You see everything, don’t you? 👀
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?
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?
Showing 9 responses by geoffkait
hemigreg73 Geo show us the math please to anchor your Wild interpetation of Maxwells,Teslas and other electromagnetic gurus. do you even know the basic forumals?? you sound like a good used car salesman also please explain how to filter out the sub Hz resonance of the earth and the ever changing cavity with the ionasphere.. ever hear of the russian woodpecker. or Teslas earthquake resoniator. >>>I don’t reckon I’ve seen so many illogical statements in one post all week. You really do deserve a prize. Congratulations! Also, just curious, is your spellchecker disabled? 🤕 |
LIGO the project to detect gravity waves succeeded not because of vibration control but because of vibration isolation. Vibration/resonance control has its place in audio and is relatively easy to accomplish but advanced audiophiles have known the audio system must be decoupled from very low seismic type vibration 🔜 for best results 🔚 for almost 25 years, when Vibraplane, Seismic Sink, my Nimbus Single Airspring Sub Hertz Platform and Bright Star air bladder device ruled. Geoff Kait Machina Dynamica Vibration Isolation and Resonance Control |
Everything vibrates. Especially playing music. Even when it seems there are no moving parts, the signal itself is a dynamic electromagnetic field and we all know magnetic fields push and pull. So its all vibrating. >>>>Several points. The signal is not an electromagnetic field, it’s an electromagnetic wave. The magnetic field induced by the current traveling in the wire is not pulling or pushing the signal - it’s orthogonal to the signal, I.e., right hand rule. 👎 Also, the signal itself in wire is not vibrating. It’s an alternating current and voltage - they alternate at the instantaneous frequency of the signal. But there is only one current/voltage traveling in a wire at one time. The signal in wire is, however, subject to external vibration. |
There’s an ad on Audiogon as we speak for 4 Cryo Baby Prometheans for components weighing up to 40 LB. 5 springs for components up to 55 LB. For heavy components like monster amps and turntables and subwoofers use my Super Stiff Springs, 4 springs for components weighing up to to 120 LB. 5 Super Springs for components up to 150 LB. |
For anyone using spring type isolation including my springs, air springs or air bladders, ensure that power cords and interconnects and speakers cables do not exert any force on the iso system, as that will constrain the top plate/component from moving freely. Cables and cords can be supported by appropriate size objects or suspended by thread to eliminate any vertical or horizontal forces that might be acting on the iso device. |