Tweaks that work specifically for you

[Gary]

What tweaks work specifically for you, in your listening environment, with your software, with your stereo system, with your interconnects, with your cables and with "gasp!" your ears?

This could be equipment, software or room tweaks or anything that has improved your sound.

Anyone?

[Larry Naramore]

Originally posted by Gary
..... or anything that has improved your sound.



Put on Saxaphone Colossus. Pour two Triple Margaritas followed by a Harvey Wallbanger and two Adios Motherf***ers

Tweaked!!!

[lerun]

Put on my favorite Cds or those newly bought after a busy/stressful day. This are normally around dinner time where my mind is still pre-occupied after a hard work day.

Then, take a rest , shower and about close to midnite make your favorite drink. Play the same Cds again, sit at the same listening position, at the same volume level- WOW, such a great improvement - sonically, musically, etc. (And turn down the light, play Nat King Cole's track "Stardust "( on DCC), then you would even see NKC right in front of you!)

In nutshell, the state of mind where you are play very important aspect as to when you enjoy music.

[Richard Feirstein]

"In nutshell, the state of mind where you are play very important aspect as to when you enjoy music."

The magic of great music is that it can and does alter one's mental state; it is a pure gift our ears bring to our soul. Music is part of us and we are part of music.

[Dave]

Tweaks that actually make a difference in my system are/were

1. Up-grading my inter-connects and my speaker cable.

2. Running Sheffield Labs System Conditioning And Degaussing CD approx. once a month. (basic demagnetizing)

Both of these tweaks have made a huge sound difference.

3. Speaker placement. When it's correct you can really notice a difference. Imaging becomes precise, better detailing in the staging.

[David R. Modny]

Originally posted by Dave
Tweaks that actually make a difference in my system are/were


3. Speaker placement. When it's correct you can really notice a difference. Imaging becomes precise, better detailing in the staging.

I, personally, wouldn't call speaker placement a "tweak". It's an integral part of the equation that by its very nature, speaker design principals, or room interaction characteristics (countless other reasons too) needs to be monkeyed with. We're talking about something on an obvious audible level in this case - with a real scientific basis.

[Dave]

Dave,

I would consider it a completely free tweak, as it took me quite awhile to get exactly the way I wanted it, but it was well worth it. But then again, it could be classified as maintainance.:D

[TimB]

I think the best tweak that I can say I have enjoyed was adding an upgraded powe supply, p1000, to my MSB LincDAC III. The bass and dynamics jumped many levels. It was even obvious to my wife.

[Dave]

TimB,

Don't you just love it when an up-grade is noticed by the wife and gets an immediate WAF of 10!:D

[trhunnicutt]

Okay, I'll bite.

"Tweaks" that have made a substantial improvement in my system, in no particular order:

-- Going "Active" with the X-Series Synergistic Research Power Cords.

Much lower noise floor, greater soundstage, better definition of instruments and voices in the mix. Takes great power cords to another level.

-- Grand Prix Audio Monaco Equipment Racks.

Some may not consider this a "tweak", but they are engineered and designed to provide a tremendous amount of isolation versus standard racks and tables. Without doubt, the best racks I have ever heard, or not heard, as the case may be. More air, better dynamics, larger soundstage.

-- Walker Audio Valid Points under the CD Player and/or Phono Preamp. With resonance control discs on top. Both items are fairly light in weight. It made the Arcam CD23T sound more like the Wadia 861, which I sold. Similar changes as listed above. $400 tweak, which made the player perform more like a unit twice it's price. Same with the CJ Premier 15. Increased resolution.

-- Walker Audio Resonance discs and DH Cones under the Power Conditioner (Sound Applications XE-12) and the Synergistic Research Master Control Center. $40 for the cones, and $15 for each disc. Provided even more definition than before.

-- Vibrapods under the Turntable Power Supply Unit. Also moved this to the floor (which is concrete near the racks). Reduced hum and noise with the turntable.

-- Porcelain Elevators (I know, here come the sharks....)

Raised my Oracle V2 speaker cable, and the Power Cords off the floor. Opens everything up in all directions. No joke, and no lie. Very easy to demonstrate if you want to come to the house to hear for yourself.

** SO... .Yes I do believe "tweaks" can make a positive impact on the sonics of your audio rig. I don't play with magic markers or blacklights and stuff like that. It's mostly in the form of resonance and vibration control.

It's funny, one man's "tweak" is another man's "product feature". Think about some of these same pieces mentioned above which are now getting designed into the products themselves (speakers, circuit boards, turntables, etc.)

