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Tweaks that didn't work

DSkipDSkip Posts: 16,299
in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
I thought this might be fun. We always try to ink out the most from our systems but sometimes it doesn't work. What are some things you guys have done that simply did not deliver?

For me, it was upgrading the power cord on my Shuguang monoblocks. I heard improvements on the pre but not on the monos. Not sure why it was, but I opted to keep stock power cords on those and spend money elsewhere. I've heard improvements on every other component since. Just a weird anomaly I guess.
audiothesis.com/
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 91
    ..trying cheap super tweeters on my SDS 400's. It cancels out a bit of the dimensional effect.
    Studio 2 equipment;
    Yamaha a-s2100 Amp, CD-2100 CD player, T-S500 tuner
    Loudspeakers: Harbeth p3esr, Polk RT7
    Cables: Aural Harmony Sonnet Interconnect II, WireWorld Equinox 7 speaker,
    Black Cat silverstar 75 ohm digital, Signal Digital Power Cord, PS Audio Perfect Wave AC-3,
    Pangea SE14, Voltz supplied interconnects
    Optional: Arcam DV88 DVD/CD (HDCD) player, Polk SDS-400 speakers
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  • F1nutF1nut Posts: 43,142
    Mortite as a driver gasket.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 23,649
    F1nut wrote: »
    Mortite as a driver gasket.

    Heh, I used that on my mass-loaded TQWTs. It worked OK... but the Moretite's forever stained (for lack of a better word) the unfinished front baffles of the loudspeakers :/

    Derp.

    12289315386_cf252f4e11_b.jpgDSCN5289 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

    Didn't look too bad yet way back in 2008; now there's an "oil ring" around each driver :/
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  • steveinazsteveinaz Posts: 19,085
    edited August 2017
    Cable elevators, I would suspect. I could see their use on carpeted floors to reduce possible static electricity, but on tile or wood floors...meh. I use them now because I already have them, and they make me look cool.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amplifier: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: PSB Imagine T2
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  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 23,649
    ... not to be confused with elevator cables.

    ultrarope-in-elevator.jpg?itok=7nTtZSbh
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  • gfonggfong Posts: 1,077
    1inch Boos maple butcher block under my Rega RP6... Took the life right out of the Exact cart. Could not get use to the sound so I gave the block to my daughter and she is still using it in her kitchen! So it did not go to waste! Haha
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  • DSkipDSkip Posts: 16,299
    Try Acacia or a softer wood instead.
    audiothesis.com/
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  • daddyjtdaddyjt Posts: 1,105
    Anyone else remember the green magic marker on the edge of CDs in the 80's?
    Too much stuff to keep track of.

    Currently enjoying: Legacy Focus 20/20, McCormack DNA 225, Bill D C1, Oppo 105
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 14,953
    edited August 2017
    daddyjt wrote: »
    Anyone else remember the green magic marker on the edge of CDs in the 80's?

    Still got one and some CD's i applied it to.
    It was "the" extra the the dealer tossed in for buying my Sony ES CD player in 1990
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 91
    I tried smoking banana peels one time...
    Studio 2 equipment;
    Yamaha a-s2100 Amp, CD-2100 CD player, T-S500 tuner
    Loudspeakers: Harbeth p3esr, Polk RT7
    Cables: Aural Harmony Sonnet Interconnect II, WireWorld Equinox 7 speaker,
    Black Cat silverstar 75 ohm digital, Signal Digital Power Cord, PS Audio Perfect Wave AC-3,
    Pangea SE14, Voltz supplied interconnects
    Optional: Arcam DV88 DVD/CD (HDCD) player, Polk SDS-400 speakers
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  • muncybobmuncybob Posts: 2,169
    I bet they are hard to keep lit!
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500, Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Oppo BDP93, Marantz UD7007, modded Polk SDA 2B.
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  • tonybtonyb Posts: 31,652
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Cable elevators, I would suspect. I could see their use on carpeted floors to reduce possible static electricity, but on tile or wood floors...meh. I use them now because I already have them, and they make me look cool.

