Have you ever solved a high end audio issue using non-audio technology? Or, visa versa?


Sometimes we just have to be creative to fix a problem.  Our "bag of tricks" may go well beyond the usual "audiophile grade" tools of the trade to produce a positive result.

Here's one:

Years ago, I acquired a little British sports car.  This, itself is an unusual story.  I'm a performance car enthusiast with a 835HP vehicle is parked in my garage.  

At any rate, the little 4-cylinder "tractor motor" had solid lifters that sounded like a Singer sewing machinegoing down the road above 3,000 RPM.  It distracted from the driving experience.  I was thinking how nice it would be to quiet them down a little.

Then I remembered the can of Acoustical Magic material I had in the basement.  For those unfamilar with this material, it's used to dampen the vibration/resonance of turntable platters.  I pulled the aluminum valve cover, cleaned and degreased it thoroughly, then applied a generous portion of Acoustical Magic.  After a little curing in the oven and allowing it to set for 24 hours, the valve cover was reattached.

If I had it do over again, I would have measured before/after with a spectrum analyzer. But, my best guesstimate is that there was a 6-9db drop in the tapping sound, and I could hear the sounds around me while cruising.  The driving experience improved exponentially.  Thanks to Acoustical Magic for a cheap, effective solution to my "acoustical" problem.

I have to admit that a year later the true "hot rodder" in me required that I add a turbo to the little engine.  The sound of the off-throttle blow off valve is music to my ears.  And, driving something resembling a real sports car, as opposed to a British commuter car was a plus.

128x128waytoomuchstuff

One of my early diy Walsh's cones got attached and interfered with the voice coil.

Dis- and re-assembly would have likely ended up as a worst fail, so I began to poke 'n prod gently...

A 'repurposed' paper clip.

One of the other successful ones cooked its' coil later, but the 'augmented' one sings on...*G*  Go figure....

"Repurposed Beyond The Ordinary"?

Play Loud.

YT Blue Man Group - I Feel Love ;)

Happy Pre-Weekend, J

...that covers 'blue'....

Something old, something new, And something borrowed:

Trampsta, Chunky.....

( Hush....you can't do that, either...)

Blutak.   Many uses.  But it hardens and dries out over a year or two and requires replacing.

Jeez @hilde45 is that your room?  Looks like a junkshop or a bomb's landed.  Guess you listen with your eyes shut.

I use an old pair of skivys to suspend my amplifier off the table ... keeps nosey animals away ... and looks good 

@clearthinker 

Don’t knock @hilde45 room until you hear it. I’ll bet it sounds amazing ! 
 

Happy listening!