The Most Cost Effective Tweak


What is the most cost effective upgrade or tweak? What yields the largest return on investment (ROI)? What if you could spend no money and no time and yield significant performance increases? Theoretically, that would result in an infinite ROI!

So how do you make that happen? Stop tweaking. What happens when you stop tweaking and messing with your audio system constantly is that you let everything burn in and settle down. Go read one of the many threads on this website that talks about how long it takes for components and cables to break in. The answers range from a few hours to several days. If you are suffering from constant upgrade-itis, you never let your audio system fully burn in. You’re robbing yourself of free, infinite ROI. And you never truly hear what your system is capable of. I’m not saying don’t upgrade your system. That’s a lot of the fun. Just give it some time and let your system burn in and open up. Reassess where you are at and where you want to go next.

Due to reasons I won’t go into depth on right now (mainly power issues), I am temporarily using a relatively cheap, high power, class D amp. I wasn’t thrilled with this setup and wasn’t sure if I could even call it’s sound signature high end. Due to a busy schedule, I have not had time to upgrade anything or even pursue simple tweaks. As a result of that, I have witnessed how the amp and my system have burned-in/settled down - whatever you want to call it. The sound was initially on the thin side and had harsh treble. Now the soundstage has become huge and the sound has become very smooth - smoother than I thought class D was capable of - especially from a class D amp that isn’t really something to write home about.

My point is that I realized significant performance increases by doing literally nothing. And now that I am hearing what I believe is the true sound of my system, my next tweak or upgrade will be more effective because I can clearly recognize where the weaknesses are at instead of making judgements while things are still burning in, which is often the case with upgrade-itis.
128x128mkgus
Hey @millercarbon - I am shocked you don't keep your phono stage and all amps on at all times. What are your reasons?
Herman,

I do strive for symmetry and a attempt to get to a 1/16 but only because I have devised a method that makes it as easy to do that as it is to strive for accuracy only to a 1/4 or 1/8.

BTW, I am not actually measuring from ear to speaker, but rather from a center mark on my chair to each speaker.  The chair has been set equidistant to each speaker and marked with tape so I can put it back when it slides on the carpet over time.

So the whole technique rides on a assumption that my ears are equidistant because I am centered in my chair.  Which they are not, consistently.  I still prefer doing it.  I can’t see how it hurts anything—and I know you didn’t say it did.

I will be visiting a dealer I’ve done business with in a few weeks. He is a very experienced guy and a fairly newly-minted Wilson dealer.  I texted him once and he replied that he was in the middle of learning the Wilson set-up method.  I hope I remember to ask him to address the point you make.  I had no idea anyone aimed for accuracy greater than a 1/16 and have been aware of the potential futility of that, but 2/10,000’s of an inch?  Wow.
+1 Gita.

I shoot for symmetry to the room also.  I am open to trying the “intentional-asymmetry-to-the room” thing one day.  But, having had unplanned asymmetry before, I very much have enjoyed the improvements in my room after pursuing symmetry.

My room shape and dimensions are not conducive to a diagonal setup, but I may be able to rotate my set up 10 degrees or so which was recommended by a fellow AG member.
+1 samuel03.   Irrational but efficacious CD by Ayre Acoustics.  The ROI is infinite for those already subscribing to Qobuz because it is offered there.  So, free.

Credit where credit is due:  I learned of it from Jim Smith’s book, Get Better Sound.  And like S-03, bought the CD long before I started steaming.

On the physical CD jacket, it says only the last track is needed to improve your SQ.   It’s a full glide tone and is 5 minutes.  Other tracks are for set up, mostly, I think.