Has anyone experimented with replacing the fuse in MSB’s DACs or power amplifiers with an audiophile-grade fuse, especially for the high-performance Cascade DAC?
There are many companies producing audiophile-grade fuses for audio components, including the external Swiss Digital Fuse Box from Vera Fi Audio (Swiss Digital Fuse Box Only – Vera-Fi Audio LLC).
It would be very interesting to know whether MSB optimized their fuse selection process to get the best possible performance from their DACs and power amplifiers. Or is it even recommended to replace the fuse in an MSB product?
I know many people change out their fuses. As long as you match the fuse type (slow blow) and current rating, you are good to do this! This is why we made the fuses externally changeable on most of our products, as it eliminates the need to open the unit up.
In regards to the “digital” fuse box, from a safety perspective, I would never use it. It requires you to remove the safety fuse from your audio equipment and replace it with a solid jumper. From an engineering and safety perspective relying on a relay to open is not safe. If you put lots of current through a relay it can weld its contacts so it will never open. This isn’t just theory, I’ve personally seen it happen even with the best relays. This is why the world uses fuses for safety.
I am using Synergistic purple in my select power bases. Big improvement. One Synergistic Orange is in universal transport power supply. Remember, they are oriented. It is a good thing Msb has now fuses externally changeable, not in my Select II and transport power.
Harri
We looked the energy flow from IEC-onwards to the transformer. My expert friend said it easily. Then we also realised that power cord schuko ( in Europe) had been wrong, and flipped it. Usually hot in IEC is right side if you look the connectors. In Select power input, it is left side). Did it affect the sound—yes, a lot.
This is the “normal” for IEC connectors (L is hot). However, as you have pointed out, the Schuko plugs can be plugged in either way, so we designed our equipment to work either way. They are all designed the same, so I do recommend making sure the phase is the same between all the equipment.
In our listening room, we run 240V, so both of our phases have power on them (120V out of phase). We match the phases so the equipment is all the same.
I have all my Schuko wall sockets installed by the electrician with phase on the right side hole. It means that all my power cords have the IEC connector with L correspondingly (exactly like your pic above).
I also have a polarity test that I use to check all my power cords once plugged into the wall to be sure that L (phase) on the IEC connector is always at the right position.
Hi Jonathan
I am going to replace the fuse of my Premier Powerbase, but I have a question about orientation of fuse.
Let’s say… if sound would be better by having power flowing from End A of the fuse to End B; when I insert the fuse into Premier Powerbase, which end should go in first?
Thanks.
Coming back on the Fuse question : given the huge improvement that the SFP module brought vs the original stock one on my Cascade, I was contemplating to change the 2,5A slow blow fuses on both the Cascade PS and DD.p :
On the caliber size, the distributor recommends to replace the 2,5A by a model with a greater caliber above i.e; 3,15A or 3,6A. At no Risk. Indeed, if there is a massive surge, it won’t change anything… it will blow.
Do your confirm (or is it only true for amps) or do you recommend to stay in 2,5A ?
about the brand / model, I just bought two Synergistic Research fuses’ model PINK 3,6A . Thèse fuses have a direction and need to be inserted in the current flow from S to R . Question : Is the input flow in the fuse holder starts from the outer part towards the inside ? I.e. the part that is visible on the back panel ? Meaning the S has to be Closer to the outside of back panel both for the the DD and DAC chassis ? Or the reverse ?
You’re reducing the protection factor of the inline fuse by 30% going from a 2.5A to a 3.6A. I am guessing MSB picked 2.5A for a reason. Not a good idea IMHO.
First, you should never go with a higher-rated current fuse. You are reducing the safety of the product. The only reason I can think of recommending a larger fuse is poor quality control.
Secondly, AC has no “current direction” as it’s alternating current. This means the current flow is 50% one way and then another. If you want to know what end connects to the AC inlet connector, it’s the end of the fuse that goes into the product first.
