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Crazy cheapo tweaks and impressive SQ hacking

Got a great little digital setup, enjoying the sound Ive been getting. But I had been craving a better DAC, maybe a really nice CD transport, player, SACD...etc.

Instead of going down the typical rabbit holes (where I inevitably be traveling), decided I’d try some silly tweaks and pluggin options?

Got a Raspberry Pi/Allo Digione with usb storage plugged in for files to play, into a cheapo Schiit Audio Modi Uber II, into a Creek Evolution 50A into some used Tekton Lore Reference, decent but very affordable cabling throughout thanks to Zu Audio.

Sound/resonance isolation a starting point, my daughter has an impressive rock collection, where she “loaned” me a perfectly sized rock to set atop the Modi, which I had already set upon some Hudson hifi feet. Also placed these feet under the Allo Digione. Then, downloaded a CD player plugging (Nanomesher) for the Digione that accommodates a cheap external CD/DVD drive via usb.

Stuck the CD player atop a dense little package box.

I cant even begin to describe the improvements...through CD player compared to ripped tracks from the same cd, more soundstage, depth, clarity, tone... mid bass has more color, definition and richness. Every clicky inadvertent texture is heard. Can hear Piano hammers lifting, releasing. Can differentiate the change in tone color and spit moving across a saxophone reed, you name it...all without being too harsh or clinical. I had already had the Hudson feet before using the rock and box, which suggests the cheapest mods worked the real magic here.

What gives? Didn’t expect this. Thought I was just grasping at the ridiculous...what will happen when I can actually allow myself to spend real money? Or do I have to? Thinking not?

Curious about your stories along these lines...anyone else with obsurd yet wonderful tweaks?
riccitone

Showing 1 response by divertiti

divertiti
223 posts
 
I searched the forum and this was the only thread that shared the same experience. I live in an apartment and my walls are literally slightly vibrating from cars driving in the garage and the all the AC systems being on. I was considering some vibration isolation for my system and was researching the usual suspects like Iso Acoustics and Symposium, however I remembered I had four 1 inch silicone hemisphere from Hudson Hifi just lying around.

On a whim I put them under my Jeff Rowland CS2 Integrated which is on a Salamander design shelf on the ground lifted by blocks, and I can't believe the difference it made. Everything became much more 3D, from violin strings to Tony Bennet's voice, both the low level detail and the highlights of the note got better. It's as if switching to HDR content from SDR on TV. I am pleasantly surprised. Just ordered some more to try on my DAC and streamer.
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