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Tweaks you got rid of because they were not effective (enough)?

There are some audiophiles for whom cost is no object; they buy what they wish and every single tweak and gadget which promises to improve the sound. And the industry is all too happy to produce such tweaks -- often made of expensive materials with elaborate engineering explanations. Those who question the value of these tweaks are frequently accused of being "naysayers" who are either too ignorant or insensate to realize that "everything matters."

Of course, money spent one place cannot be spent elsewhere; expenditures on tweaks take the place of other more central factors affecting the sound. In some cases, those tweaks are worth it; you can hear the difference, and that $400 (or whatever) really could not have improved your speakers or sub or amp, etc.

So, the question here is simple: Which tweak have you tried which, after some experience and reflection, you realized was either *not* effective or not the most effective way to improve your system? 
128x128hilde45
djones51
4,947 posts
 
For example, a speaker cable is not a tweak. A fancy speaker cable is. Etc.

A DAC is not a tweak in a digital system. A fancy DAC is. Same with amps, streamers etc.. that’s what I meant when I said once it’s beyond audible it’s jewelry.  There's nothing wrong with jewelry or tweaks. I thought we were just voicing opinions. 

jperry
2,445 posts
 
So this is not a thread about tweaks, but a thread about perceived value.

It's only a tweak if it costs more than the person opining wants to spend. Interesting thought.

So to me, maybe nothing in my system is a tweak, but to someone else everything in my system (turntable, DAC, even speakers) could be a tweak.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I probably got things off topic. What I consider jewelry would be different than tweaks. I've tried a lot of the mentioned tweaks never heard any quantifiable improvement. I've also tried what I call jewelry same deal never really heard any improvement once my biases were removed from the equation. 
facten
2,874 posts
 
$50 or so after market power cords
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,964 posts
 
Not only we dont have a definition of what a "tweak" is, but it seems that we dont even have a clue about a simple fact:

how can anyone could be able to perceive some change and qualify it positive or negative change, with an audio system that is not mechanically controlled for resonance/vibrations, that is located in a house where the noise floor is high like most houses, and where the acoustic controls of the room is inexistant?

I will not even speak about regular uneducated ears who accept to live with such an audio system , i dont have any other word: a badly E.... system.....People then succumbs to temptation of a costly upgrade for solution to their deficient E....Or they buy a ready made costly "tweaks", nevermind the word definition....

I cannot use the word E....in this thread, the reader must read my past posts to guess it....

:)

A philosophical simple point: when we dont have an adequate CONCEPT for a reality or for a phenomenon, we cannot adequately PERCEIVE it...

This is epistemology for children.....

:)

A "tweak" is a ready made identical solution product for all audio system, room, and house ....

A control device for one of the 3 E... is a specific  partial solution inscribed in a set of step by step  listening experiments ....

Calling my devices homemade controls "tweaks" is simply  confuse an object with a concept and a method....

Is it not clear?


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