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I Just Don't Hear It - I wish I did

I am frustrated because I am an audiophile who cannot discern details from so many of the methods praised by other audiophiles. I joke about not having golden ears. That said, I can easily discern and appreciate good soundstage, image, balance, tone, timbre, transparency and even the synergy of a system. I am however unable to hear the improvements that result from, say a piece of Teflon tape or a $5.00 item from the plumbing aisle at Home Depot. Furthermore, I think it is grossly unfair that I must pay in multiples of one hundred, or even one thousand just to gain relatively slight improvements in transparency, detail, timbre soundstage, etc., when other audiophiles can gain the same level of details from a ten dollar tweak. In an effort to sooth my frustration, I tell myself that my fellow audiophiles are experiencing a placebo effect of some sort. Does anyone else struggle to hear….no wait; does anyone else struggle to comprehend how someone else can hear the perceived benefits gained by the inclusion of any number of highly touted tweaks/gimmicks (brass screws, copper couplers, Teflon tape, maple hardwood, racquet balls, etc.) I mean, the claims are that these methods actually result in improved soundstage, image, detail (“blacker backgrounds”), clarity, bass definition, etc.
Am I alone in my frustration here?
2chnlben
cruz123
586 posts
 
The only changes that have been significantly noticable in my system are component changes, modifications to equipment (and sometimes those are iffy) and speaker cable /interconnect changes. I have yet to hear a footer make much, if any, difference, though I do use soft footers under every device (I've yet to uderstand how placing a component on a hard object such as brass or grantite can reduce vibration, though my feable mind can kind of understand how a soft footer could insulate from vibration.) Also, contrary to many here, I have yet to notice significant, if any, improvements from a power cord, though I have tried many hoping something will eventually floor me. I use tube dampers and various CD tweaks, but I'm not sure they make any difference.

The crazy thing is that although I doe not perceive that I can hear the changes from many tweaks, I keep using them, believing that if I take them out of my system it will somehow result in a degradation. On the other hand, I am very happy with my system as it currently stands. Perhaps the cumulative effects of the various tweaks I use do, somehow, make a difference. Or, perhaps I just want to believe.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,549 posts
 
There are two categories of "tweaks" which based on science must have some effect on how a piece performs:

1) a tweak to anything in the signal path from source to ears
2) a tweak that isolates a piece of equipment whose performance is affected by external vibrations or EM fields.

Turntables are the most susceptible to external vibrations. Other components may be as well but to a much lesser degree I believe.

Low level devices like phono step up devices and phono pre-amps are most susceptible to external EM fields. Line level pre-amps are also but the effects here are often more subtle and harder to hear without an a/b comparison.

You can see that phono setups can have a double whammy working against them so they are probably the part of a system that requires the most "tweaking" to get right. I think that's part of their mystique these days.

Tubes and IC and a few other components are the least expensive devices in the signal chain of a good system to tweak to good effect. I think that is part of the mystique with them for hobbyists as well.
tholt
551 posts
 
05-24-09: Cruz123
The only changes that have been significantly noticable in my system are component changes, modifications to equipment (and sometimes those are iffy) and speaker cable /interconnect changes. I have yet to hear a footer make much, if any, difference, though I do use soft footers under every device (I've yet to uderstand how placing a component on a hard object such as brass or grantite can reduce vibration, though my feable mind can kind of understand how a soft footer could insulate from vibration.) Also, contrary to many here, I have yet to notice significant, if any, improvements from a power cord, though I have tried many hoping something will eventually floor me. I use tube dampers and various CD tweaks, but I'm not sure they make any difference.

The crazy thing is that although I doe not perceive that I can hear the changes from many tweaks, I keep using them, believing that if I take them out of my system it will somehow result in a degradation. On the other hand, I am very happy with my system as it currently stands. Perhaps the cumulative effects of the various tweaks I use do, somehow, make a difference. Or, perhaps I just want to believe.
Cruz123 (System | Threads | Answers)

My exact experience -- every word.
mumbles
83 posts
 
No doubt some tweaks make a real difference. I can feel the vibrations on the surface below my amp. Isolating it made a distinct difference.
Spent all day yesterday building sound adsorbtion panels, bass traps for room treatment. This morning everything sounded better, in suedo fact my tinitus disappeared.
Was it the addition of the sound traps getting rid of those pesky first relection points or my usual relaxed Sunday listening frame of mind?
BTW, the ringing returned after listening a while and then turning on plasma, DTV box and computer. Maybe i should apply those RMF sheets to the ceiling?

Somedays I hear the differences more than others.
Hard to isolate your self from the process.
Maybe the key is to meditate or self hynotize before applying a new tweak. Alternatively, get a third party skeptic with better ears to confirm and enjoy the change vicariously through their affirmations. :)
ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
The way I see it... If a tweak or even a component makes an audible difference than something was either wrong in the first place or afterward. If we agree that no component is ideal, then no system is ideal but an optimized system would be less sensitive to "tweaks".
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