Tweaks That Don't Work

Two things did nothing for me:

Subaruguru's PC, while a nice kit and still "in" my system, did not do anything I could identify on any component.

Audiopoint speaker spikes. For many months my stock spikes were lost, so I purchased audiopoints merely as a replacement. The salesman told me they would transform my speakers to sound like the "next model up", so that is why I mention them on this thread. Months later I found my stock spikes and did not hear a difference in comparison. The APs have since been relegated to component stand duty. The negative was that with their narrower base left ringed marks on my speakers. Blaming the poor curing of my speakers' wood cabinets, the salesman would not let me return exchange for a model with a wider base.

Aggielaw, I see this as a very rational request and wish that it could be implemented without rancor, but I just don't see how. My latest successfully implemented tweak will always be someone else's snake oil. And I'll likely think you lack perspective or hearing when you tell me that using XXX made a vast difference in your system. I think its enuf to "discuss" the efficacy of each tweak as it comes up and let subsequent subsequent interests in the tweak by satisfied either thru renewal of the thread or thru forum research. This way there can be a more complete airing of opinion, not just a consensus listing, or a listing with allowance for a summary w/proviosion for the numbers of folks who agree or disagree.

And, most importantly, it will give us something to argue about ad infinitum, ad naseum. :-)

Newbee, I had the same thought as you. Ironic that I tried to re-edit with why I did not think they worked, but you posted after me!

Good spikes on floorstanding speakers do work if the mass of the speaker is great enough to keep them firmly planted(unless your floors are creaky and resonant).
Throw rugs and plush furniture do work to calm a lively room.
Good (not necessarily expensive) power conditioners on things that spin work.
The cost of most tweaks far outweighs the benifit though. Even the tweaks that do work only improve the sound relative to the capabilities of the equipment. Careful placement of speakers can make a modest system sound quite impressive and enjoyable though.

Lugnut's post helped set the stage for a great thread which I will also monitor!