believed in fuses other than those mass-produced to high tolerance and proscribed specification. Making a fuse by hand is the worst possible way to do it, not least to meet the very low weld time required, but some people believe hand made is always better.

Lots of simple vibration materials, bought this one for a new hifi rack. Cut to size.

 

[ssfas]

Let me turn your question around, how do you know you don’t have RF issues?

Because I'm not certifiable paranoid.

p.s. My house is lined with adhesive copper tape and I never eat bananas Tuesdays.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Let me turn your question around, how do you know you don’t have RF issues?

Only when I put my tin foil hat on. Seeing as I have removed my fuses if I do the RFI is coming through my Shielded DH Labs Cables….. such rubbish.

 

[Geoffkait]

Only when I put my tin foil hat on. Seeing as I have removed my fuses if I do the RFI is coming through my Shielded DH Labs Cables….. such rubbish.

I did not say that, why put words in my mouth?

 

[kennyb123]

Let me turn your question around, how do you know you don’t have RF issues?

This is a good question. Those who are certain they don't most likely have a few loose screws.

 

[Geoffkait]

Because I'm not certifiable paranoid.

p.s. My house is lined with adhesive copper tape and I never eat bananas Tuesdays.

Do you know the difference between a paranoid and a psychotic? A paranoid suspects something is going on but he doesn’t know what it is. A psychotic is someone after he finds out what‘s going on.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

I did not say that, why put words in my mouth?

You needed the help articulating your question, all in good fun. Honestly I do not have any fuses (main) in my system. All Swiss Digital Fuse Box on my gear, amps, pre, zenith DAC has no fuses and a wooden chassis LossLess Echos End R.

 

[ssfas]

Do you know the difference between a paranoid and a psychotic? A paranoid suspects something is going on but he doesn’t know what it is. A psychotic is someone after he finds out what‘s going on.

The difference is paranoid is thinking they're out to get you, psychotic is that little green men are out to get you.

Re my post - neither paranoid or superstitious.

 

[Geoffkait]

You needed the help articulating your question, all in good fun. Honestly I do not have any fuses (main) in my system. All Swiss Digital Fuse Box on my gear, amps, pre, zenith DAC has no fuses and a wooden chassis LossLess Echos End R.

Honestly I do not have any fuses in my system either. I don’t have any Fuse boxes or circuit breakers either. I don’t have any power cords or big honking transformers, or snake size speaker cables either or interconnects or digital cables. All those things produce noise and distortion, and who would want that?

 

[ssfas]

Honestly I do not have any fuses in my system either. I don’t have any Fuse boxes or circuit breakers either. I don’t have any power cords or big honking transformers, or snake size speaker cables either or interconnects or digital cables. All those things produce noise and distortion, and who would want that?

Excuse me for asking, but if you don’t have any fuse boxes, power cords, interconnects or speaker cables, how does your audio system work? Do you just have a pair of active speakers with built-in streaming running off natural gas? if you don’t have interconnects, why are you selling little plastic bags of pebbles to attach to cables to unwitting punters at $179 a go?

Before the power reaches my hi-fi wall socket, it goes through about three fuses, two circuit breakers and various armoured or shielded cables. It then goes through a fused plug into another power cable, various interconnects and then speaker cables. So far as noise pollution is concerned, the end result is as quiet as a church mouse.

Either I don’t care enough, but the end result is as good as I could wish for, and I’m not yet paranoid, psychotic, schizophrenic, OCD, obsessive compulsive, or desperate to find the next thing to spend money on. At least that’s what the voices in my head tell me.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Excuse me for asking, but if you don’t have any fuse boxes, power cords, interconnects or speaker cables, how does your audio system work? Do you just have a pair of active speakers with built-in streaming running off natural gas? if you don’t have interconnects, why are you selling little plastic bags of pebbles to attach to cables to unwitting punters at $179 a go?

Before the power reaches my hi-fi wall socket, it goes through about three fuses, two circuit breakers and various armoured or shielded cables. It then goes through a fused plug into another power cable, various interconnects and then speaker cables. So far as noise pollution is concerned, the end result is as quiet as a church mouse.

Either I don’t care enough, but the end result is as good as I could wish for, and I’m not yet paranoid, psychotic, schizophrenic, OCD, obsessive compulsive, or desperate to find the next thing to spend money on. At least that’s what the voices in my head tell me.

He has a battery operated discman. Welcome to 1984.