2. misc-audio
  3. 170116-122613

The Most Cost Effective Tweak

What is the most cost effective upgrade or tweak? What yields the largest return on investment (ROI)? What if you could spend no money and no time and yield significant performance increases? Theoretically, that would result in an infinite ROI!

So how do you make that happen? Stop tweaking. What happens when you stop tweaking and messing with your audio system constantly is that you let everything burn in and settle down. Go read one of the many threads on this website that talks about how long it takes for components and cables to break in. The answers range from a few hours to several days. If you are suffering from constant upgrade-itis, you never let your audio system fully burn in. You’re robbing yourself of free, infinite ROI. And you never truly hear what your system is capable of. I’m not saying don’t upgrade your system. That’s a lot of the fun. Just give it some time and let your system burn in and open up. Reassess where you are at and where you want to go next.

Due to reasons I won’t go into depth on right now (mainly power issues), I am temporarily using a relatively cheap, high power, class D amp. I wasn’t thrilled with this setup and wasn’t sure if I could even call it’s sound signature high end. Due to a busy schedule, I have not had time to upgrade anything or even pursue simple tweaks. As a result of that, I have witnessed how the amp and my system have burned-in/settled down - whatever you want to call it. The sound was initially on the thin side and had harsh treble. Now the soundstage has become huge and the sound has become very smooth - smoother than I thought class D was capable of - especially from a class D amp that isn’t really something to write home about.

My point is that I realized significant performance increases by doing literally nothing. And now that I am hearing what I believe is the true sound of my system, my next tweak or upgrade will be more effective because I can clearly recognize where the weaknesses are at instead of making judgements while things are still burning in, which is often the case with upgrade-itis.
128x128mkgus
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
What you have noticed mkgus is something I have been talking about for a very long time now. It was discovered quite by accident when I decided to see if I could hear any difference between two identical power cords.

At first when I changed one out I was surprised to hear it didn’t sound as good as the first one! Wow how can that be?!?! The difference was easy to hear. The sound just wasn’t as clear and coherent. Listened just long enough to be sure and then swapped them back again.

Wait a minute, now THIS ONE sounds worse?!! WTF?!?! This time I listened longer, and after a few minutes realized the clarity smoothness and detail was coming back. So simply unplugging and wiggling a wire around is enough to audibly affect performance, and it takes time to settle back in to get it back.   

This was so long ago, and has been repeated so many times since, it is beyond doubt.

This is however just one item on a very long list of things that have about the same effect. Warmup, for example. Is more than just being on. I turn on my amp, phono stage and turntable usually about an hour before listening. Even so it improves a lot the first 20 minutes, and continues to improve for the next hour or two. The real magic only kicks in after about 2 hours playing music.

If you want infinite ROI: rubber bands. Use them to suspend all your cables. They need to be sized to load, so the cable has just a bit of bounce to it. Zero cost but so effective everyone I demo for hears it, easily. In fact they are shocked, and you can Deborah’s comments on my system page.

Good call noticing settling. That takes both good ears, and a pretty decent system as well. But mostly the ears. Well done.
audition__audio
1,477 posts
 
Cheater plugs are a good idea but from a safety perspective perhaps not advisable. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Most cost effective tweek is probably getting your speaker placement correct. Depending on the speakers an 1/8” move in the right way can have a significant impact.

Correct. This makes the tape measure #2 on the most cost effective tweaks. Would be #1 if it weren't for rubber bands being infinite. I guess if you are clever enough to use string or something free in lieu of a tape measure then you could handily beat even a kitchen clutter drawer full of rubber bands. But it has to be accurate, no stretch, because you are right it has to be precise. 

secretguy
1,695 posts
 
You already did the most effective tweak. You (inadvertently) got past the myth of break in and let your ears get used to the sound. Congrats.
danager's avatar
danager
945 posts
 
I'm not an electrician but I think the safety issue with a cheater plug is way over blown.  On a skill saw probably a lot more important as you're actually holding the device.  Your toaster isn't a three prong and unless you forget to unplug it while getting the stuck bread out with a butter knife a pretty safe appliance.   All my equipment from the 80s and before are only 2 prong.  When do you actually touch amp except when you are stroking it cause it sounds so good?
More to discover