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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
dfansler
5 posts
 
No comment on Vibrapods’ efficacy, but the nasty residue can be prevented by placing a piece of plastic sandwich baggie between the Vibrapod and surface. Same with sorbothane. Perhaps Vibrapods are made of sorbothane?

I have sorbothane hemisphere rubber bumpers under my speakers. They are sticky and would leave a residue.  Just wrap them in clear plastic food wrap!
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duckworp's avatar
duckworp
257 posts
 
@hilde45...

@duckworp, for the feet under the speakers, what worked for you? I have some spikes but have not tried them out, yet. Came with the speaker stands.

Spikes were OK but the big improvement happened by placing cheap granite kitchen chopping boards under the speakers and then Isoacoustic Gaia feet under the speakers, resting on the granite. This made a massive improvement to bass and the overall sound image. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
@duckworp -- thanks. If I’m understanding, from the top down it’s:

  • speaker
  • granite chopping boards
  • Gaia feet
  • top of the speaker stand
then....what underneath the speaker stand?
Spikes, feet?
Or perhaps it doesn’t matter much given how effective the above things were?
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Plane and simple.  Better equipment will give you better sound quality.
BETTER, MORE GOOD. Has nothing to do with cost.. BUT GREAT equipment will cost you more.. Unless you have a rich uncle, that gives it to you..

First rule... The best equipment you can afford. Don't start at the bottom and work up. Start at the top and work down. This includes cabling.
Everything I use in my systems require NO cable upgrades, factory will work fine.. Speaker IC, XLR, RCA, good will work. Nothing too fancy..

First rule... As much room treatment as you can afford, or tolerate (if your gonna use a room)

First rule...Protect your expensive equipment, maintain 120 VAC and a FAST acting surge suppressor. (Clean the AC source...Maintain the source)

First rule...place you equipment and measure with a tape measure, then make MINOR adjustments.

TWEAKS, what's left? Most of it sounds good one day and not the next to me... WHY?  Well, the ol mechanic comes out in me... "That was BS",
Cable risers work though.... Easy to clean under, and they do actually work, just takes a couple hours for me to hear the difference.. I knock a block over and don't see it, then stand up the riser.  After a settling time.
I hear the difference..

ANY vibration control is good.

Over dampen a room.. A problem in a LOT of rooms...

Regards

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