Relevant
internet definitions I found for “tweak” are mostly along the lines of,
“improve (a
mechanism or system) by making fine adjustments to it”
and
“to adjust
slightly; to fine-tune”
In the audio
world, these definitions align with my belief that tweaks are the final efforts
one makes to optimize the sound of a system. They may be system dependent
(i.e., some tweaks may work best with specific gear) or they may be universal
in that certain tweaks may improve the sound of most or all systems. For example, many here have amp stands or isolation
platforms that have survived multiple changes of the equipment supported on
them, and they continue to improve the sound of the owner's system.
To the OP’s
question, IMO, for a given room, the selected components and speakers determine the basic sound
of a system while tweaks can be implemented to remove minor deficiencies and/or
to enhance the sonic qualities already being delivered by the existing system components. I believe cables may have a bit more
influence than most other tweaks, but I certainly do not believe the impact of
a cable on system sonics is anywhere near that of a component or speaker. IME, tweaks and cables are to a system what
the sweeper is to the curler…..the sweeper can help but the stone still needs
to be travelling in the right general direction at the right speed.
I believe the
polarization seen in these threads mostly results from the vast chasm between the magnitude of changes/improvements being reported by some as a result of adding
a tweak compared to the insistence by others that a certain tweak (or cable)
can’t possibly affect the sound of a system.
It isn’t that people don’t hear changes between components, speakers,
cables, or tweaks because most here report that they do. It’s the magnitude of the difference between
the two sides of the argument coupled with the increasingly higher prices being charged for this stuff that apparently neither side can live with. Although I have an opinion, I try to listen and judge for myself, vote with my own wallet, and let others do the
same.
