@kerrybh
Thanks for your grounded take, I appreciate that and it really resonates with me. I think you’re spot-on in acknowledging that improvements in audio are often incremental, and that the most dramatic changes usually come from mechanical or acoustic factors like speakers and room treatments. I’ve had a similar experience, power-related tweaks and cables sometimes bring a welcome refinement, but rarely the kind of leap you get when one takes time to optimize speaker placement or carefully navigate through acoustic treatments.
I also appreciate your openness about the placebo effect. There’s a lot of ego in this hobby, and it’s refreshing to see someone say, may be it is placebo and that’s A-ok in my opinion. At the end of the day, if it improves your enjoyment, that’s all that really matters.
We really do all hear differently, and approaching the hobby with curiosity rather than dogma makes the experience richer for everyone, IMHO.
PS: I have added Schnerzinger EMI Protector to my wish list to try someday!