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? 
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Can't think of any.   

Some required further tweaking to get right, like IC changes, 

I don't tweak unless needed.  But when I do....... 
Describing the potential problems or issues that require tweaking is not so hard. Nor is coming up with generic terms for it.

What often is hard though is not only recommending specific tweaks because "they work" but explaining how they work and why so someone who cares might reasonably assess how well a specific solution may or may not work for them.

The devil is always in the details, including the how and why, even with "tweaks".

I’m not one to spend time and money on something unexplained just because some guy on the internet says it works and "sounds better", but that’s just me.
This is and will continue to be a great thread if people stick to tweaks they’ve actually had in their own system and then removed again, because of no or even deleterious effects.

I tried those clamp-on carbon ferrite filters/blocks and could hear no difference whatsoever.


For going on 30 years my reference standard for cones and footers was Black Diamond Racing. Still love the Shelf and Round Things, but almost all the Cones have been removed for Nobsound springs. 

The springs do require some adjustment. The sound varies a lot depending on the number of springs for the weight of the component. This is a drawback if you want something simple, but a big plus if you want to be able to tune the sort of sound you want.  

So BDR Cones out, Nobsound springs in.
@millerc and @twoleftears - thanks. I was really trying to avoid a much wider and contentious conversation by asking the question so narrowly,  and I appreciate the straightforwardness of those last two answers.