what have you done to scratch that itch to upgrade that didn't cost a lot?

marvda1

I've been knocking my head against the wall to do something about the itch to upgrade. the problem is I was all over the place on what to upgrade....cd player?preamp?power amp? the other problem is I'm at a point that to upgrade would cost a pretty penny. I had some Sylvania 12au7's for my belles 21a preamp that sounded great but were microphonic. I figured I would add something to my tube stash and went to ebay and grabbed a nos pair of Sylvania 12au7wa (6189) and low and behold the itch is gone and it cost less than $25. this one small change has brought new life to my system. speed, bass tightness and power,crystal clear sharp highs,better upper and mid detail. thought I was looking for more mid range warmth but the sylvanias are not as warm as the psvane 12au7-t that I had in before just clearer.
anyone else end up paying a lot less than you thought you would to get improvement in their system?

aboroth00

That's a tough one... Tube rolling is one way to go about it. I think that once the system has gone to a point where you seriously get to the point of diminishing returns, treating the room is the next best option. 600$ in bass trap is going to go a long way more than a speaker upgrade might in the bass dept.

treitz3

Swapped out the wall outlet, added Sorbothane isolation risers under gear, cleaned all electrical connections with Caig DeOxit and the next one is free. Remeasuring the speakers to make sure the tweeter height, toe in, levelness, distance from the wall, rake, distance to listening position are to within 2 to 3mm of where they need to be on all parameters.

Tom

George Grand

Shut your rig down for two months and marvel at the improvements when you power it back up. Works like a charm.

dkg999

George Grand wrote: »

Shut your rig down for two months and marvel at the improvements when you power it back up. Works like a charm.

Winner, winner ................ chicken dinner!

tonyb

George makes a good point. Sometimes I go 2 weeks without turning it on then when I do it's like "damn, that sounds good".

The longer I listen consecutively, the more I start picking it apart....should I upgrade this...that. Then I open the old wallet and inside is a sticky note that says "WTF is wrong with you ?"

cfrizz

George Grand wrote: »

Shut your rig down for two months and marvel at the improvements when you power it back up. Works like a charm.

OMG There is a man on here with common sense! The rest of you need to take a flea bath to control your itching!

steveinaz

Going thru your entire systems' cable management and improving it, is a good, cheap tweak. Keeping all AC and digital cables away from analog cables, etc.

mhardy6647

George Grand wrote: »

Shut your rig down for two months and marvel at the improvements when you power it back up. Works like a charm.

Or just randomly unplug a few cables, maybe (maybe) clean the connections with a little emery cloth or a Q-tip moistened with DeOxit, and prepare to be astonished; jaw-dropping improvement.

(and, no, I am not being completely facetious)

This hifi upgrading is, to me, a lot like innovation. There's the evolutionary kind and the revolutinary kind. For innovation, companies claim to want the latter - but they really "only" want the former (I say this as a guy whose job for two years was "biotechnology technology innovation strategy" at a large pharmaceutical company).

For hifi, if one's current niche is monster-power class AB amplification, screaming (umm, I mean streaming) digital sources, DACs and low sensitivity loudspeakers - acquire or borrow a flea-powered single-ended direct heated triode amplifier and some high-sensitivty loudspeakers, or a turntable with a decent cartridge and preamp, and try another path to hifi enlightment. One might be stunned.

tonyb

Cookies ? Someone say Cookies ? HMMM....I'll PM you my addy.

marvda1

DSkip wrote: »

Bench cookies are next on my list.

can you post a link to these?

marvda1

smart @**. are you going to get both the pucks and cones?

SCompRacer

mhardy6647 wrote: »

For hifi, if one's current niche is monster-power class AB amplification, screaming (umm, I mean streaming) digital sources, DACs and low sensitivity loudspeakers - acquire or borrow a flea-powered single-ended direct heated triode amplifier and some high-sensitivty loudspeakers, or a turntable with a decent cartridge and preamp, and try another path to hifi enlightment. One might be stunned.

With all due respect, some have and weren't.

megasat16

I usually wipe the dust off the gears and speakers with a damp cloth and wipe clean with a micro fiber tower. It always sounded better after I am all done with the wiping dust. I am sure these dust creates more diffraction in the room. Likewise, removing the clutters in the audio room helps as well as vacuuming the carpets.

All cost almost next to nothing!

mhardy6647

SCompRacer wrote: »

... some have and weren't.

As long as they tried it fair and square, I'm good with that.

Not sure why folks don't want to reveal the source of Bench Cookies...
http://woodworking.rockler.com/ppc/bench%20cookies?sli_sid=v9113&gclid=CLafpYCxwrwCFeYDOgodZEAAXg

(I like hockey pucks, FWIW - cheap and readily available new or used - at least in New England)

falconcry72

Depends how much you're willing to change. I myself am in the middle of a net/net zero additional cash "upgrade". My plan is to replace my USB converter, DAC, and tube preamp with an all-in-one unit that costs less, then apply the saving + cost of my amp to a new tube amp or monos. Not positive that it will sound better, but it will certainly sound different, and I'll learn a lot in the process!

