Tweaks, money pit or real value?

Minor tweaks are just what they are, minor. Over the years I have found that I do better if I just concentrate on a simple system without too many add-ons. YMMV. 

But isn’t it fun to chase something once in a while? 

True that. Some calls it expectation bias. It’s a real thing. That’s why I always subtract the tweak after a while to confirm that it was really doing something. At the end, one realizes that few tweaks actually work. My experience is that those with no basis in science and those based on quantum physics and nanotechnology rarely translate into palpable improvements, at least in my system. 

I have been pursuing the high end for fifty years. Tweaks are critical in getting the most out of an audio system… period, no question. I go through a component upgrade, then upgrade / choose interconnects, then power cords, and isolation. Then I enjoy the system for seven years or so. Then, upgrade again.

Each of these steps provide greater performance. Each disproportionally improves the sound quality.

One of the great reviewers from The Absolute Sound once said something to the effect that he had heard good sound systems but never a truly great sound system without all the tweaks… cable elevators, carefully chosen interconnects, power cords, isolation devices. My experience as well. You want great sound you have to put in the effort to achieve it.