Cheap tweaks...What would YOU reccomend?

If you smile a little when listening, it sounds better. Just kidding, but seriously, I love to listen lying down - especially after a shower, with my favorite cup of tea. Somehow, this position aids in percieving beauty. You should try it... and as the saying goes, beauty is in the mind of the beholder.
Also, I heard that our brain gets used to a system - part of explaination for how one person can think well of a system another person dislikes. So, if you are not happy with your current system, you might try listening to it for a couple of weeks, and see if you can get used to it. Not to say that there really *are* better sounding gears out there.
Also I like to mix cables. I tried Radio Shack catalog 5e wires, and I liked the clear sound it gave, but missed some quality of monster wire. When I combined them, they gave me the best of both cables. You might try mixing the solid copper cables, with strands to get the best of both wolrds.

I would recommend getting into classical music. I like all music, but the classical musicians offer the best quality in tone. Their refined sound warms my heart, and re-vitalizes me after a hard days work. You've heard of the Mozart effect. Especially recommended to developing kids - supposed to enhance intellectual activity.

Audio guy,

Where to get the products you mentioned?

I like to exercise b4 listening to music - puts me in a healthy strong good receptive mood - I feel good for having done it, and the good feeling carries into listening - especially after a shower.

This process both the exercise and a shower improves our circulation, which could explain the improvement in enjoyment. We all need help in circulation each day after our prime : it slows down 10% every decade after 20 something.

I feel optimistic and yung again after doin it. When we are tired or lacking sleep, our ears are sensitive and music feels different.

The sound of good tight deeply satisfying bass gives me energy, and lifts me up. I feel healthier after it.

A good sub adds something to our system.

I like the monitor audio sub, and this cheap sony sa-wm200 ($79 at www.etronics.com). It is not refined but the amp section has reverb built in - and sounds unlike any other sub I heard.

On low volumes, it adds mesmetising warmth to a bookshelf (I like small 5 incher with a sub - clearer better mid). Athena AS-B1 ($179 pair) with the sony sounds so good.

I like the three piece setup - small 2 way speaker with a sub. (2 ways sound better than 3) Because the bass is far away, the mids and the highs can really shine clearly.

Try to combine pleasures what ever they may be 4u - your favorite tea with music, surfing the net, good conversation and company, looking at art pictures, reading, etc. That is the good thing about music - Yoc u can enjoy it while doing something else.

Connecting 2 amps by RCA "Tape out" to another amp's "Tape in" gives you 4 good channels (instead of unsatisfying powers of most surround receivers).

You can position the speakers in many ways.
1) All in the front - wide soundstage
2) Front and back for surround effect
3) speakers back to back - one set firing backwards for deep soundstage

We all have extra amps and speakers from upgrading - put them to a good use. This will improve most speakers.

After about 2 hours of fresh air, I feel like I've been tranported to a dream land. Doctors recommend this daily dosage as well. Music is more beautiful when you are feeling good and healthy. AS a song reminds us, " ... the answere lies in the wind, my friend..."

You can improve the sound of CDs you buy by turning them into a CDR - on a computer. The commercial CDs are pressed, and by burning a CDR, you improve the quality.

The link below shows you how.

Some also use the computer as the source - with a good soundcard - you can add a DAC to improve still at 24/96.
The jitter is lower than most transports (even high end), and it's convenient to have hundreds of CDs right at your finger tips.
http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/whitepaper/Black_CDsII.pdf