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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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,915 posts
 
"And money-back if they don't work in your system."

That would make a big difference to me to even consider an expensive tweak.

You need only resolve an issue once, like dirty power, poor matching ICs, etc. So a tweak that adds value in one system may not in another. I would drop that kind of money on anything that is not a sure bet. I might shop for it used though, then if it doesn't work out I can sell hopefully without taking a loss and another can try.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
In the case of your example with the copper coupler, I hear no difference. But I have dc charged cables. Certainly the are other examples of tweaks giving very modest or no improvements and even ones that at first I think are improvements only to change my mind. That is all part of the quest. I have tried other tweaks that give great improvements in some instances and great harm in others. An example of this is the Acoustic Revive QR-8 little quartz points.

Your own ears will have to be the judge. As the old warning goes YMMV.
jimjoyce25
215 posts
 
Yes, the price on the Marigo feet is definitely an issue, especially if you find it works in your system.

One set for the preamp, another for the cd player, one more for the phono stage if your's is separate, then one or two more for your amp(s), that's real money. And that's not even mentioning two set of four for your speakers.

So, maybe the best strategy is just to keep Pandora's box shut tight!
cruz123
586 posts
 
So, what is the sciene behind the Margigo feet that makes them so good? I looked at the website, but didn't find any explanation. There's one review, but no analysis there either. Do they provide some sort of mechanical response to vibration, or is it the material they're made from?
hevac1
812 posts
 
I myself hear the differences more when I remove a tweak from my system than when I add it. I think it takes time for the item to break in, for me anyway. Try adding the tweak, wait a week or two then remove it and see if you hear the difference then. If you can not hear the difference then it is not worth it, return it. At Home Depot you can return an item forever.
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