Here's what the before and after will look like:

Before:

USB Converter: Stello U3
DAC: Audio GD NFB-7
Preamp: Audio Research LS-15
Amp: BAT VK-500

After:

Pre/DAC: McIntosh D-100, Classe CP-800, or PS Audio PerfectWave mkii
Amp(s): ARC-VS115, BAT-VK75, Carver Cherry 180's, or other

I like that I'm going to a simpler solution. Hopefully it will sound better too!

heartystatue

I have been working on my 2 channel rig and currently looking for a turntable. I ran across this one.
https://app.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-turntable-ginga-kondo-ginga-2014-02-05-analog-italy-irwin-oh
It's a little outa my price range.:eek:

EndersShadow

treitz3 wrote: »

Added Sorbothane isolation risers under gear, cleaned all electrical connections with Caig DeOxit and the next one is free. Remeasuring the speakers to make sure the tweeter height, toe in, levelness, distance from the wall, rake, distance to listening position are to within 2 to 3mm of where they need to be on all parameters.

George Grand wrote: »

Shut your rig down for two months and marvel at the improvements when you power it back up. Works like a charm.

steveinaz wrote: »

Going thru your entire systems' cable management and improving it, is a good, cheap tweak. Keeping all AC and digital cables away from analog cables, etc.

DSkip wrote: »

Bench cookies are next on my list.

These are pretty much my first go-to tweaks before I start looking at gear. That means my system has to be settled enough from any gear changes for me to note/want to fix any inadeqacies.

Rather than bench cookies, I just have my dad (R&D chemist for Lilly) bring me home any of the industrial rubber tops from their larger beakers when they dont need them. They are QUITE good at dampening vibrations. I get all kinds of sizes, but normally in sets of 2 or 4 .

My next upgrade is going to be getting my last IC's and SC's fixed up. Then I am in deep debates about picking up a darblet for video. I have been busy addressing the audio portion (which my wife doesnt like as she keeps telling me she cant tell the diff). The Darblet is hopefully something that I can justify to her with actual A/B live testing and if we like it I might be able to spend "our" money rather than my small "upgrade" fund money which is VERY slow to acumulate

falconcry72

Here are a couple other low-cost high-fun suggestions:

- Revisit speaker positioning (try some extremes... at the very least it'll be fun)
- Get some new music

dkg999

I have a ton of those Rockler Bench Cookies in the shop! I'll have to try them underneath the Milwaukee Jobsite BoomBox and see if they improve the sound.

George Grand

If I can't sit down and listen for at least an hour, the stuff doesn't get used. I won't trivialize my favorite tunes by ever using them as a background to whatever else I'm doing. Consequently, there can be long periods between listening sessions, and that keeps everything fresh.

I'm far too deaf now for anything to matter anyway, especially minor tweaks.

BlueFox

Move the chair forward a few feet. Later move it back further. Then move it to back to the starting point.

drummer86

BlueFox wrote: »

Move the chair forward a few feet. Later move it back further. Then move it to back to the starting point.

I remember when I figured this one out. Sometimes the results of moving a chair 6-10" are astonishing.

Mikey081057

Cup your hands behind your ears costs nothing ! However make sure no one else is watching so you don't look like a chimpanzee

polkfarmboy

Bought a big bag of weed.

Toolfan66

DSkip wrote: »

Dynamat is another cheap tweak that can really step up the level of detail in your rig.

And spikes..

Pycroft

George Grand wrote: »

If I can't sit down and listen for at least an hour, the stuff doesn't get used. I won't trivialize my favorite tunes by ever using them as a background to whatever else I'm doing. Consequently, there can be long periods between listening sessions, and that keeps everything fresh.

I'm far too deaf now for anything to matter anyway, especially minor tweaks.

George,

I love this answer. Something that we've always agreed on - music shouldn't be background noise to other goings on. I always try to find a time to just sit and listen - it doesn't happen often with work and family. I hope all is well with you :-)

James

MAD

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Cup your hands behind your ears costs nothing ! However make sure no one else is watching so you don't look like a chimpanzee

I do that all the time, while looking over my shoulder… sometimes it sounds better…

you have done it, we will fasten some sort of ear cups tied to 3d glasses and no one will ever have to cup their ears again.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Hookers and blow...

AsSiMiLaTeD

steveinaz wrote: »

Going thru your entire systems' cable management and improving it, is a good, cheap tweak. Keeping all AC and digital cables away from analog cables, etc.

This is probably my favorite suggestion so far in the thread. Cable management in general, whether it be in a hi-fi system or in a high end computer rig, is generally overlooked and underrated.

skrol

I bought a used Parasound amp and pre-amp for $150, re-caped them for about $50. Bought NAP's LSi15 for $250. It is sweet.