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Most Effective Tweaks?

Wondering what generic tweaks people have tried that made the biggest difference?    Also interested in how much the tweaks cost to implement and the magnitude say from minimum of "marginal" to maximum of "transformational".

My top tweaks I can think of so far are

1) isolating speakers from versus coupling to floor when needed  (~$100, transformational)
2) Mu metal shield around low level  phono stepup transformer ($30, transformational noise reduction)
3) power cord upgrade (significant, ~$80)
4) acoustic panels (significant, $90)
5) power conditioner (significant, $100)
5) Physically moving components further apart from each other (NC, marginal)
128x128mapman
mapman's avatar
mapman OP
22,179 posts
 
Anyone have a spare ultrasonic record cleaner send it my way.

Agree clean records are transformational.

I have an effective manual process I use but is time consuming and a pain.     A good ultrasonic record cleaner would be welcome.
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
mapman, lots of people making ultransonic cleaners semi DIY buying ready made ultrasonic tanks and adding stack products that hold a few LPs and spin them slowly in the tank. Total cost ~$600 depending on which frequency machine you chose. Search diyaudio.com for details. 
I haven't seen them yet, but a number of friends tell me results are far surpassing their conventional cleaners including all the usual suspects in vacuum and string-type machines. Cheers,
Spencer
mapman's avatar
mapman OP
22,179 posts
 
$600 is the right price point but I need it to be fast and easy as well as effective.  Otherwise my manual process cost virtually nothing and is most effective.   I haven't seen one like that yet.  The ones I have seen cost thousands still.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
I use dual spindle motor the slow spindle has a pinion gear to fast spindle.
The fast spindle has fan blades and housing directed the air onto the vinyl.
The motor is connected to the frame and belt-drives the large pulley with shaft that can accommodate up to 9 records separated by plastic 'pancakes' with attached on both sides Chevy truck rear-main seals to protect labels. 
After the cleaning process done, the frame is being removed from the bath and the motor is turned at the maximum speed so the fan blades dry my records in about 5...10min

papermill's avatar
papermill
80 posts
 
mapman,
I'm unfamiliar with mu metal.
I have a bit of RH hum and have just come to expect it.
I currently have an Esoteric phono amp, but I've had the problem with various other phono amps with the exception of a Sutherland battery powered unit.
How would I shield with mu metal? What kind?
Any advice is very much appreciated. Good thread.
Dave
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