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Tweaks that convince others you're truly nuts...

The challenge always is to pay attention to what you hear and to trust your ears. Over the years, our listening room has seen the passage of a range of tweaks, and some have stayed because we're convinced they make a positive difference in our system and our room.

The most recent visitor that seems quite likely to stay are the Shakti Hallographs. And I never would have expected this. Two local audio friends had already listened to these sample units in their listening rooms and didn't hear any change whatsoever. But in our room, on complex large scale orchestral music, we heard an immediate and very positive improvement in the soundstage, in image specificity, and in the clarity of the upper mid-range and treble. The soundstage, already good, simply opened up and increased in apparent size, room boundaries became much less noticeable, and a troubling subtle refraction from the exposed brick fireplace and equipment rack behind the speakers disappeared (hurray!). How can something that reminds me so much of cookies dipped in chocolate make this sort of difference? Trust your ears.

(The Shakti Stones, on the other hand, made a quick departure from our system - killed the sound.)

Walker Audio's Reference High Definition Links (HDLs) were an earlier visitor to our room that were not permitted to leave. These delivered a surprising improvement in clarity to a set of speakers we thought sounded pretty doggone clean and resolving (Avalon Eidolons). Another one of those 3% improvements that cumulatively start making major differences overall. Fortunately, we never have to explain these because they fit inconspicuously at the speaker terminals mounted underneath the Eidolons.

Walker Audio's Talisman has become a regular part of my vinyl regimen. It sits to the left of the turntable and draws no attention until the LP playing ritual starts. Seeing me wave this thing over the surface of an LP creates immediate consternation in visitors, if not outright laughter. Yes, it works, we hear the difference, and we now use it with every LP side we play.

Nipper strategically positioned behind and to the left of the OTL amps... No, doesn't make a sonic difference. Just a fond memory of the friend who gave him to us. And after all, it is the friends we make through this hobby of ours who make all the difference.

So what in your room results in incredulity in your visitors?
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128x128rushton
sgr's avatar
sgr
689 posts
 
Hi,
This is a tweek from the legendary Bob Fulton for you analog guys. Tune your turntable mat. Bob used to sell a flexible blue mat that reminded me of sorbathane or some sort of soft, spongy plastic. It had a small notch on one edge. We would also make a small mark on the platter itself so we knew where we started. According to his directions, one should rotate the matt around the spindle by quarters and listen for the best sound. Then when one found the best sounding quadrant to place the mat, one would cut that quadrant into eigths find the best eighth and then if you wanted to narrow tune it even more down to the best sixteenth. We tried this tweek on Linns, Sotas, Denons, Aristsons, and Oracles. There was always a best position for the mat where the midrange in particular snapped into focus. We also experimented with this phenomena with the Oracle mat and latter the Sota acrylic mat that became available. There was always a "best" mat position and when we tweeked custys turntables this was one of the last things we performed. Try it out and see what you think.
Good listening,
Steve
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Fun thread, Rushton.

We've had visits from a local 'phile and former TAS reviewer. Among the tweaks he's brought along to try were the Shakti Hallographs. Cookies dipped in chocolate indeed!

We all heard the differences they made, but in our room/system the dominant effect was to disrupt the time relationships between various high frequencies. Some ears might have found it smoother, but the three of us agreed that - in this room - the effect was more confusing than anything. That old YMMV strikes again.

On the positively positive tweaky side, our visitor suggested unplugging various devices around the house, including the microwave oven in the kitchen. It's on a different circuit than the one dedicated to the stereo, but even so there was a notable reduction in HF haze. Unplugging the TV (which is on the same circuit as the stereo) had a similar but smaller effect. Weird.

Our nutty tip? Unplug the microwave!
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5
1,966 posts
 
I thought that spending over $100 for wires (IC's in audiophile terms) was enough to convince other's I was nuts.
A $3k turntable is enough to make them want to take you to the ER for testing.
A $3k cartridge and they're ready to commit you to a hospital for the mentally ill
albertporter's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
albertporter
4,949 posts
 
Artemus_5

WHAT ?? You paid $3,000.00 for a stereo NEEDLE?

(I can hear it now).
sirspeedy
738 posts
 
Oh Boy!!....I can't even begin to remember the numerous mods/tweaks we've tried.

My pal is/was obsessed with almost anything he could spend audio money on,so we've tried a load of stuff,between us(mostly him -:)

Just a few...His most recent is the Shakti Hallographs.I had a big laugh,until we experimented in his room.In his set-up it definitely sounds better with them.Am I going to try them?...NO!

Cable towers...he loves them,as do many folks.I have never had a hint of static from my system(under normal circumstances),and have a concrete over "Mother Earth" floor.Comparing all the inner detailings and other audible attributes heard in mutual LP's/CD's etc,with my pal's set-up,I'm still staying with my cables on the floor.If I moved to a condo/apartment,where there could be "electro stuff" floating all over the place,I'd probably go for them.But I'm still a bit lazy.

Numerous tube dampers...Urghh!....we've tried about five different types.All "stunk"(to us) except the standard clear rings,and the winner was Herbies!!

A/C regeneration,even though I have three dedicated lines,is one of the nicest surprises i've encountered.To me,a must!

Btw,the little wall wart that PS Audio sells,is quite effective on my sub,which is the only component I don't run regenerated.The sub has it's own dedicated line,but "The Noise Harvestor"(I paid 75 bucks) is clearly an amazing accessory(to me).

Shakti Onlines,and Stones came,and went.

Bybee conditioners came and went.As did numerous other types.

An air suspension was very good under my older modded table,but now it is mounted on a Symposium Ultra Shelf.Quite good!

I've had numerous mods done to various equip,but I don't think it comes under tweakery -:)

Marigo tuning dots on windows make a very nice improvement,from unwanted resonance.Lowers the noise,but not completely.

I too am perplexed by the fact that I STILL hear abnormalities in sound,when some appliances are run in my home,even though I am on a dedicated line,and regenerated A/C is utilized....My wife knows a wash is off limits when critical listening is happening. -:)

All types of pucks/cones have come and gone.Had poor results with the Walker stuff used as weights.Damped sound,in our opinion.

All types of P/C cables were tried,and many are clearly different sounding.Some work,for us,better than others.I think "this" can be a never ending tweak if one likes P/C's.

Really good NOS tubes are fabulous to play around with,especially in the phonostage of my set-up.I've tried about eight different mfgrs....I'm happy,but am scared to try "Pinched Waiste CCa's" that I know are available.YES...that was Pinched Waiste AND CCa.Rarer than an uncirculated Spanish Dabloon,from 1650!

I'd love to do more A/B'ing of tone-arm cabling,but it's too much of a pain,and expense.We'll be A/B'ing the new Proteus Provectus with the Venustas and IC-70 in the not distant future.I hope!

I believe ALL of the tweak stuff is totally system dependant,so I am totally open to anyone getting different results,and am ALL ears to anything new.

Sorry for my length,but this was fun!

Best
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