Audiophile Tool Bingo


I was thinking about how many tools (i.e. gadgets) I have to set up my stereo properly.  Maybe we should make an audiophile Bingo game out of the number of these you have!

  • Measuring tape
  • Voltage meters
  • Levels
  • Laser levels
  • Measurement microphones
  • Measurement software
  • LP washer

If I give myself 1 point for each, then I score 10.  What's your score??

You can add tools, but no tweaks! That is, the tool has to help you set up, it's not something you leave in place, so the following do not count:

  • Cable lifters
  • Contact enhancers
  • Acoustic panels
  • Power conditioners
  • Interconnects and electronics
  • Vibration controlling devices of any sort
erik_squires

Beer for my horses

Syringe for oil change in TT bearing

Jewelers loupe  for stylus

Maybe a USB microscope

Shelving for records

Record cleaner

CD cabinet storage

Computer/ Hard drive for storing my FLAC library

Tube Tester

Electric sniffer (Beeps when electricity is present) Great for checking AC cords

Listening chair

@jond  Dusting. shelves, equipment and TTs mostly.  Sometimes thrift store or yard sale records before going on the record vac and ultrasonic cleaner.

 

 

Fun thread @erik_squires 

Did anyone else mention a level? Every time I get new or change speaker locations, it’s the first thing I reach for.

JD

....tentative title...’Audiodefiled’

Coming soon in your face. *L*

All the good stuff in it...and I can get a great deal on a pair.... ;)

..degasser?  Doughnuts?  Fiendishly black coffee?  Adult 'enhancements'?

(NO, not That one...not in 'The One' chair, anyway....)

A NANO screen large enough to show the tonsils of the soprano?

....headphones that laminate themselves to your head, forced bingelistens to a playlist that unwinds into tomorrow...and beyond...?

I really need to write screenplays....make a fortune selling popcorn/barf bags.....😏

degausser?

sandpaper?

permanent black marker?

@dekay major style points and a snappy dresser discount for the sock garters - funny stuff

Various lights

USB Microscope

Dr Feikert NG protractor

DB Systems protractor

Bullseye level

4 foot bubble level

Metric and imperial hex wrenches

Micro screwdriver set

Caliper

Dial gauge indicator (micrometer)

Pressure Gauge

Multimeter

Capacitance Meter

Air gun

SPL Meter

Calibrated Microphone

Laser distance measure

Probably some other stuff I'm forgetting

Never had to use a voltage meter, but anyhow ..yeah lots of crap....I mean stuff...😁

I accept your rule... 😁😊

A pack of vegetable seeds nowadays is a very good price.... Thanks....

It seems almost all my only non trivial  tools were a SPL meter and my ears....

i was waiting to be excluded with a smile...And you did it....

Your threads are always interesting by the way.....

My deepest respect to you...

 

 

 

 

Sorry @mahgister - The judges rule you are out of bounds!! Nothing you leave in place and listen to the effects of for this contest! 😁 Acoustic enhancements are right out. Please accept this gift bag of organic vegetable seeds as a consolation prize.

Anything you put in place to improve the sound is not a tool but a component for the sake of this game.

Helmholtz resonators and diffusers...(straws-bottle-plumbers tubes or cardboard one)

My wodden foldable screen for psycho-acoustic use...

Concrete block for damping speakers and springs....

Composite platforms...(Bamboo plate-sorbothane-granite plate-cork plate-quartz)

Shungite+copper+graphene all along electrical grid or connector or router or electrical box....

Modified grid of Shumann generators....

Ionizers....

Various minerals...

SPL meter....

All the rest are simple tools anybody own....

And various cheap materials for passive acoustic treatment including aluminum paper... Empty paper rolls for some resonators... 😊 You can laugh i will smile the last...

 

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Measuring tape and allen wrenches are what I use mist. I try to keep it simple 

Protractors, all keys, screwdrivers, cloths, cleaners (lp’s, contacts, acrylics) flashlights, spirit levels, measuring tapes, magnifiers, soldering irons, different type of solder, tape erasers, voltage meters, capacitor meters,  ....too many

-10 for the tape measure. Get a Leica Disto and graduate. Of course, if your midrange is out a phase all bets R off…

For starters, Erik, useful in phono cartridge set up. I use different magnifiers for different purposes. I wear one of those illuminated eyeglass magnifiers to brush cartridge while playing, but that isn't exactly set up. Anything small I need to see, good light and magnification helps. 

Eric I would add:

Mini Screwdriver

Hex wrenches

DeOxit

And from your list I have:

Voltmeter

Measuring tape

Laser Measuring tape

Analog level

Making my score 7.

Yes, your ears are the best "gadgets" extant, and are only supplemented by all the gizmos and do-dads. Use of tape measures and lasers help to narrow down things  in order to lay down some kind of baseline.

Measurements and microphones can "hear" things  you can't and still won't be able to after using them simply because we're all deficient (or overly sensitive) in some aspects of the frequency range, so good luck with that. 

In the end, it will always be your ears that decide.

All the best,
Nonoise