Tweaks that didn't work

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.
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.
Comments
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
"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
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.
Didn't look too bad yet way back in 2008; now there's an "oil ring" around each driver
Currently enjoying: Legacy Focus 20/20, McCormack DNA 225, Bill D C1, Oppo 105
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
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
Parasound HCA1500, Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Oppo BDP93, Marantz UD7007, modded Polk SDA 2B.
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."
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
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
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.
LOL
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
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.
(-- 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!)
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
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!
I would consider modifying the crossovers in a speaker to be a minor to major upgrade rather than a tweak.
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
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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.
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.
No No...common since
Black sox produce blacker back ground,,,pffft,
buy them books and all they do is burn them
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