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Snake oil and tweaks that work!

This is in no way intended to bring out argument but discussion of tweaks people have tried and have found success with. I know there are at least 50% of you out there that think everything in audio is snake oil, and you are initialed to those opinions. Please don't make this your battle field! If you want to start an opposing thread calling us nuts and getting in arguments please do, it might be fun to have both going. I want this one to be an informational for people who want to try things. I for one have tried a lot of the recommendations in Stereophile each month, most don't work for me, but I have found a few things that do work. #1 tweak: Speaker location. Even a 1/16" can make all the difference. I try to play with this about every six months. A dedicated circuit from the panel with 10ga. wire had a very noticeable improvement. Cables and wires matter, some have been good for my system, some real bad. We have plenty of threads covering this so lets no go there. The "Bedini Ultra Clarifier" works amazingly well for me, I know it's crazy but it works! The Cardas caps I got for X-mas really worked, they produced a more quite background, go figure. Black Diamond Racing "the Puck and the Shelf " have been great improvements, all the different cones I've tried change the sound, I haven't found one I would recommend. The Audio Prism Quiteline filters work great, but power conditioners and RFI/EMI ferrets did nothing. The last thing that has helped me is furniture location, I find if I move something only an inch it can help or hurt. I look forward to hearing others experiences.
128x128jadem6
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
1.  If you have a turntable that uses a belt, replace the belt with a custom belt built by originlive.com  This is not a subtle improvement, its major. 

2.  Change out your speaker terminals with Cardas copper terminals. 

3.  Use Caig Gold contact enhancer on all terminations including tube pins. Don't forget your the spade lugs on your speaker cables (both ends). 

4.  Invest in a ten pack of Synergistic Research High Frequency Transducers (HFT's) and place them around the room as per the directions. 

5.  Replace all fuses in your sysem with Synergistic Research BLACK fuses. 

6.  If you're into vinyl and haven't done so yet, invest in a VPI record cleaning machine.

7.  Stop listening to your equipment and listen instead to the music. 

OP


geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Has it really been 15 years since Radio Shack demagnetizer and greening the edges of CDs? How the times have changed. Now it's Graphene and purpling the edges of CDs.

213runnin
914 posts
 
I was going to share my cabling improvements and insist that cables really make a difference, but in light of the marbles technique I think I'll not bother after all...
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
The following tweaks work for me in my system:
1)  Clean all system contacts every 6 months.
2)  Herbie Audio Labs Tenderfeet under components, tube dampers, interconnect dampers, Super Black Hole CD mat, Grungebuster LP mat.
3)  Mass damping top of chassis
4)  Use green POSCA pen on CD edges - yes the sound is more focused.
5)  Treat all CDs with "Rain-X"  It shines up the surface and makes removing future smudges/grime much easier.
6)  Purist Audio Design System Enhancer disc - especially great to hasten burn in of new components.
7)  Cardas frequency/demag. LP

I'll repeat what I've said previously...this is, at least for me, the fun part of the hobby.  This is where we get to "tune/enhance" our systems to our ear's desires.

davidclarke
43 posts
 
Years ago I realized my turntable was feeding back on bass.  I moved the entire system, except the speakers, into my closet and closed the door.  Way better bass without the feedback.
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