    I'll second that one. Even lifting the cables off carpet actually made the sound....worse, go figure. I'll stick with my original thoughts of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1430
    Tad 803 speakers
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  • MrBuhlMrBuhl Posts: 2,427
    Blue Jeans LC-1 for a phono cable - ended up being very sibilant with my Yamaha for whatever reason. Gave it to my son and he uses it with a vintage Technics and no issues, go figure...
    VA HT HK AVR20II, Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD, Polk Audio RC80i / Polk Audio CSi3, 60" Panasonic Plasma, Nordost / Signal Cable A2 / Wireworld / Pangea / Magic Power
    VA 2 Channel Focal Electra 926 speakers, Pass Labs X150.5 Amp, Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp (Tutay mods), Eastern Electric Minimax CDP (Scott Nixon mods), Music Hall mmf 5.1 Turntable, Parks Audio Budgie Phono Pre , Audioengine B1 streamer, MIT S3 IC's / MIT Shotgun S3 Speaker Cables / PS Audio power cables
    Noggin Schiit Valhalla, Pangea, Phillips Fidelio X1, Polk UF8000

    Polk SDA1c modded
    Polk CRS+ 4.1TL modded (need veneer)
    Polk SDA2BTL (fully modded)
    A/L 1000VA Dreadnought Canare 4s11 SDA cable
    SACD Marantz DV8300
    Sony S9000ES CD/DVD/SACD
    Yamaha YP-D6
    Soundcraftsmen PCR800
    Audible Illusions L1 Preamp
    Vincent MFA based Cocci Tube Preamp
    Pho-700 Phono Pre
    Signal Cable Silver Resolution IC's






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  • stones89stones89 Posts: 231
    Ditto cable elevators, boo's maple boards, green CD marker, and lately Herbies giant feet under speakers.

    Basis 2200 Signature, Vector 4, Transfiguration Proteus, Allnic H3000, Meridian 200/563, CJ ET5, McIntosh 501's, Thiel CS6, 3.6, Polk SDA SRS 2.3tl, MIT EVO, KS/Wywires PC's
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  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 23,649
    daddyjt wrote: »
    Anyone else remember the green magic marker on the edge of CDs in the 80's?

    Yeah -- but I remember it from the 1990s.
    I still have a CD-R I burned of Patty Larkin which I green-penned. I labeled the disc "Green Pen Patty" -- with a green Sharpie*, of course.
    * Not a green Shar-Pei. That'd've been weird.
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  • steveinazsteveinaz Posts: 19,085
    edited August 2017
    I use to have one of those black disc you placed on top of the CD disc you were gonna play, which was suppose to creat some sort of magic. Problem was, you needed a cd drawer that was fairly deep for it to work. This was like mid-late 80's. I think it was suppose to "help" the laser by providing a dark background to the disc. I would imagine it's already pretty dark in the player, once the drawer is closed.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amplifier: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: PSB Imagine T2
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  • steveinazsteveinaz Posts: 19,085
    Worst tweak ever (personally): Graphic equalizer. Any brand.

    LOL
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amplifier: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: PSB Imagine T2
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  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 23,649
    Like the "free energy" devices on the internet, there's a shred of semi-reasonableness to most of even the wackiest "tweaks" to make a semi-rational person think, "yeah, that could work -- let's get one and try it!" :/
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  • stones89stones89 Posts: 231
    Anything for that 1 last percent!!! :#:#
    Basis 2200 Signature, Vector 4, Transfiguration Proteus, Allnic H3000, Meridian 200/563, CJ ET5, McIntosh 501's, Thiel CS6, 3.6, Polk SDA SRS 2.3tl, MIT EVO, KS/Wywires PC's
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  • DSkipDSkip Posts: 16,299
    Another tweak I tried that didn't work was the little Ferrite-composite disks from a certain company offering free trial units a few years back. I remember several on the forum joining in as well. For me, it was a very negative effect. I still have them somewhere.
    audiothesis.com/
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  • EmlynEmlyn Posts: 2,534
    edited August 2017
    Using too many tube dampers on the tubes in a piece of audio equipment. May work to reduce microphonics on a defective tube, but the real solution is to get a better tube! Especially with signal tubes, overdamping makes the sound output flat.
    1. Polk LSiM707, 704C, 703; Dual SVS SB2000 subwoofers; Marantz SR7011 receiver; Parasound A23 amp; Oppo 205; Sony 65" 4K TV; FIOS; PS Audio Power Plant Premier; MIT S2 cables
    2. JM Labs Electra 920.1; Sonic Frontiers Line 3 Preamp; Classe Model 25 amp; Sony HAP-Z1ES; Oppo 105D; Music Hall MMF7 and Acoustech phono pre; PS Audio Power Director; MIT S1 Cables
    3. Polk LSiM703; Parasound JC2BP and A21; Sony 48" 4K TV; Wyred4Sound DAC 2; Oppo 203; Squeezebox Touch; MIT S3 cables
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  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 23,649
    DSkip wrote: »
    Another tweak I tried that didn't work was the little Ferrite-composite disks from a certain company offering free trial units a few years back. I remember several on the forum joining in as well. For me, it was a very negative effect. I still have them somewhere.

