Crazy cheapo tweaks and impressive SQ hacking


Got a great little digital setup, enjoying the sound Ive been getting. But I had been craving a better DAC, maybe a really nice CD transport, player, SACD...etc.

Instead of going down the typical rabbit holes (where I inevitably be traveling), decided I’d try some silly tweaks and pluggin options?

Got a Raspberry Pi/Allo Digione with usb storage plugged in for files to play, into a cheapo Schiit Audio Modi Uber II, into a Creek Evolution 50A into some used Tekton Lore Reference, decent but very affordable cabling throughout thanks to Zu Audio.

Sound/resonance isolation a starting point, my daughter has an impressive rock collection, where she “loaned” me a perfectly sized rock to set atop the Modi, which I had already set upon some Hudson hifi feet. Also placed these feet under the Allo Digione. Then, downloaded a CD player plugging (Nanomesher) for the Digione that accommodates a cheap external CD/DVD drive via usb.

Stuck the CD player atop a dense little package box.

I cant even begin to describe the improvements...through CD player compared to ripped tracks from the same cd, more soundstage, depth, clarity, tone... mid bass has more color, definition and richness. Every clicky inadvertent texture is heard. Can hear Piano hammers lifting, releasing. Can differentiate the change in tone color and spit moving across a saxophone reed, you name it...all without being too harsh or clinical. I had already had the Hudson feet before using the rock and box, which suggests the cheapest mods worked the real magic here.

What gives? Didn’t expect this. Thought I was just grasping at the ridiculous...what will happen when I can actually allow myself to spend real money? Or do I have to? Thinking not?

Curious about your stories along these lines...anyone else with obsurd yet wonderful tweaks?
riccitone
Anybody with big money can create a hi-fi system of supremum quality

You don't say. So how come the $1.3M system at Definitive sounds like crap?
Gives me the system I will make it great for a low cost.... Is it so horrible system?


By the way if you use some of my post read all the post... I said also a couple of lines before:

"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..."

Then system at any cost can sound not only less than their potential higher S.Q. but sound atrocious for some experienced ears...For the relatively poor audiophile a costly upgrade is not an option, or even a less costly audiophile products.. I choose to makes mine homemade and replicating some, inventing others with great avail and success... My best to you...
Exactly...

there comes a point of diminishing returns. A very expensive setup will require an expensive room to elicit any and all benefits derived from said gear. It takes some experimentation, knowledge-seeking, love for the music, some understanding of room acoustics/reflections, understanding the placement of equipment as well as equipment matching to bring out what’s best in the music you want to hear.

That does not require big bucks by today’s standards, with all the different types (not to mention all the different levels) of equipment available to audiophiles. Especially when you’ve got those priorities in order.