Favorite Budget Tweaks

13

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  • joeparaski
    joeparaski Posts: 1,865
    edited January 2007
    All this talk about Sorbothane under components....how about rack mount equipement, are there any detrimental "resonances" to worry about? The components that I have that are not rackmount are sitting on a rackmount "tray" in the rack.

    Joe
    Amplifiers: 1-SAE Mark IV, 4-SAE 2400, 1-SAE 2500, 2-SAE 2600, 1-Buttkicker BKA 1000N w/2-tactile transducers. Sources: Sony BDP CX7000es, Sony CX300/CX400/CX450/CX455, SAE 8000 tuner, Akai 4000D R2R, Technics 1100A TT, Epson 8500UB with Carada 100". Speakers:Polk SDA SRS, 3.1TL, FXi5, FXi3, 2-SVS 20-29, Yamaha, SVS center sub. Power:2-Monster HTS3500, Furman M-8D & RR16 Plus. 2-SAE 4000 X-overs, SAE 5000a noise reduction, MSB Link DAC III, MSB Powerbase, Behringer 2496, Monarchy DIP 24/96.
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  • Crispycircuit
    Crispycircuit Posts: 49
    edited January 2007
    Cheap tweaks? I used a hockey puck (with a hole drill dead center) for years as a record weight. Also make your own RCA shorting plugs since it's just to ground out that input jack. Cheap carpet foam padding can work quite nice for absorbing overly bright area's. Oh that's right I'm in the basement and I'm not too concerned with looks. Let see, heat would be nice for me and a radon detector.....
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2007
    joeparaski wrote:
    All this talk about Sorbothane under components....how about rack mount equipement, are there any detrimental "resonances" to worry about? The components that I have that are not rackmount are sitting on a rackmount "tray" in the rack.

    Joe

    I'm guessing that the "tray" is metal. IF that is the case sorbothane pods would work wonders.
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  • Deadof_knight
    Deadof_knight Posts: 980
    edited January 2007
    OK I got a question here I heard that if you replenish the ferrafluid in the tweets, Your tweets will improve ( simply due to cooling effect)how do you know how much is enough.
    :cool: " He who dies with the most equipment wins Right ? "

    Denon 3300 Adcom 535 BBe w/sub out 1 pr 4.6s 2 pr of 4 jrs Recent additions Samsung Lns-4095D LCD, Samsung hd-960 DVD, Monster HT-5000 Power center    ,HPSA-1000 18" sealed DiY home sub.:D
    Black Laquer 1.2tl's w/ upgraded x-overs and Tweets BI-Amped with 2 Carver tfm-35's Knukonceptz 10ga cables
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  • Deadof_knight
    Deadof_knight Posts: 980
    edited January 2007
    Couple Redbulls and Vodka ...$ 20.00
    Pair of warm-ups ..........$ 0.00
    No kids in the house..... priceless in itself
    Wife gone shopping ......no telling how much that'll cost

    Now thats what I call priceless or worth the money
    :cool: " He who dies with the most equipment wins Right ? "

    Denon 3300 Adcom 535 BBe w/sub out 1 pr 4.6s 2 pr of 4 jrs Recent additions Samsung Lns-4095D LCD, Samsung hd-960 DVD, Monster HT-5000 Power center    ,HPSA-1000 18" sealed DiY home sub.:D
    Black Laquer 1.2tl's w/ upgraded x-overs and Tweets BI-Amped with 2 Carver tfm-35's Knukonceptz 10ga cables
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  • Mother Mooch
    Mother Mooch Posts: 129
    edited January 2007
    hearingimpared wrote:
    Wait you left something out!

    30 pack Natural Ice 13.50 and dirty socks 0.00
    20 trips to the bathroom from DIARRHEA (Natural Ice)

    Sound: Priceless!


    Lol... Natty Ice needs some getting use too! Actually for being a cheap beer, It's not that bad! Plus 5.9% alcohol by volume means a cheap drunk!

    Damn i'm broke! lmao (divorce will do tha to a man)
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,325
    edited August 2010
    W WALDECKER wrote: »
    I really like the results of using Isonode Sorbathane feet under my tube preamplifier and Cd player. tube rolling is also one of my favorite tweaks

    Going to try these out soon...any other users out there?
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2010
    Conradicles wrote: »
    Going to try these out soon...any other users out there?

    I never used "Isonodes Sorbothane" but I've used "black holes" sorbothane pods and they work wonders. Two down sides however; 1) Direct contact of Sorbothane on any finish will leave an indelible mark, 2) depending on the gear you are using them under they can make the music sound muddy and mushy.