    Interesting -- I tried 'em too (independently of you all) and felt as though, if they did anything, it was positive, so they're still ensconced. Heck, I even changed speaker cable & moved them to the new cables.

    ghs9u2i5ulc1.jpg

    (-- and, no, like most wacky hifi tweaks, there's no reasonable reason to expect 'em to do anything, good or bad... but, then again, they were free to try; the bar was pretty low!)

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  • mhardy6647mhardy6647 Posts: 23,649
    edited August 2017
    PS -- I can't find my "amplifier" foot hockey pucks!?! It sucks to get old...
    :/
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  • heiney9heiney9 Posts: 24,125
    You know, I can't think of any. For me tweaks have a cumulative effect and I haven't been one to do one at a time. I usually will do a few or more at a time. I also haven't done a lot of tweaks recently so my memory of what didn't (doesn't work) is a bit foggy.

    I am also one to try tried and true tweaks and don't experiment too much so all of the tweaks I can think of have been pretty successful, or at the least not detrimental.

    Probably should define tweaks also. I have tweaked many things by upgrading parts. Not sure if that is the "true" definition of a "tweak".

    Good topic

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass

    Pass Aleph 30 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Plus DAC | MIT Shotgun S3 | MIT Z P/C's | updated SDA 1C| SQ Box Touch/Welbourne Labs P/S- Tubes add soul!
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  • EmlynEmlyn Posts: 2,534
    I would consider any minor parts swaps as being a tweak also. For example, replacing the cheap stock fuse in a piece of high end gear is supposed to have some benefits. I have not tried that myself, but I haven't seen someone who did it be disappointed.

    I would consider modifying the crossovers in a speaker to be a minor to major upgrade rather than a tweak.
    1. Polk LSiM707, 704C, 703; Dual SVS SB2000 subwoofers; Marantz SR7011 receiver; Parasound A23 amp; Oppo 205; Sony 65" 4K TV; FIOS; PS Audio Power Plant Premier; MIT S2 cables
    2. JM Labs Electra 920.1; Sonic Frontiers Line 3 Preamp; Classe Model 25 amp; Sony HAP-Z1ES; Oppo 105D; Music Hall MMF7 and Acoustech phono pre; PS Audio Power Director; MIT S1 Cables
    3. Polk LSiM703; Parasound JC2BP and A21; Sony 48" 4K TV; Wyred4Sound DAC 2; Oppo 203; Squeezebox Touch; MIT S3 cables
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  • voltzvoltz Posts: 5,303
    Changing into a clean pair of socks! - I thought it would help clean up the sound but no luck.td2mcydziqzh.jpg

    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • lightman1lightman1 Posts: 10,515
    Black socks have a better mids control without shaving off the highs. YMMV of course.
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  • Moose68BashMoose68Bash Posts: 3,634
    edited August 2017
    This is a good topic -- but I see it heading south!

    Like @heiney9, I have tried mostly, if not only, tried-and-true tweaks and mods that others have suggested on this Forum. And, I have a bad habit of doing more than one thing at a time, which makes isolating success and failure of any one "tweak" difficult.

    I'll keep thinking about it.
    Post edited by Moose68Bash on
    Family Room, PS Audio PW Transport, DirectStream DAC w/Bridge II; AQ Sky XLRs, McIntosh MC 220 Tube Pre; AQ Sky XLRs, CAT 600.2 Dualmono Amp, Morrow SP7 Speaker Cables, SDA SRS 1.2tls (RD0198s, Dreadnought, Black Hole 5, Acousta-Stuf, Dynamat Extreme, JBWeld. Vr3 Mods: "The Abbot" Monastery-Level Xovers, Custom Internal Wiring, Binding Post Plates, & SDA ICs).

    Exercise Room, Wadia 171 iPod Dock, PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ Sky XLRs, Perreaux PMF3150 Amp, Dreadnought, Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables, SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers).

    Synology 713+ NAS on Gigabit LAN serving PW MkII DAC & DirectStream DAC.
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  • txcoastal1txcoastal1 Posts: 10,661
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Black socks have a better mids control without shaving off the highs. YMMV of course.

    No No...common since

    Black sox produce blacker back ground,,,pffft,
    buy them books and all they do is burn them
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
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