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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
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Tweaks are exactly how you build a great audio system. I would even go so far as to say you cannot build a great audio system for any amount of money, it simply will not be great without tweaks. Sorry. You can build an expensive audio system without tweaks. You can even build an impressive audio system without tweaks. But you simply cannot build a great audio system without tweaks. 

Here in Seattle we have a system with over one million dollars worth of Wilson, D-Agostino, and AT. Very impressive. It probably could be a great system. But it has no tweaks. And so it is not as great as mine, which cost less than the sales tax on theirs. 

Please see my System page. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 There are many tweaks, not all equally effective but to take just one of the more average ones, cable elevators, everyone notices the sound field collapse when they are removed. The same or similar will happen if any of the many other tweaks are removed. Remove them all, I would not even want to hear it. For sure I would not be bragging about it. Minus the tweaks it would be merely another system, down there with the systems of all you who think tweaks aren't how you build a great audio system. 


krelldreams
128 posts
 
“..down there with..” Hahaha. Ohhhhh boy..!
Ag insider logo xs@2x
ivanj
35 posts
 
Expensive Ethernet cables esp. Cat 6 or 8.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,980 posts
 
@krelldreams We like it down here. Weather is fine. Air is full of oxygen, easy to think clearly.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"And so it is not as great as mine, which cost less than the sales tax on theirs."

There is a value in such systems. Actually, they are priceless. It is that pride in "I did it".

According to https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 it costs not only less, but much less than the sales tax on theirs. Unless they are in Delaware, Dubai, or some other location with D.


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