    They do a great job though of isolation!
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited August 2010
    Well I just ordered some Iso-pads from quest for sound so I hope those work and can be added as a tweak!

    and to me for the price hard to go wrong....Almost as much as just any DIY isolation tweak I could think of if you didn't have the materials already!
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,927
    edited August 2010
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300450454399&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250673510497&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


    check out these work good not all gear like the center post so it is removeable
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,982
    edited August 2010
    Hummm.. Anybody use these ????


    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300450454399&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250673510497&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


    check out these work good not all gear like the center post so it is removeable
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Hummm.. Anybody use these ????

    There was time way back when, when all preamps, amps and receivers came with termination plugs.
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited August 2010
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ddaccstwek&1285716859&demo&3&4&

    got these things tonight and they do work. For the price you can't go wrong.
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  • fishbones
    fishbones Posts: 947
    edited August 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ddaccstwek&1285716859&demo&3&4&

    got these things tonight and they do work. For the price you can't go wrong.

    What improved?
    What component(s) did you use it on?
    ..... ><////(*>
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ddaccstwek&1285716859&demo&3&4&

    got these things tonight and they do work. For the price you can't go wrong.

    Awesome Chris! I have them under all my components and with my turntable I use them in tandem with Black Diamond Racing cones.

    One thing. If you can put them under the chasis and clear the feet of the piece of gear do that. If not then put them under each of the feet.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,225
    edited August 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ddaccstwek&1285716859&demo&3&4&

    got these things tonight and they do work. For the price you can't go wrong.

    Stephens Iso-Pads are extremely well reviewed. He sells them by the boat load all over the world. I was at his store one day & he was shipping out 12 cases to an audio club in Turkey. It's not uncommon for an audio club to order cases of them. I've got them under all of my gear & they perform as advertised.

    Next time you order from him make sure you tell him you're a member of the Polk audio forum & that you know Phil & Joe...on second thought, maybe not, he might just charge you more! :D
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2010
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Stephens Iso-Pads are extremely well reviewed. He sells them by the boat load all over the world. I was at his store one day & he was shipping out 12 cases to an audio club in Turkey. It's not uncommon for an audio club to order cases of them. I've got them under all of my gear & they perform as advertised.

    Next time you order from him make sure you tell him you're a member of the Polk audio forum & that you know Phil & Joe...on second thought, maybe not, he might just charge you more! :D

    Nah Phil I already hooked Chris up with Stephen and as usualy Steven has done well to him along with all the other Polkies I send to him!
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited August 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Awesome Chris! I have them under all my components and with my turntable I use them in tandem with Black Diamond Racing cones.

    One thing. If you can put them under the chasis and clear the feet of the piece of gear do that. If not then put them under each of the feet.

    Thanks for the tip, I'll see if I can do that with my CDP tonight! (I had them under the feet at first). I really needed something with this rack I have because I'm getting vibrations in everything. I only ordered one pair to see how I liked them ect but the price and what they did was awesome. I'll be going back and ordering probably 3-4 more pairs.

    What I also love most is that they can each hold a lot of weight. Unlike some things that you have to be really careful, you could take 4 and put like an amp on them and they would be just fine!
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited August 2010
    fishbones wrote: »
    What improved?
    What component(s) did you use it on?

    right now my CDP. Next I'll be getting more and putting them under probably everything in my 2 channel and then get some later for HT.

    For me in 2 channel they really helped in terms of detail. I was getting a TON of vibrations through my gear and CDP. These help isolate the CDP and honestly helped greatly. Vocals seemed cleaner to me and little details came out that I didn't notice before or where there but were not very clear. It really didn't take a careful listening to notice it either.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    right now my CDP. Next I'll be getting more and putting them under probably everything in my 2 channel and then get some later for HT.

    For me in 2 channel they really helped in terms of detail. I was getting a TON of vibrations through my gear and CDP. These help isolate the CDP and honestly helped greatly. Vocals seemed cleaner to me and little details came out that I didn't notice before or where there but were not very clear. It really didn't take a careful listening to notice it either.

    Is is amazing when those Isol-Pads are designed properly compared to the knock-offs what a difference thye make. There are lots of knock offs out there that do absolutely nothing rather they make the vibrations worse and pass them onto the gear.

    I had purchased a whole slew of a similar design by Mapleshade. Same materials but doubled up one glued on the top of the other and they were a smaller square. What I had noticed with them was they were so high that they were more prone to moving WITH the airborne vibrations and made the music sound cloudy and the imaging smeared.

