Return of the Radio Shack Fusion audio cable?

**Danny Tse** · 06-02-2005 01:44 PM

I did a search on this forum regarding the Radio Shack Fusion audio cable. Looks like this received a number of positive recommendations from members here. Yesterday, I believe I have come across this cable again at Radio Shack....and now at a substantially lower price. $12.99 for a 1M pair. I started a thread of my findings at head-fi.org yesterday.....here it is

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=121914

**ND13** · 06-02-2005 02:18 PM

I've used several of these cables and have had good results. A bargain in my book.

**F1nut** · 06-02-2005 04:26 PM

I bought a pair of Fusion cables for the shop rig back when folks were all hyped on them. I was totally unimpressed.

**ND13** · 06-02-2005 04:50 PM

Originally posted by F1nut
I bought a pair of Fusion cables for the shop rig back when folks were all hyped on them. I was totally unimpressed.

No offense, but I think it would probably be hard to impress you with a $12-25 cable. I meant compared to the Wal-Mart specials in the same price range.

**aaharvel** · 06-02-2005 09:53 PM

so THAT's what these things are called. I bought some from Radioshack at the 4seasons mall here in Greensboro about 3months ago- for my new Adcom Amps and i thought they had merely re-styled the Gold series- i had no idea what i really bought, however. =)

I read on other forums that they brought them out as a step up from the "gold series" and immediately discontinued them as soon as RadioShack made a deal with Monster Cable.

Regardless these are my interconnects to my adcom 5300, 7300 and hk 235- as well as to my sacd player 7.1 outs. I think they sound excellent- MUCH heavier, thicker and warmer sounding than the cruddy gold series and even better than the base monster THX cables i had as well!

I for the life of me can't understand what RS is doing discontinuing these cables (if that's indeed the case). The employees seem to know nothing about "FUSION CABLES" and the 4seasons radioshack is the only store that carries them- other surrounding R.S. stores do not. Odd.

**hotwheelman** · 06-02-2005 10:02 PM

Originally posted by F1nut
I bought a pair of Fusion cables for the shop rig back when folks were all hyped on them. I was totally unimpressed.

I actually found the ones that I picked up to help the video signal quite a bit, and as for the audio end the bottom end was much better than my monster interlinks.

**WilliamM2** · 06-03-2005 02:24 PM

Thanks for the tip, perfect timing as I was looking for some cheap decent cables.

Went to the local Shack, where they had both types (gold and fusion) hanging on the same peg, same part number, and mis-marked for $10.99 too! Bought 2 sets, one for the Pre to Amp connection, and one for the CD to Pre connection.

The longer (6m) cables were all the fusion type, he said that's what they get in now, so they should be around for a while. If I like them I will go back and get two more sets for the Tuner and Rear amp to Pre.

**Zero** · 06-03-2005 04:11 PM

This would certainly be great news. The original "Fusion" series presented a no BS approach. They are a compotent design applied with good sheilding and RCA's, with an honest price (Something you dont find with most wire anymore). It is simply a no-brainer for anyone looking to step up beyond the world of cheap stock/aluminum cords supplied with their dvd/cd players.

Highly recommended!

**Danny Tse** · 06-03-2005 08:37 PM

I just opened mine. Wow! Very hefty in weight. And I noticed this cable is "custom assembled in the US". I feel good already....stimulating the economy and all :D

**WilliamM2** · 06-04-2005 04:37 PM

I agree, I opened mine last night. I was very impressed with the quality.

So much so that I grabbed two more sets today, of course they corrected the price to $12.99 after my purchase yesterday.

I'm not sure yet if there is any improvement in sound, but I was using 16 year old RS Gold cables, and they were always WAY too tight, thought I would rip the RCA jacks off the back of the components. These fit perfectly.

**Danny Tse** · 06-09-2005 01:48 AM

More people are now confirming the return of the "Fusion" cable.....see below link (with photo of actual purchased cable)

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=121914

**WilliamM2** · 06-29-2005 11:43 PM

Thought I would revive this thread for a word of warning. As stated above, I bought four of these cables.

Tonight I was hooking up my new RX-V1500 that I am going to use a pre-pro, and to power the back surounds. When I went to listen to a CD, I only got audio out of the left channel. Wiggling the cable brought the sound back. So I switched cables and all was well. Then I go to push my rack back against the wall, and a horrible HUM comes from the left speaker. Wiggle the cable connecting the power amp and it goes away, switched out that cable and all is well.

