Audiophile fuses: does it make sense?

At Alpha Audio we regularly receive questions on this topic: what about fuses made for use in audio components? Do they make sense?

It is not our area of expertise, and for us to take on research into fuses specifically made for audio devices is a lot of work. But that does not mean we cannot pay attention to it, especially if we get input from our readers.

This is a guest contribution by Arno Floore, written at our request. Thank you very much for contributing the article and sharing your experience.

The audiophile’s quest

Many audiophiles are constantly on the lookout for attributes that make their setup sound better. After all, this is an important part of the hobby. The pleasure of a noticeable improvement – such as tighter bass after replacing a cable – is often great. The list of possible upgrades is long: think mains filters, spikes, separate power supplies, expensive power cords, interlinks, speaker cables, Ethernet switches or filters, acoustic panels and HiFi-racks.

Many of these upgrades raise debate about their actual effectiveness. Sceptics regularly dispute the usefulness of such tweaks based on theoretical arguments. Although I am a born sceptic myself, I have learned not to immediately state that something does not work. My personal experience shows that almost any tweak can produce audible differences – though the effects vary widely. Whether a tweak is worth the investment, however, remains a personal choice.

Recently, I discovered an upgrade that exceeded my sceptical expectations: the audiophile fuse.

Theory behind fuses

Inside every appliance is a fuse that protects it from overloading. It consists of a glass tube with metal caps at both ends, connected by a thin metal wire. If the load is too high, the wire melts, interrupting the current.

So why consider an audiophile fuse? HiFi is largely about optimum power supply, where electrons should move as undisturbed as possible. From the wall socket to the coil of your speaker: disturbances in this chain can affect sound quality.

A standard fuse forms a potential bottle neck in this chain. Manufacturers of audiophile fuses claim that standard fuses are made of cheap metal and are prone to resonance. Audiophile fuses address this by using, for example, high-grade metal, cryogenic treatments, vibration-damping materials and ceramic housings.

Test results with audiophile fuses

Does it work? My experience is positive: audiophile fuses have a noticeable effect. Below, I share my findings for each device:

Meter box (AHP flat-wire fuse in sound module):
Replace ground fault circuit breaker with audiophile fuse module.
Effect: clear improvement, also with the picture on my TV.

Naim Supernait 3 amplifier (Synergistic Research Purple Fuse):
Very clear improvement, similar to a mains filter.

Farad Super 3 LPS for Chord Qutest DAC (Synergistic Research Purple Fuse):
When replaced with a standard fuse, the sound quality degraded a bit, but the difference was less than with the Supernait.

LPS from Lumin X1 (Synergistic Research Purple Fuse):
Hardly heard any difference. Possibly the already high quality of the power supply plays a role.

Naim NAP 250 New Classic (Synergistic Research Purple Fuse):
Biggest effect: rawness disappeared completely; a real no-brainer upgrade.

For whom

This tweak is of interest to anyone who likes audio tweaks. With prices starting at around €25, it is a relatively affordable option. However, choosing the right fuse requires some preparation:

1. Check the amperage and type of fuse (slow blow or fast blow) in your device’s manual.
2. Search the internet for available options within your budget.
3. Note the direction (if indicated) and allow for a “break-in” period of 20 to 200 hours.

Popular brands include Synergistic Research, QSA, Furutech, Sharkwire, Hifi Tuning and Audiomagic. Although I did not do an A/B comparison between brands, you can experiment with different options and devices. For those who get a taste for this tweak, there are even fuses over €1000 available.

Conclusion

In my experience, the audiophile fuse is an excellent value-for-money tweak. The effect varies from device to device, but can provide an audible improvement comparable to much more expensive upgrades. For me, this tweak now tops my list of cost-effective upgrades.