    When Stephen Monte from Quest for Sound designs something he doesn't mess around and leaves no stone unturned.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2010
    ^^^^reported.
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited August 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    ^^^^reported.

    Joe....why did you report yourself? ;):p


    I know there was another thread there, it just looks funny.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    Joe....why did you report yourself? ;):p


    I know there was another thread there, it just looks funny.

    Yeah they always do but it's better than quoting the spam because that doesn't get deleted.;)
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,325
    edited August 2010
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    Stephens Iso-Pads are extremely well reviewed. He sells them by the boat load all over the world. I was at his store one day & he was shipping out 12 cases to an audio club in Turkey. It's not uncommon for an audio club to order cases of them. I've got them under all of my gear & they perform as advertised.

    Next time you order from him make sure you tell him you're a member of the Polk audio forum & that you know Phil & Joe...on second thought, maybe not, he might just charge you more! :D

    I am going to give a set of these a try. Thanks for the info guys...
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2010
    Conradicles wrote: »
    I am going to give a set of these a try. Thanks for the info guys...

    Conrad, I think I may have posted this somewhere else but . . . When you get the Isol-Pads, try placing them beside or behind the feet of the piece of gear. On some the feet are too long so on those, you'll have to place the Isol-Pad under the feet.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,545
    edited August 2010
    Another topic that's near and dear to my heart in the world of hi-fi is SIMPLIFICATION. Less electronics=less degradation of the original signal. If you can plan your system in such a way, as to include as few components as possible; I think it will make a big difference. When I moved from the MF A3CR preamp to my Benchmark PRE, I eliminated a TON of electronics, and it made a real difference. The sound was cleaner and far less "processed" sounding. My current system features 1 set of IC's (Kimber Hero .5mtr) and that's it.

    For the hardcore purist, check out a Placette passive pre. Talk about absolute neutrality and natural sound...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • fishbones
    fishbones Posts: 947
    edited August 2010
    All good points Zero!

    I know speakers can be different, but the last two sets of speakers I've had, I can notice a difference of sound by changing the toe-in as little as a 1/4 inch! Drives me crazy...PITA to set up. (I'm hoping my future SDA's will not be so bad?)

    Also, don't forget to re-try those old IC's you thought didn't sound as good sitting in the closet when you switch out or add new equipment, sometimes the sonic signature of new equipment will create a different synergy that those old IC's mate well with.
    ..... ><////(*>
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,325
    edited January 2011
    Digging into some of my old threads and this one deserves a bump.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2011
    Whistling through the graveyard again, eh?

    Didn't read through it all, but didn't see speaker stands mentioned. Properly angled you get time alignment of the drivers as well as centerline focus of the radiating sound to ear level.

    Best thing that ever happened to middling to large bookself and monitor speakers...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,325
    edited April 2011
    Zero wrote: »
    I'm have to rush this post, but in a nutshell:


    - I've yet to run into a power conditioner, surge suppressor, or multi-outlet wall plate that didn't degrade sound quality. If you can, run your gear (yes, including CD players) straight to the wall. You'll save money, and get better sound.

    - Acoustics, acoustics, acoustics,... The bottom line is that every item in your room influences the sound of your system. Glass, woods, metals, plastics, cloth, it all has its own sound. Why? Because as the sound wave travels across your room, it bounces off of every object that it encounters, and subsequently carries over the "resonant signature" of that object with it. So that glass in the corner that you never really noticed before..? Take it out the room, then sit back down and listen to your system. You may be in for a surprise.

    - Experiment with speaker positioning. Don't be afraid to try something unorthodox, like placing your speakers close together with minimum toe-in. A half inch in either direction can make the difference between "good" and "great" sound. I know that this sounds very common sense, but I can't tell you how many long-time audiophiles, dealers, and showrooms seem to ignore this very basic, critical, and free step!

    - If you own traditional cone and dome loudspeakers, do your best to make sure that your ear is located in that spot between the tweeter and the midwoofer. Usually this is where the sound "blends" the best. While this rule isn't sacrosanct, I found it to be applicable more times than not.

    - Lastly, if you're running a stereo set-up, try not to put anything in between your speakers. Big entertainment centers, closets, shelves, even large equipment racks, really do skew the sound of your system. Ideally, there should be no large item in-between the speakers, as it'll allow the sound wave to travel without being un-evenly distorted right from the get go.

    Thats all, for now.

    Good info folks!
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