A few tweaks I have been doing for years. As many here might know, I damp horns, woofer frames, cabinets, equipment chassis, everything. Another tweak that for me was always significant with improved sq was to remove the power cord from a power amplifier (non IEC inlet) and install (hotwire) a heavier duty power cord/plug to the design. A couple that come to mind are Adcom, Soundcraftsmen, Hafler, Phase Linear, SAE, and so many more. It turns out, the puny power cords on these amps are a bottleneck to the capability of the amp, as some of you might imagine. I also attempt to decouple the power transformers from the chassis, which on some designs makes a significant improvement in sq. These products are always "out of warranty", and never had an issue. My best, MrD.
My Favorite Tweaks, What is yours?
My favorite tweak is Puron lowering noise floor of my system. Holostage they open my system more, bigger soundstage , improves layering as well ,and made my system more effortless to listen.
My fav tweak has been system grounding. I use the Nordost QKore but there seems to be many different options out there now. Its hard to describe what it does, but once you hear a ground tweak its hard to go back. Does not work in every application or on every component tho.
Second fav tweak is isolation footer, specifically Stillpoints. |
By far the most notable tweak that made a huge difference and it cost nothing. Getting a better understanding of the bass nulls/dead spots in my room led to far better bass. Simply learning how the sound was affected by the location of the subwoofers in relation to my seat. The best result came when, out of frustration, I did the unthinkable and placed one sub directly in the corner and the other mid-wall sub both turned 90 degrees inches from the wall. "but you're not supposed to do that!" It removed the null in the middle of the room and the bass was improved through out the entire space. Tight and dynamic levels are easily controlled by gain control. The improvement was a major transformation.
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Just received 2nd Apotema Materik Mains Filter. Materik #1 plugged into 1st receptacle of balanced power supply along with the Apotema Black Hole filter. Not to be confused with the Vera Fi Black Hole filter. I will be trying Materik #2 in the wall receptacle of dedicated line to see how things sound. While auditioning these filters from Italian company Apotema, I have removed a handful of Purons & PS Audio's Noise Harvesters. For anyone unfamiliar with Apotema's offerings (Not well known in the States but enjoy a fine reputation in Europe) my impressions will follow in a few days. |
I initially scoffed at these but then in a bout of liquid courage actually bought a couple. Those SR PHTs really do make a difference when it comes to analog playback. I have the green one on my head shell and the black one at the tonearm pivot point and the difference when they're on versus when they're off is quite noticeable. I have no idea why. |
About tweaks i prefer homemade one (acoustical one and mechanical one ) but sometimes i reach my limit ... I am not an electrical engineer... My best tweak after Schumann generator well located in the system and grid of Helmholtz resonators well located (low cost) is a Chinese set of buffer and filters for your low cost dac and pre-amplification they gave the needed clean power at the right time...( i recommend linear power supply especially sone low cost one from China ) I owned 3... If your system is low cost you must try them....( i say that because i never try a 30 bucks buffer with a 4,000 bucks dac , mine cost under 200 US bucks ) Lusya technology aliexpress ... They cost me under 100 US bucks, not for one but for the three of them , with no Tariff, and postal cost included ... They are stupendous for the cost ...
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My Own one and one never expected to be the one I would thoroughly recommend for the Source Material for a Analogue Source is the following: PAVCR Manual Cleaning Method Never has a Analogue Sourced System delivered how this can deliver. I am historically a Manual Cleaner using more typical methods I am historically having used a Vacuum Cleaner Machine and a US Tank Vinyl LP's can actually be so clean the Cleanliness has a sixth sense perception of being heard as a audible quality. Purified Vinyl is a Good Terminology to uses as well.
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Fantastico! Bravo Apotema!
Date of experience: July 12, 2025
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My favorite tweak is applied to ALL systems that I listen to, no matter where I am. It is removing my glasses. Eye glasses set up a diffraction pattern about your head and removing them takes this away. I can’t believe how many times I go into a demo room at a show and I see those in the audience sitting and listening intently with their glasses on.
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Debrox earwax removal system. About $10 at your local pharmacy. I clean my ears 3-4 times a year and usually extract a small clod of sticky wax about the size of a small pea. High frequencies improve immediately. In retrospect, earwax buildup probably helped preserve my hearing through decades of too-loud music. Like built-in earplugs. |
Snake River Audio Takshaka cables. These items are the most significant tweaks/gear I have found as of late, after the core of the system had already been assembled. These have shown me what my system was actually capable of and I have stopped the merry go 'round of gear since. FWIW. YMMV. Tom |
Shunyata power conditioner has to be my favorite tweak. The Gemini 8 in my studio probably cost a little more than what I'd call a "tweak" but I purchased an MPC-12 Shunyata power conditioner on usaudiomart that was $650 and put my living room system in a whole different league than before. I highly recommend for those that can't afford 2k+ on power conditioning, try to find a used Shunyata unit. I'd say it is 80% or 90% of the Geminis improvement in my system for a fraction of the cost. Anyone have experience with the Puron plugs with a Shunyata conditioner? I tried other plug solutions and didnt find they improved things when I had legit power conditioning in the system |
No tweaks are my favorite... They are all needed and all worked in their own working dimensions and cannot be replaced by another tweaks from another working dimensions...
Grounding is the most underestimated after acoustics... Panels are not enough in my experience of room acoustics... Vibrations controls is mandatory for sure but the destructive effect vary a lot accordingly to the speakers design and location ( i used 2 set of springs over and under very heavily damp speakers with success at peanuts cost but it is not possible in a living room )
Some tweaks action is subtle and varied in impact according to the system/room acoustic parameters but necessary if we are able to hear the effect when the room /system is on balance ... Schumann generators located at the right place...
Small speakers vent port hole modification and tweeter directional wave guide modification ( No company will sell you a small speakers with a labyrinth inside or worst outside, i did it myself with success) ... |
Don't use any. While I found that some make a slight difference, some improvements some not so, I can make a much bigger impact by using better parts in the components where I can get much bigger sound improvements in openness, air, dynamics, bass, mid and high frequency changes, depth & dimension.
Happy Listening. |
