Crazy cheapo tweaks and impressive SQ hacking

@twoch

Although I’m primarily operating through storage and playing CD’s, I was also looking into an internet switch to see what gains could also be made there, as I do stream a bit through the RPI Allo board.

Is $400 really the cheapest way to go? What switches would still apply some benefit on the cheap side?

Thanks again to everyone here for maintaining this discussion!

jetter, THANK YOU for one of the most entertaining posts in ten years! Precious! It should be in the Audiogon hall of fame! 

Someday, perhaps the "chintziness gene" will be discovered, which will explain hoarders, tightwads, and audiophiles who incessantly pursue low cost tweaks in favor of actually building a superior system.  

Some people dont have the choice delivered by money... My own system value is way under 1000 bucks headphone, amplifier, dac, speakers included...I use homemade tweaks of low cost with a great success... I experiment with that on the last 2 years with increasing success...I consider my system now that look like trash for some to be, by comparison with some others way more costly, a relatively superior system... I am no more envious of any system at any cost even if most are way better than mine, the reason is when you listen to relatively holographic, dynamic, musical imaging sound with speakers, be it in nearfield or at normal distance or with headphone, your audio system is Hi-Fi, at any price and even with tweaks, be them cheap and homemade or sells by audiophile company at high cost...

The posts of jetter is hilarious yes....I smile...:)

But sometimes cheap tweaks are necessary for the poor or even for the richest...Money does not necessarily gives you an audio system that will play at his OPTIMAL level, knowledge, experiments, and sometimes cheap controls methods and tweaks will...

I know that for a law in audio and in life : Money is illusion, knowledge is reality....


A last word:
Anybody with big money can create a hi-fi system of supremum quality....It is a bit more difficult with a ridiculous small budget and ask for something call: creativity ….For example my "golden plates" shungite plate+copper tape on one side, put on top of the central electrical panel of my house(20 bucks each) transform the sound on a level which is astounding in my audio system...I dont pretend that my plates equal costlier one in the industry, but for their ratio sound quality/ price I smile indeed...My best to all...


And if I had the money I will try the industry product for sure,  it is just that I am no more in frustration if I replicate or create low cost methods to buy me audiophile quality...

Thanks for the kind words. I would like to mention that the one item that I have been using for the last month, that I don't really consider a tweak or cheap, has been two PPT omega emats.  I have found that all the accolades the emats have garnered to be spot on.  Nuff said.

Mahgister, it was all in spoof.  I applaud your experimentation and encourage you to always carry on.