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Tweaks - An Honest Discussion

I know there is a lot of talk about performance tweaks in this forum and the value that can be realized.  I've started this thread because it seems that folks tend towards believing they are either the silver bullet to sonic bliss or conversely simply snake oil.  I believe tweaks are somewhere in between and in most cases, worth about what you pay for (crazy  I know).

I'm open minded to tweaks and have employed many in my system over the years including isolation, fuses, footers, HFTs, cabling, cable risers and attempts at reducing RFI (among others).  While I believe that many of these tweaks incrementally helped me get better performance out of my system I never for a second found any tweak make a transformational difference the way that a significantly upgraded piece of gear brings to the table.  I think many of us have been quite happy with our systems over the years but that doesn't mean implementing a tweak can possibly compete with the benefit of replacing a piece of gear that is well matched to elevate your system. Just because you're happy with your setup doesn't mean a major gear change can't really elevate the experience - surely well beyond any form of tweakery.  

As an example, I've been very happy with a Hana ML cart and how it's performed in my system.  I recently decided to acquire a Lyra Kleos cart - for a $2K increase the change has been transformational in terms of dynamic range and ability to convey detail and imaging.  There has never been a dot I've placed on a wall, carbon platform placed under gear, or RFI shielding device I've ever used that could possibly come close to this equipment upgrade.  Same goes for upgrades to my system over the years in terms of amps, pre's, and speakers.  For anyone to suggest that through tweaks alone you can elevate your system to a level that only gear changes can achieve simply falls flat in my experience.  Some may be shocked to hear that most of the time a $200 tweak truly only gets you about $200 worth of improvement (if any) and not the equivalent of a $5000 gear upgrade. I know there is a certain allure that by simply being smart and applying elbow grease that we can extend the sonic limits of our system well beyond it's design, parts, and capabilities but that's just not true IMO.

What's your experience been?   
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three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments OP
2,097 posts
 
I’m not going to going argue about whether defining speaker placement as a tweak or simply an adjustment according to manufacturer instruction. I agree it’s highly important if you want to get the most from them.

Not at all tweaks perform exactly on their price point. The point I’m trying to hit home is that in my experience not even the best tweaks approach providing multi-thousands of dollars of value while replacing transformational upgrades that component upgrades can provide. If 99% of the market could realize the gains of a $5K amp upgrade through buying $60 cones wouldn’t that be the worst kept secret on earth? Tweaks have their place and it’s typically around their price point. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Yes, some items represent higher value for sure but these categorical assessments that you can employ tweaking in lieu major gear upgrades is simply over the top and overstated.
tooblue
1,927 posts
 
OP, love your take on tweaks and agree totally, do employ them through out my main system and my headphone system to great effect but they are not or have not been the game changers as some say. I come from a racing background, motorcycles, since the age of 12 till late into my 50s and follow some the same protocol of setting up my sound systems as I used setting up a new race bike. I just follow the basic rules of setup that make sense and these are usually simple and straight forward. The thing about this process is that in racing you get to prove the improvements on the track against the competition but in audio, you have to trust your ears. With that said I would very much like to hear your take on the Hana ML as I am considering one for my headphone system. Enjoy the music
bigkidz
3,381 posts
 
@geoffkait LOL

Everything makes a difference.  Some more than others.  It simply comes down to cost and effect.  IMO you probably already know - changes can be more meaningful in other areas.  But that is just me.  You have to experiment for yourself.

Happy Listening.
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments OP
2,097 posts
 
@tooblue Thanks...and I agree there are many analogies outside of audio that apply to tweaking in terms of realistic costs/benefits/value.

w/r/t to the Hana ML I see Fremer posted a recent review here: https://www.analogplanet.com/content/high-performance-high-value-hana-ml-and-mh-cartridges

Fast, timbrally neutral, non-mechanical-sounding, transparent and delivering levels of detail usually heard from more costly cartridges, the Hana ML is in every way an impressive sounding and performing cartridge.

 


mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,011 posts
 
1- What people call "tweaks" are only one by one, each of them, some elements of some set of parameters in one of the 4 dimensions of the embeddings of any audio system... ( mechanical resonance, electrical grid, passive and active acoustical fields)

2- Sometimes not knowing these 4 dimensions of the embeddings, people call "tweaks" some crazy or less crazy inventions, simple or less simple device, most of the time not so cheap device, even costly...


3- Not knowing these 4 dimensions people dont work systematically in function of them and dont experiment the powerful transformation of their audio system linked to each of them...


4-Unconscious of the power of this 4 embeddings, people act and work on their system erratically and very approximatively and without being conscious of the powerful potential linked to these "tweaks" or various parameters of the embeddings ...People dont realize that these dimensions are complementary and works together toward the peak potential S. Q. of any system...


5- These dimensions I worked on them always with some homemade and very cheap materials... No "tweaks" I use were bought, except I use some cheap materials and electronic components I modified myself(10 bucks each for example for Chinese Schuman Generator) to linked all 4 embeddings...
Dont buy tweaks, replicate them , retro engineer them, invent your own....It is more simple than you imagine... I am in no way a very gifted manual worker....

6- The results is not a more or less slightly modified audible sound mostly but a complete transformation.... Calling that "tweaks" dont do any justice to the works and dont describe at all the way and method each one of us must takes to embed any audio system....

7- Experimenting and playing with these 4 dimensions is more fun than buying finished products and way more self gratifying....

8- No audio system sound at his top level out of the box and located in a non treated room... NONE...

9- Most people has never listen to their own system at all.... They dont know what their own system can deliver in quality....

10- 90% of any electronic component upgrading is not necessary, and if necessary is not made in a rational way or in a judicious way....It takes me 7 years to learn that and I pay the price.... My best to all....
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