2. misc-audio
  3. 156838-118236

Feeling Tweaky

I recently tried my first system tweak, purchasing IsoAcoustic Orea isolation footers for my Luxman 507uX Mk2 integrated amp, Marantz Ruby CD/SACD player, and Shunyate Hydra Denali 6000S power conditioner. I liked the improvement in sound quality so much I’ve gone ahead and ordered IsoAcoustic Gaia feet for my VPI Classic 2 turntable and Magico A3 speakers. I never expected a tweak to make such an improvement, not just a change, in sound quality. By the way, my cables are Audioquest Rocket 88 speaker cables, Audioquest Colorado cables from the CD/SACD player, and VPI phono cables. The Shunyata Hydra Denali has a Venom power cable. All the other power cords are what came with each component.

Acoustic room treatments that would affect room decor are unfortunately out of the equation and I’ve already tried my best to design component shelving to be a vibration free as I could. I’ve thought about are redoing the house wiring to create a dedicated circuit, and making an ultrasonic record cleaner.

So my question to you all is, what tweaks have had the most positive impact on your own system, that you could you recommend for the above described system? There seems to be a lot of tweaks out there that range from the sublime to the ridiculous in both performance and price. I’d like to know what tweaks of the many out there have worked best for you so I can make a list and prioritize each in terms of performance and budget. Please share your favorites and I’d appreciate your advice. Thanks,


Mike



skyscraper
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,478 posts
 
I recommend you to try out Schitt Freya+  pre in front of Luxman amp.

It will give warmth to your speaker.

Schitt give 15 day’s return.

Stock 6sn7 tube does sound decent, but if you like the sound of Freya then you may try some Nos tubes(Sylvania GTB or RCA gray bottle around 100$ pair or Kenrad vt 231 at 200$ pair)

Kenrad vt231 sounds sweet with excellent bass.

You may refer to the following thread on general reputation of 6sn7 tubes.

6SN7 VT

The Reference 6SN7 Thread
skyscraper OP
828 posts
 
Thomas, I really like the IsoAcoustic Orea and Gaias and will not be adding or subtracting anything to or from them.

Now don't go trying to tempt me into purchasing new components after I just acquired an entire new system. My current audio plan has to include staying out of the poor house. Tweaks are it for the foreseeable future. I appreciate your suggestion none the less. Thanks,

Mike
mre28m5's avatar
mre28m5
36 posts
 
Hi, Mike...

In my system adding a few of the HFC MC 0.5 magnetic conditioners to unused power outlets has made an immediate and noticeable improvement. At around $200, the MC 0.5 is the least expensive product HFC sells. Well worth the cost. 

I also have found that experimenting with the tilt angle of my speakers - in addition to setting optimal toe in and room placement, etc. - has made a big improvement in my system. This may not apply to a speaker as well engineered and designed as your A3, though.

GLHF!
tantejuut
125 posts
 
I use sorbothane under my cables only to reduce microphonics from the cabinet.  I never use it under equipment because it can alter the transient response. Hard and soft materials are both usefull in audio. I have used all kind of cones under my equipment but always come back to master base. Always 3 pucks. 1 under the transformer, other 2 to balance the case. It expands the soundstage inmediately. I also use techflex flexo noise reduction sleeving around my cabling for reducing microphonics. With these tweaks the sound is more focussed and less diffused. I must investigate more tweaks like a fiber optic network, quantum chips, fo.Q tape, grounding boxes, graphene contact enhancers, industrial ddr memory. Tweaking is a fun ride for the last bit of performance as long as it don't result in audio nervosa. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Suspending cables and power cords provides the best of all worlds. No more micro vibration, no more seismic type vibration, no more static electric fields. No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher’s dirty looks! 😠
More to discover