So out of the 4 cables I bought, 2 of them are bad already. All 4 go back to the Shack tommorrow. How hard can it be to make a reliable cable?

Out of all the cables I have ever had, these are the only two I have ever had fail, my conclusion? They are junk.

**aaharvel** · 06-29-2005 11:47 PM

Heye William. I like mine but after what happened to you- I don't blame you a bit. Sorry about that.

**ND13** · 06-30-2005 10:00 AM

Originally posted by aaharvel
Heye William. I like mine but after what happened to you- I don't blame you a bit. Sorry about that.

Ditto, but it sounds like it was just a bad initial connection. I had the same issue two nights ago with my AQ Copperheads connecting the AMC cd player(with Vampires), I just picked up from Zero, to my new HK receiver. A slight wiggle and all was well. I haven't had a single issue with the Fusions I use or used.
That's a shame, for the price I would give them a second chance. And maybe clean your terminals if that hasn't been done in a while.

BTW, has anyone given the Acoustic Research Pro or Master series a run ?

**WilliamM2** · 06-30-2005 10:20 AM

It was not a bad initial connection. The results were repeatable, I tried several times, as it was hard for me to believe that 2 of 4 cables were bad, but they were.

As far as cleaning the terminals, these are all brand new components, and brand new cables, no cleaning required.

**ND13** · 06-30-2005 10:24 AM

Originally posted by WilliamM2
It was not a bad initial connection. The results were repeatable, I tried several times, as it was hard for me to believe that 2 of 4 cables were bad, but they were.

As far as cleaning the terminals, these are all brand new components, and brand new cables, no cleaning required.

Just a thought, I was not implying that yours were dirty, seeing that I didn't know if they were new or not.:)

**WilliamM2** · 06-30-2005 01:14 PM

Just returned them, apparently it's not a fluke. I asked him if anyone else had trouble with these cables, he said several have returned them complaining of the hum problem, although he said I was the first to complain of a channel dropping out.

It may just be that they got a bad batch, but I am staying far away.

**RuSsMaN** · 06-30-2005 01:36 PM

I use a pair of the original Fusions in the office rig.

Crown CD110N portable CDP
SEP 6197 'Spud' 2w tube amp
Norh 3.0

Great cables for the money, very pleased with the performance.

Cheers,
Russ

**ND13** · 06-30-2005 02:09 PM

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
I use a pair of the original Fusions in the office rig.

Crown CD110N portable CDP
SEP 6197 'Spud' 2w tube amp
Norh 3.0

Great cables for the money, very pleased with the performance.

Cheers,
Russ

There you have it folks. Good enough for Russ, good enough for me.;)

**audiobliss** · 06-30-2005 02:16 PM

Sounds to me like a pretty good cheap upgrade. Is there any damage done to equipment? Just the hassle of finding out that a cable's bad and then having to return it?

**ND13** · 06-30-2005 02:24 PM

I understand that W2 is displeased with these cables, and I'm not trying to convince him to do anything he doesn't want to. All I'm saying is that I've tried out several over the years and haven't had the same results as he did. It's too bad for him, because most think they're well worth the money and them some.

**WilliamM2** · 06-30-2005 05:12 PM

Audiobliss,

I doubt there is much chance of damaging your equipment, but it is more than just figuring out if the cables are bad or not.

I have tried several pieces of equipment in my rig in the last month, probably hooked and unhooked the cables 5 or 6 times each. At first the cables were fine, I believe one of the connections broke from this little bit of wear and tear. That is why I returned all 4, as I thought they may all fail over time.

**Danny Tse** · 07-01-2005 03:59 PM

The link in my original post has now been updated with a comment from Blue Jeans Cable and a possible comparison between the Fusion cable and a MIT Terminator 3 cable using a Meridian CD player.

**Danny Tse** · 12-22-2008 03:50 PM

Well, a couple of days ago, I noticed that the Shack is clearing its current Gold Series audio interconnects, including the 3 ft analog audio interconnects....

3 ft Radio Shack Gold Series audio interconnects for $4.99

These are regularly at over $15.00.

Return of the old Fusion cable, part 2 ?

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