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
Good post!    I have tried and owned many of the “best” Cables on the market, done blind tests with friends.   Seriously, if we’re all being honest.  I have friends that have some of the best stuff on the planet, and they literally picked the 100 dollar cables, power cords, etc.  at least 50% of the time.   Even if the stuff specs out better on measuring equipment, you just really can’t tell the difference!.   15,000 for a pair of cables?   Come on man!
@mijostyn,

’cd318, surely you jest. I’ve heard some amazing looking systems at Hi Fi shows.’

Yes, I have too. The most memorable being the Avantgarde Trio based one, but you must have heard some real bad ones too!

The ones where you’re compelled to embarrassingly leave the demo room after a few minutes, if not seconds.

Hmm, there’s an idea, maybe demonstrators might want to consider leaving some feedback sheets. It must be demoralising to have to watch folks keep on hurriedly leaving your uber expensive decked out room all day.


@mahgister,

’Any system at any price must be put in a controlled mechanical dimension, in a controlled electrical field, and in a controlled acoustical environment... This is what i call an embedding...’


I don’t think anyone is arguing with that in principle. Surely it’s only a question of degree.
@mahgister,

’Any system at any price must be put in a controlled mechanical dimension, in a controlled electrical field, and in a controlled acoustical environment... This is what i call an embedding...’


I don’t think anyone is arguing with that in principle. Surely it’s only a question of degree.
You are right nobody can argue against this....

I put together these 3 dimensions and called that "embeddings"...

To my surprise in all audio threads in all forums, no one has a concept about that, they speak about "tweaks" yes....But a "tweak" is a partial solution and sometimes a trade-off with negative effects, and above all a tweak is vulnerable to placebo effect the day of their evaluation .... But a trail of listenings experiments, with incremental improvement in the 3 embedding dimensions each weeks for 2 years like mine, i would not call that "Tweaks", i called that embeddings controls installation....Embeddings controls are NOT secondary addition to the system, like "tweaks", they are the MAIN object of an audiophile pursuit... Choosing an electronic component is important, but embedding it rightly is at least at the same level of priority....

My point is any relatively good basic audio system sound at his utmost potential S.Q. ONLY if rightly embedded...

My other point is UPGRADING anything before listening first to the truest potential of what we already own is most of the times illusion and deception programmed...


My last point is the embedding process is NOT a secondary tweaking, but is the fundamental course to take in audio experience, most important than ANY upgrade of an electronic component....If you want to know what you are doing without throwing money to the universal hyped advertisement campaings in all forums....

Audio is not about the "taste" for a product among the millions there are, it is about how to learn to listen music and sounds.....

My regards to all....




« It is not enough to see what we hears, we must listen with our eyes»- Groucho Marx