OK. Maggie owners...

[P.I.]

As I'm posting this, I am assuming that Maggie owners have brains.  Every one of these guys I know are good!

The biggest single source of SQ degradation in Maggies are the protection fuses.  I get it.  Fuses save stupid people from speaker grief.

IF you are a Maggie owner with a brain and restraint, I encourage you to try a pure copper element in place of the fuse.  Fuses are 5mm.  You can get OFC copper bar stock from McMaster-Carr,  you can order copper foil tape (works great) or you can throw caution to the wind and get a short piece of 1/4" copper tubing from a big box store.  Slightly springs the fuse holders, but who cares?

Oh, yeah.  Put a good polish on and contact treat the appropriate "slug".

[HAL]

Dave,
Had a recommendation from another Maggie modder when I was working on the MG10/QR's to try these fuses instead of the standard:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154043810677

May not be a copper bypass, but sounded very good in the speakers.  From what I can find they are silver fuse elements with sand damping.

They play plenty loud with much higher rate DSP crossover filters than with the stock single pole filters when mated with servo subs.  Did not blow any fuses at the show even playing some fun stuff loud.

[Folsom]

How hard is it to actually blow them?

[P.I.]

Dave,
Had a recommendation from another Maggie modder when I was working on the MG10/QR's to try these fuses instead of the standard:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154043810677

May not be a copper bypass, but sounded very good in the speakers.  From what I can find they are silver fuse elements with sand damping.

They play plenty loud with much higher rate DSP crossover filters than with the stock single pole filters when mated with servo subs.  Did not blow any fuses at the show even playing some fun stuff loud.

Yep, the Schurter fuses do sound good and sound even better when the bodies are damped with heat shrink on the glass.

Most Maggie's back in the day were blown by using amps that oscillated driving them or were underpowered.

[Nick B]

I've been looking at OCD Mikey's website for a few years now and he's offered this kit for a while. I've not had the pleasure of owning or listening to Maggie's at someone's house.

https://www.11stereo.com/product-page/magnepan-instant-upgrade-fuse-replacement-kit

[P.I.]

I've been looking at OCD Mikey's website for a few years now and he's offered this kit for a while. I've not had the pleasure of owning or listening to Maggie's at someone's house.

https://www.11stereo.com/product-page/magnepan-instant-upgrade-fuse-replacement-kit

I've replaced a bunch of Maggie fuses around here with this:

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/metals/copper~/super-conductive-101-copper-rods-and-discs-7/

I have a bunch.  If anyone wants to try them I'll be happy to send you AG3 size highly polished pieces.  Let me know.

I also have 6.35mm 4-9s silver tubing that is better, but it will cost you! 😁

[Nick B]

I've been looking at OCD Mikey's website for a few years now and he's offered this kit for a while. I've not had the pleasure of owning or listening to Maggie's at someone's house.

https://www.11stereo.com/product-page/magnepan-instant-upgrade-fuse-replacement-kit

I've replaced a bunch of Maggie fuses around here with this:

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/metals/copper~/super-conductive-101-copper-rods-and-discs-7/

I have a bunch.  If anyone wants to try them I'll be happy to send you AG3 size highly polished pieces.  Let me know.

I also have 6.35mm 4-9s silver tubing that is better, but it will cost you! 😁

To deviate slightly... are there upscale fuse holders available like rhodium, ofc etc or can basic fuse holders be plated and there be a benefit? Also, have you ever tried to polish a standard fuse holder and noticed an improvement?

[Jack]

Where in your gear would you want an "upgraded" fuse holder?  Are you then going to spend the money on an "audiophile" approved fuse from SR, Audio Magic or one of the other brands?

[Nick B]

Where in your gear would you want an "upgraded" fuse holder?  Are you then going to spend the money on an "audiophile" approved fuse from SR, Audio Magic or one of the other brands?

My point was more along these lines.... since experienced guys like Dave and Rich and OCD Mikey agree that Maggies, for example, do better with fuse changes or alternative implementations, then it follows that fuse holders would/should/might affect the sound as well. For those that are strong advocates of upgrading fuses, I never read any discussions of the quality of fuse holders, and I find that very strange. I've never dabbled in fuses, so I'm neutral on the subject.

[malloy]

then it follows that fuse holders would/should/might affect the sound as well.

I'd like to know if these affect the sound as well!

Did you mean fuse holders like these, Nick?



Found these on the Acme Audio Labs site. Cryoed and silver plated.

Paul

[rollo]

Where in your gear would you want an "upgraded" fuse holder?  Are you then going to spend the money on an "audiophile" approved fuse from SR, Audio Magic or one of the other brands?

Jack how do you like the Qualio Speakers ? Compared to what may I ask. Btw the Swiss SS fuse box is better than any fuse we have tried.


charles

[Nick B]

then it follows that fuse holders would/should/might affect the sound as well.

I'd like to know if these affect the sound as well!

Did you mean fuse holders like these, Nick?



Found these on the Acme Audio Labs site. Cryoed and silver plated.

Paul

Looks like I missed your post, Paul. Yes, that's what I was talking about. Never made much sense to me to try exotic fuses if a cheap fuse holder could affect the sound as well.

[Jack]

Charles

I really like the Qualio IQ Ultra's.  I've had them in the Main system in the new room since the third of January and they probably have well over 400 hours on them at this point.  Since the room was finished in November of 2023 I have had them in the room along with the Verity Otello's, Nola KO's and the Reynaud Abscisse Jubilee. I've also got the Rosso Fiorentino Volterra 2 but it is in the second floor Bonus Room and due to it's design way too much trouble to bring downstairs for any type of comparison.  They have a smooth open top end that you can adjust by changing the supplied Mundorf filters based on your rooms response.  In my room the middle filter for flat response works the best.  They have the widest and deepest soundstage of any of the speakers used in the room so far.  While I run four Rythmik F-12's in the room the bass response of the Ultra's is smooth and deep and would satisfy most users without the help of a sub.The Nola KO which has a similar semi open baffle design would be the closest to it in the way of room interaction.  Like a lot of speakers on the market they could be a polarizing design especially in terms of WAF but if that's not an issue they deliver.  While I don't usually pay a lot of attention to Steve Huff his video review of them has turned out to be accurate of the Ultra's.  This would also apply to Srajen's initial review of the base model and his recent two year follow up.  I've found that much like the Nola's their open baffle design elements make them easier to place in the room.  Maybe not as much as pure open baffles like the Spatials but less restrictive than a pure box design. If you find anybody in your area that has a pair they are well worth a listen.

[rollo]

   Thanks Jack.

charles