Cheap tweaks...What would YOU reccomend?

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....

The first part of this tweak is not cheap but the second part definitely is. I placed my CDP and amp on top of 2x3 bolts of gabon black ebony. This transformed the sound from hard digital to relaxed analogue. The bass became deep and true. Ebony is not cheap. After that I placed rubber squash balls under the feet of my CDP, sitting on the ebony. This brought out upper frequency dynamics and micro details. A "veil" on the upper frequency was take away. Cost $16 from Wal Mart. After 1 1/2 years, I am finally hearing what my Wilson Sophia 2s are capable of.