Inside Packaging
And here is the fuse unpacked. This is really a lot of packing for a tiny fuse.
Being an eternal optimist I was hoping perhaps there is another 1 or 2 fuses hidden from view, nup, only one!
A macro shot of the fuse up close. Nothing else to say really, it’s a fuse after all.
Think about this for a moment, out there there is somebody with a job that involves lining up the fuse so that the word Furutech shows up perfectly in this packaging. If you are reading this and this is your job, I salute you!
The Furutech fuse is intended for my PS Audio P5 power re-generator. Shown here are the fuses I’ve experimented so far on the P5. From left to right:
- 5x20 AMR Audio 90% Silver alloy fuse tube 3.15 Amp slow blow.
- 5x20 Furutech TF 3.15 Amp
- Some random 5x20 fuse. This may or may not be the fuse that came with my P5. I removed the stock fuse and put it in a bin of fuses and can’t tell which is which now.
The stock fuse is the reference where the other 2 fuses are based upon. Long story short, the AMR brings more clarity and sweetness but all the low frequencies and weight disappeared. The Furutech has the same clarity and focus, but did not lose the weight. Overall I prefer the Furutech out of the 3 and this review will concentre solely on the Furutech.
Read on for listening impressions!
About The Author
7 comments
Comment from: Thuan Bui Visitor
Totally agreed with your review. Having installed and lived with two small Furutech fuses for 24 hours (obviously not burned in yet), I’ve found them to possess those characteristics that you described.
I’ve seen more expensive fuses advertised else where, so I think these Furutech are pretty cost effective especially for what they do to our gear. Thanks for the good work.
Comment from: giorgia Visitor
Placebo.
Comment from: Julio Ramos Visitor
As i changed the amp and dac inlets to furutech Fi-09 and sow a justification for the investment/84€ each; will look ahead for the fuse. Thanks for the in-depth review.
Comment from: Frans Visitor
So you’re basically saying you need to be willing to expect improvements if you are going to roll fuses. That is <strong>exactly</strong> how the placebo effect works. This primes you to hyper focus on details until your brain tells you there is a difference. This renders all findings anecdotal, at best. Snake oil thrives in these conditions.
Please perform a proper blind actual ABX test performed. This will not only show if there’s a difference, it will also show which one is preferred. The null hypothesis needs to always be that there is no difference.
Comment from: Agent Kith Member
Hi Frans,
I think you’ll hate my views on Blind Testing then (https://www.snakeoil-os.net/news/folklore/folklore-3-blind-testing).
For me personally I am embracing placebos. I’m all for placebos IF it is giving me genuinely enjoyment when I’m listening to the music. At the end of the day, I’m not listening to "difference in music", I’m looking for "difference in my enjoyment when listening to music".
You may well be surprised how much more enjoyable you’ll get from your sound system if you start focusing on that.
Comment from: Frans Visitor
I avoid deluding myself; it makes my opinions worthless for others and my conscience will not allow it. I A/B test for a living and know the value.
If I can measurably detect a difference with a tweak or gear - I am willing to spend money. If I cannot, I move on to something where I can. It’s simple really. The placebo greatly undermines your resource allocation.
Recently, I regret getting an Uptone EtherRegen and not returning it within the window (due to outside circumstances). The damn thing does nothing at all except generate heat.
Comment from: Agent Kith Member
That is some good advice Frans. Like you I always maintained my opinions are worthless to others. This is why the motto of Snakeoil OS is - Music Your Way, Designed By Us Defined By You.
The subject (music listener) is the litmus test and is what matters. If you use A/B or ABX tests and find it works for you, then good for it. At the end of the day, it’s music your way (i.e. defined by you).
And yes, you basically nailed my approach to Hifi in the first sentence, I’m indeed trying to delude myself. After all I am doing everything I can to reproduce music to trick my brains into thinking something fake (a recording) is something real (a real life person performing in front of me). We all know what an optical illusion is, I’m effectively doing an audio illusion. The key thing is that audio illusion is only very likely work for me and me alone. If you drop by and listen to my setup, it’s very unlikely you’d experience the same effects I do.
I have never tried EtherRegen, although I do own a Uptone power supply. To be honest I don’t change my Hifi equipment that often, havn’t changed a thing in well over 10 years (probably more). My focus always has been making my current system better. 10+ years in I estimate I’ve only managed to bring out maybe 70% of the performance out of my sound system. My current focus is still on trying to bring something more out of my current equipment. The only upgrade I would do right now is if I can find a matching second pre-amp + amp (SC11 and SM11) and split my left and right channels (i.e. one pre-amp and amp for left, and another for right).