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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
gita
35 posts
 
@rc22
Right.
All I'm saying is that the closer I get my speakers to "perfect" symmetry in the room, the better focused the soundstage becomes.

I have a laser-pointer type measuring device that seems tailor made to this obsessive hobby.

Other cost effective tweak: Isoacoustics Gaia feet and Orea pucks. 
digsmithd
913 posts
 
Gita ...neurotic pays huh.It was like i got new upgrade preamp/gear...hands down best tweek ive ever done.
rc22
128 posts
 
Gita
“All I'm saying is that the closer I get my speakers to "perfect" symmetry in the room, the better focused the soundstage becomes”

Same Here.

Digsmithd, I have had the same very positive result with respect to leveling and grounding by speakers using a DIY height-adjustable base I built from strong oak ply wood and 5” long bolts.  My speakers are level to each other even thought the floor drops about 5/16 from Left to Right speaker.  The bases allow correction for the floor.  Each speaker plumb, level too.  

Putting inexpensive spring pods (4 pods I under each speaker) $55 total, is amazingly good.  I’m on a suspended floor.
digsmithd
913 posts
 
Yeah i had to mess around with em quite a bit to level/to chair (just over shoulder) with lazer...to get grounded to uneven floor...good workout/soundanchor stands...im sure i have to tweek it again since its been 2 years...ugh!!

Sounds like you got it dialed in RC22...The whole catalyst was an article from galen carol audio..."it all matter’s".One tightened spike for one of my stands.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Laser is an acronym- Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, LASER. There is no "z" in laser.

Speaker placement is important, very important, but getting it down to a fraction of an inch is a wasted effort.
Went through this same crap with this joker name of Ron at work. Miller you are so full of it, etc etc. Party one time he decides to play a practical joke on me, moves one speaker so sure no one will notice. By chance I happened to sit and listen to check volume before playing for this woman wanted something I hadn’t played in a while. Immediately I noticed the balance was off, the image shifted and out of focus. Checked the amp, no not that, must be.... within like 30 seconds I had it figured out and corrected. By ear.

Then as I went to get her wondering what happened thinking maybe someone just bumped it or something I see Ron standing in the door with this shocked look on his face. Instantly I knew. Busted. "This is not amateur hour, Ron."

The good news I guess, like Ron, you have plenty of room to up your game.

Hey @millercarbon - I am shocked you don’t keep your phono stage and all amps on at all times. What are your reasons?
Tubes. Makes it a tradeoff. Also I play records. Even with everything on and running - including the platter spinning - still the cartridge warms up. Yes I have tried and heard it all. It is a tradeoff, to be sure.

Every once in a while I will leave everything on for an extended period. Chuxpona, when a room full of audiophiles sat spellbound for a solid two hours, that was one of those times. I got so many tricks up my sleeve....


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