I purchased and am using 3 Swiss fuses from Mark at Verafi Audio
My system includes:
-2 coincident technology Frankenstein mk3 tube mono amps with EML XLS 300b’s driving Lii audio origin 10’s
- for a dash of extra bass augmentation, a pair of rythmik 400 watt plate amps driving four 15 inch open baffle drivers which beautifully augment the origin 10’s.
-a netgear GS108Ev3 switch (many recent positive audio reviews for this low cost switch)
- newest blusound node with a teddy pardo power supply.
- holo spring 3 kte,
- hornshoppe truth pre.
- Note I also very recently purchased $80 Fosi x4 tube phono pre that I think punches way above its weight. It can also accept dac input so have tried it as a pre bypassing the solid state hornshoppe truth. I love cheap toys that can flavour a system to advantage.
Spoiler alert… I recommend any of you looking for a high value to cost upgrade to contact mark at verafi audio (he was an absolute pleasure to deal with) and test this product risk free in your own systems.
I heard about the Swiss fuse from groovysauce and had a number of interactions with him before contacting mark. My call with mark came immediately after being frauded by an audiogon member who sold me a faulty, visually burnt orange SR, whose ad picture showed only the non burned side of the fuse!!
So glad now that the orange didn’t work out. Why spend a bunch on a fuse that is destroyed if overdriven, vs one which simply needs to be reset… and sounds better?
1) The effects of the fuses being installed into my rythmiks amps (1 fuse covers both rythmik amps) was greater dynamics, bass slam and bass quality. Bass notes just started and stopped, very very fast and it sounded like headroom has improved. At the end of this review, I will share a review link where someone else mentions that these Swiss fuses sound like headroom has been added to your amps. I wholeheartedly agree. I listen in our large finished basement. My wife is often upstairs making puzzles while I am listening downstairs. I asked how she was enjoying the sound as I was moving through some of Steve’s latest recommended audio titles (including infected mushrooms). She said it sounded great but that she had to close both the front and back door cause both screen doors were rattling. Yeah, that had never happened before.
2) My only experience with upgraded fuses prior to the Swiss was an sr red that came with my holo spring 3. I took one of the Swiss fuses and fronted 3 components - my teddy pardo, my hornshoppe pre and my holo dac with it. Loved it, better than my sr red in the holo dac relaxing the sound.
3) I took the other Swiss fuse and fronted both of my Frankenstein 300b amps. Good, but I preferred the sound with each amp direct to a power outlet so had to give up the teddy pardo, holo and hornshoppe pre configuration.
The changes across the frequency range were audible enough that I took the origin 10’s out of the chain, and rehooked up a pair of reference silver iris mid/tweeters that are installed midway between my 15 inch drivers on my 5 foot open baffle towers. I had always found the reference silver iris’s less transparent than the origin 10’s, but found that I really enjoyed them with the Swiss fuses added to the system. These system configuration changes that were not initially planned (together with some needed surgery) kept me from completing this review in a timely fashion.
Bottom line, these fuses are a no brainer, whether brass or copper sluggos. I soaked my rough sluggos in vinegar to shine them up a bit… then in water and baking soda to stop the acidic process. I am eager to try other metals if mark or other customers hear sonic differences.
Mark, as mentioned was a pleasure to deal with.
Here is the other thread I wanted to share where the person doing the review references the sense of increased headroom.
https://tinyurl.com/mvbaj9vaJohn