[David R. Modny]

Originally posted by Dave
Dave,

I would consider it a completely free tweak, as it took me quite awhile to get exactly the way I wanted it, but it was well worth it. But then again, it could be classified as maintainance.:D

I'd actually take it a step further and refer to it as an *absolute necessity* for getting satisfying sound. Speaker placement probably, no definitely, has the most pronounced effect on sound...short of actual electronic manipulation of the source signal. If I mount a pair of acoustic suspension speakers at the ceiling and in the corner, I can pretty much guarantee that certain bass frequencies will be reinforced/increased between 6-9 db greater in output (and probably end up making everything pretty much sound like crap!) :)

[Dave]

Originally posted by David R. Modny
I can pretty much guarantee that certain bass frequencies will be reinforced/increased between 6-9 db greater in output (and probably end up making everything pretty much sound like crap!)
Yeah, and besides if ya did that, how would you keep the teenagers away from your place, as they'd want to hang out all the time. :D

[Grant]

Electricity works for me!;)

[Dave]

Is that electricity hooked to the fence in your yard or your audio system?:D

[Grant]

Originally posted by Dave
Is that electricity hooked to the fence in your yard or your audio system?:D

I live within city limits so I can't have an electric fence!:D My friend lives in the county and he has one.

[Dave]

Oh, so you're saying that you just crank-up Dad's favourite tunes and there's no way that the kids want to be around.:D

[Grant]

Originally posted by Dave
Oh, so you're saying that you just crank-up Dad's favourite tunes and there's no way that the kids want to be around.:D
Oh, I don't have any kids!:)

[Claus]

I use Roomtuning by Harmonix and Michael Green.

I also use custom made racks by Copulare.

Power cords by NBS and XLO.

And burn-in CDs by Sheffield and Purist Audio Design. The latter one is the best burn-in Cd, what I have ever experienced... great tool!

A good sound doesn't depend of $$$, but good acoustic in your listening room...

[Gary]

I'll tell y'all what suprised me!

Remember when Tom Port suggested that we try unpluging the microwave when playing music? Did not make sense to me. But once when the clothes washer was on, I was listening to an album. Remembering Tom's suggestion, I went into the laundry room and shut off the washer. Holy Soap, Batman, what a difference! The washer really dirtied up the sound (sorry for the pun!).

I still have to try unplugging *everything* (when the Wife is not home, of course!)

Another thing was when I thought I'd put some soft closed cell packing foam stuff (like thick bubble wrap) under the feet of each component. It tightened up the bass! Unbelieveable! I'm becoming less of a sceptic...

Tom Port sells magic pillows that, I'm sure, are much better than this foam stuff!

And did everyone catch the polarity thread in the hardware section? :)

[mazort]

Black Diamond Racing cones with Round Things for resonance control and Shunyata Research power cords for power filtering without dynamic compression.

And Sylvania VT-231 6SN7 tubes in the preamp.

And Silver Audio Appassionata Interconnects. Their solid silver speaker cables are also excellent.

[pigmode]

Originally posted by mazort

And Silver Audio Appassionata Interconnects. Their solid silver speaker cables are also excellent.

Right on Mazort! My Appassionatas have only 30 hours of use but they're great so far.

[aashton]

SAP Relaxa - magnetic levitation !!!!!!

Can't say that I have noticed any real change in the sound but it is real cool having the DVD transport floating in air.

Turning the lights off (only really has effect at night).

Knockandoo - single malt (highly recommended)

Enjoy the music - Andrew

[Richard Feirstein]

You are all dead wrong!!!! The best tweak by far, and I can prove it; is to get my kids out of the house. My 14 year old daughter thinks I'm nuts to just sit down in the middle of my listening chair and just listen to music. (She is always on the PC "talking" to at least 6 other kids at the same time with instant messenger; and doing the homework, viewing the PC TV or the PC tuner.

My 6 year old son is running around or asking me over and over and over to switch to the Cartoon Network, my 10 year old daughter wants me to go out and play, and the wife; don't ask. (She actually wanted to move my "system" down into the basement so that she could get back her living room.) Tweeks, don't talk to me about tweeks. (OK, so perhaps a seven speaker plus 12 inch sub, two VCR's a DVD/SACD player, turntable, Receiver and hundreds of records and disks is not part of her idea of good living room design, I still think they go real nice with our WEGA TV. What more could a guy want? (To be left alone with time to enjoy; perhaps my next life).:D

[Gary]

Originally posted by aashton
SAP Relaxa - magnetic levitation !!!!!!
Can't say that I have noticed any real change in the sound but it is real cool having the DVD transport floating in air.


Andrew, do you have a picture of this.... sounds bizzare and really cool!

And welcome! :)

[aashton]

Thanks for the welcome Gary - this place has a great "feel" to it.

http://www.hi-figuide.com/laboratorio/accessori/2001/sap/relaxa_1/english/index.html

has a few pages of pictures of the Relaxa and here is one of their pictures.

Keep 'em spinning - Andrew