Tweaks you got rid of because they were not effective (enough)?


There are some audiophiles for whom cost is no object; they buy what they wish and every single tweak and gadget which promises to improve the sound. And the industry is all too happy to produce such tweaks -- often made of expensive materials with elaborate engineering explanations. Those who question the value of these tweaks are frequently accused of being "naysayers" who are either too ignorant or insensate to realize that "everything matters."

Of course, money spent one place cannot be spent elsewhere; expenditures on tweaks take the place of other more central factors affecting the sound. In some cases, those tweaks are worth it; you can hear the difference, and that $400 (or whatever) really could not have improved your speakers or sub or amp, etc.

So, the question here is simple: Which tweak have you tried which, after some experience and reflection, you realized was either *not* effective or not the most effective way to improve your system? 
128x128hilde45
Probably mass loading components, but I may have gone a tad overboard...

Here’s a pic of the previous system (since replaced due to tweaking it).

https://www.culture24.org.uk/asset_arena/8/71/06/360178/v0_master.jpg

Sorry, but this pic (in context to mass loading) never get’s old to me.

DeKay
Post removed 
I have many tweaks that worked but these ones that did not:
- expensive feet under amps, CD players and DACs (Unlike under speakers where they have had a big effect, and under the Hi-Fi rack, again a positive effect).
- external clocks
- crystals, anywhere
- raising cables above floor
- gutwire grounding cable (other grounding systems have worked)
- Bass traps
- power conditioners


hilde45:

Yes, sad but true...

We've been without Internet, much of the past 3 days, due to AT&T's incompetence so...

Aside from dealing with AT&T "help" who have admitted that they did not even know what a "land line" is we have been otherwise shielded from daily news.

TV-wise we limit ourselves (and rightly so) to reruns of MacGyver, Stargate SG1 and Kolchak the Night Stalker.

DeKay