Cheap tweaks...What would YOU reccomend?


Hey everyone, I am looking for some cheap tweaks, i just got done putting in a inner tube under my componets as an isolation device, and it works great. What else would you reccomend?..i am also thinking of an inner tube under the spkrs, with some sort of device to keep them stable. What do you think of Rf blockers..etc Please leave comments on your tweaks and how they turned out. i am looking forward to trying some. Thanks all
haoleb
I have the copper IEC's for my amps but have not yet put them in. They are pretty generic any way. Having new boards laid out for my amps that will have about 40% more copper content and will have them and all the parts that can with stand a double shock of cryo treatment. It's always something or something else.
Here's something I'd like to put "out there" to get some response concerning a tweak that's not mentioned or is one of the last unchartered territories of tweakdom.

I am curious about on/off power switches.

My amps are old and have the ancient toggle switch.

I've upgraded the fuses, IEC,wirng from the IEC inlet,RCA, and now I am wondering about the quality of that toggle switch.

Does anyone think it would make a difference in quality to replace it with something newer?

If so what type of switch and from what source?

I am certain that some of the upper tier electronics must use on/off switches that are above the normal ones we most often see.

Then again, maybe the power swich doesn't matter that much?

My positive past experiences with upgrading power related items leads me in the direction that the off/on switch just has to be doing something to the sound, and that some just have to be better than others.

It may or may not be a cheap tweak, but I am looking for answers from those who have experience with power switches.

This also goes out to anyone from the audio industry,is there a need for a designer power switch and if you felt so, which one did you use?
I hope Ralph will enlighten me for instance.
I used some heavy duty 20 amp toggle switches on my power supply to my phono stage.

Like this
http://www.delcity.net/store/Heavy!duty-Toggle-Switches-!-Flat-Terminal/p_788975

The rational being the 20 amp continuous rating was more than adequate for most hi-fi components - even amps i.e. under 2000 watts :-)

It seems to work very well and due to the heavier internal mechanism it makes and breaks contact quickly with no arcing (i.e. that I can hear :-)

Just Google "toggle switches with silver gold contacts" and you will find a large selection that may be suitable. I would go with 20/30 amp models for an amplifier, preferably made in the US :-)

Switches are perhaps the most hard working component in any electrical circuit due to arcing when turning off

Well made switches have a mechanism that release very quickly - in most cases eliminating the possibility of arcs forming - when I used to work in the switchgear industry silver contacts were preferred for their durability and if I recall correctly, it helps prevent arcing - that could have changed since then.

Since yours are old I would recommend changing them. Will they sound better? It doesn't hurt to try :-)
Thanks, looks like I have the heavey duty toggle switches.

My amps are always on, in standby, the toggle switch just puts the amp into full power/play mode.

It replaces a circuit that was used on the stock amps to turn the amps on to full power when a signal was sensed by that circuit.
That signal sensing full power circuit was said to degrade the sound,so a heavey duty toggle switch was used as part of a mod.

I was just curious if there is a hierarchy concerning toggle switches.

Like is there a Nordost Odin of toggle switches?

Thanks for all the tips so far.