Rank the tweaks, geeks!


How would you rank the general importance of the following gear (not room or electrical) tweaks. You can use your own setup and experience as your basis. If you tried something and it didn't matter, put it in a separate paragraph at the bottom with "didn't matter" next to it. If it doesn't apply to your setup, just don't include it on your list.

speaker wires
speaker isolation
interconnects
cable risers
component isolation
tube dampers
power cords for amps
power cords for preamps
power cords for other compnents
better capacitors (where?)
better fuses (where?)

Did I leave out an important tweak? Please add in as you see fit.

Think it's all snake oil and voodoo? Go watch some TV or take a walk and let folks on the thread have their fun. Because this is a hobby.

If you think that "everything matters" but are willing to go beyond that and suggest what would be the best first step toward doing something, please list the best first things to do. A "to do agenda" rather than a "priority list."
hilde45

Showing 1 response by nonoise

Love the idea of this thread but I must take exception to listing cables as tweaks as I feel speaker cables can be of an order greater than ICs and PCs, putting them in the category of a component.

   Having said that, component isolation was of greater importance than I would have imagined. Think focus and clarity.
   Power conditioning as well. Think lower noise floor and correspondingly better see thru with increased air, ambience and detail retrieval.
   Fuses can completely flavor the sound. 
   PCs can expand the soundstage, add clarity and improve dynamics.
   ICs can do the same as well as increase but on a higher scale.
   Cable risers were a big surprise for me. Going from 2", to 6" to 8" all saw improvements that leave me still scratching my head. One would think just a couple of inches would suffice but the higher up, the better the improvement.

All the best,
Nonoise