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The Most Cost Effective Tweak

What is the most cost effective upgrade or tweak? What yields the largest return on investment (ROI)? What if you could spend no money and no time and yield significant performance increases? Theoretically, that would result in an infinite ROI!

So how do you make that happen? Stop tweaking. What happens when you stop tweaking and messing with your audio system constantly is that you let everything burn in and settle down. Go read one of the many threads on this website that talks about how long it takes for components and cables to break in. The answers range from a few hours to several days. If you are suffering from constant upgrade-itis, you never let your audio system fully burn in. You’re robbing yourself of free, infinite ROI. And you never truly hear what your system is capable of. I’m not saying don’t upgrade your system. That’s a lot of the fun. Just give it some time and let your system burn in and open up. Reassess where you are at and where you want to go next.

Due to reasons I won’t go into depth on right now (mainly power issues), I am temporarily using a relatively cheap, high power, class D amp. I wasn’t thrilled with this setup and wasn’t sure if I could even call it’s sound signature high end. Due to a busy schedule, I have not had time to upgrade anything or even pursue simple tweaks. As a result of that, I have witnessed how the amp and my system have burned-in/settled down - whatever you want to call it. The sound was initially on the thin side and had harsh treble. Now the soundstage has become huge and the sound has become very smooth - smoother than I thought class D was capable of - especially from a class D amp that isn’t really something to write home about.

My point is that I realized significant performance increases by doing literally nothing. And now that I am hearing what I believe is the true sound of my system, my next tweak or upgrade will be more effective because I can clearly recognize where the weaknesses are at instead of making judgements while things are still burning in, which is often the case with upgrade-itis.
128x128mkgus
fleschler
2,030 posts
 
@herman @gita   Yes, I agree that "perfection" in placement is the objective but how to limit the effort required.  The laser measuring device used by real estate appraisers is one method other than string or measuring tape.  I have 190 lb. speakers and had to determine the correct distances from the front and side walls as well as the angles for each of the four corners of the speakers (tow angle).   I think I got within 1/8".   

I don't believe even most speaker manufacturers use precise set-up or build quality to WIlson's .0002" (whatever) specification.  

I use two pairs of Shakti Hallographs to correct imaging for the room.  It's not a budget tweak but solves the problem for my Legacy Focuses which are not the best focused speakers in my custom built listening room.

I agree that best and cheapest tweak if needed is the ear canal cleaning.  It may not be considered a tweak but fundamental to sound/music reproduction.   
richard617
8 posts
 
Set up an independent ground for the audio system. Nothing can replace this extremely strong lifting effect.
rudyb
141 posts
 
@mijostyn No need to purchase anything.

Install a tone generator on your smartphone and connect it to the amplifier:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keuwl.functiongenerator

Or, alternatively, this frequency sweep wav can be used:

https://www.audiocheck.net/testtones_sinesweep20-20k.php

Borrow a second phone, install a dB meter and hold it at ear height on the listening position:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keuwl.functiongenerator

The dB meter is probably not accurate, but we’re looking for relative differences, not absolute accuracy. Besides speaker placement and possible measures to improve room acoustics, the listening position may need to be changed to avoid sitting on acoustic nodes or antinodes of important frequencies. All this can be perfectly measured with the two free apps.


rudyb
141 posts
 
Just for fun I measured the frequency response of my Harmon/Kardon GoPlay bluetooth speaker with the two apps of the previous post. I played the 20s logarithmic sweep 20 - 20kHz wav from here.

Repeated measurements show very similar results. And apparently this speaker, in my room, microphone at 1m distance, does not have a particularly flat graph ... there's over 10dB range between peaks and valleys. Can't show my Magnepan speakers with Duson class A amp right now because I'm in the middle of a move and just yesterday I packed all cables.

The three spikes at the start were my count in: one, two, three, go.

Measurement 1
Measurement 2
Measurement 3

Could be fun to have a "Frequency Response" thread where everyone (who’s brave enough :) posts their measurement results.

pascon's avatar
pascon
17 posts
 
RE: the addition of ficus trees. How many do you need? Well, if you can still actually visually see your system from the listening position, then you need more trees. Caution: most afficianados tend to  overdue it when adding squirrels. Be conservative. 
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