Cheap tweaks...What would YOU reccomend?

Mred, ear, nose, and throat doctors do this. I have a severe problem with wax build up and use a squeeze bottle from Murine. You can soften up the wax with their mineral oil drops, but using quite warm water will work also. It usually take about five washes to loosen the wax plugs that I have develop about every four months.

i'm it's been mentioned somewhere here, but leave your equipment on ALL the time (solid state at least; tubes, not very practical).

everything will sound better.

'I want you to want me'

I use the Bedini Clarifier sometimes but honestly I'm not sure if it makes a difference. There is also a CD blacklight mat that lays on top of the CD that I don't really use anymore.

Another good tweak is running a demag track. Ayre makes a disc that is supposed to be really good.

The best tweak of all, however, for newer equipment is break in tracks. Glide tones for headphones and speakers and brown or pink noise for amps works best I think. This is the only "tweak" that I am totally convinced is real.

Go to the local hardward store and buy a rubber mat for a couple of bucks. Trace a CD around and include the spindle hole. Take a good pair of scissors and cut it out. Put it atop a CD when you pop it in the deck. If the player "fusses" a bit, cut a small wedge (approx 1 mm) from the edge of the "disc" to the center. The reduction in weight should make it more "palatable" and acceptable.

Result: Instant anti-vibration mat for CD.

Improves lower end's coherence and assertiveness as well as overall presentation.

Works with my Marantz. So far, so good....