What is your favorite low-tech tweek?

Hi Unclejeff, the "ERS material" is made out of graphite fibers and various metallic substances that are imbedded in a cloth-like material, and is commonly sold by the Stillpoint people in 8"x10" sheets for approximately $20.00 or you can possibly purchase ERS from your local high end audio dealer.

Radio Frequency Interference practically exists everywhere from tv, radio, cellular and telephone, and microwave signals. The ERS material supposedly absorbs harmful RFI.

Fortunately, a local dealer in Hawaii had a roll of the ERS material and I bought a sheet roughly 33"x36". Needless to say, the cost was justified many times over by the favorable results that I got when I covered the top of my digital front end player and the sides and back of my amplifier. I immediately noticed more detail, speed in the lower bass, and a bigger and deeper soundstage. I actually had to lower the gain on my REL Stentor subwoofer and volume control on my amp, believe it or not.

Because of the graphite fibers, you must be careful when using this product. I was advised that the graphite fibers could cause a short in my components, so I taped all sides with electrician's tape, please be careful to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

The word is beginning to get out about this product (ERS) and you would be surprised to hear which manufacturers are using or plan to use this product in their power cord, interconnect, and speaker cables.

Getting my wife and son out of the house. The system always sounds amazing then.

I like to put my speakers near my bed (but not too close) and fall asleep to music, especially after a good night bath, with my favorite cup of tea, I am in heaven. Somehow, it sounds better lying down - I have no scientific explanation for it. May be we used to be like dogs and our head got more blood supply since horizontal placement of our body; hence yogis upside down poses. Feels good, everyone should try it. You can just sit in a chair, and let your head down for a few minutes.
This relaxed state of mined between the waking and the sleeping stage (the alpha state) is great for listening to music. I wouldn't recommend songs with words though - they might have the scary effect of hypnotizing us (All the audio exec. systems with waking up feature should not allow radio as a source to wake up to for this reason). Anyone in the industry should alert manufactures. Wake up to CD music only, without words to be safe.

Clean your ear out with a wax removing liquid from any drug store. I kept turning down the vol. after I did this. I couldn't believe how loudly I've been playing all these years. No wonder my neighbors complained. They are good sports - I put up with their dog barking in the night. You will not be disappointed - this is different from just using q tips. Music sounds more luxurious. Everyone should know about this simple tweak - tell it to musicians especially.

I like making DIY speaker cable out of thickest solid copper wire you can find, and combining with strands to get the best of both worlds. You can also add silver wire to it if you like. I love the sound of the silver for liquid and transparent characteristics. Since you can fine tune the sound by combining different amount, it's fun and economical.