Tell me about your hifi improvement tweak or tip.

I have gotten dramatic improvement from my Fisher 400 after installing a modest Monster Power Center (which I got for a mere $40 used)... it completely eliminated all hum, it only hisses when the volume is literally dimed, and the sound has noticeably perked up and become more "precise."

No joke. I hoping for only a reduction in background noise and was not expecting all of the other benefits.

 

My latest improvement will be installing a new Rega/Moth 202 arm on my old Dual 502 table. The arm arrives tomorrow, Friday. It should be a great improvement over the stock Dual arm(s) of which I've never really been a fan. Proper hole and distance already drilled and the plinth repainted a textured dark gray finish. Platter spindle bearing and housing are still in great shape as is the high torque motor.

 

You cant do much better than to follow 90s gurus Jimmy Hughes and Peter Belt
Wear your watch back to front
Drink only ionised water
Take your shoes off for a session
Remove all other transducers from the room
Face your speakers to the walls
Apply foil and Pentel marking to your devices and cds
And most important
Forget Ohms Law

 

I found a couple IBM brand monitor stands at the thrift store for a couple bucks apiece. I did a test comparing the monitor stand to a maple butcher block when used to get my amps off the ground. No difference in sound, big difference in price.

Chad

 

Doobage.

 

Not really ground breaking, but playing with tracking force and RCA cables made big differences in my system (sometimes just different, not always better)

 

Jimmy Hughes now has a woman

 

Years ago, in a Hi Fi magazine, a reader wrote in saying he had greatly improved the acoustics of his listening room (which contained a large amount of books) by placing one small sheet of paper between any two pages of every single book!
I swear I am not making this up.

 

when it sounds good..step away and leave it alone.. just listen to the music

 

If your bourbon is too hot...put a couple of ice cubes in to dilute it a little. Otherwise quit worrying about your hifi and enjoy what you have.

 

I have all my power conditions on these. I also think GIK Bass traps made a significant difference

 

I just replaced the cobalt emits in my IIIa's with the second best tweeter Infinity ever made, the emit k...this summer I will mod the cabinets because the k is smaller...right now this will have to do...By the way the screws have been covered with little pieces of foam so ignore those..

definitely an upgrade...

 

Most of these have been mentioned already:

• Alcohol
• Room treatment, especially damping first reflections
• Good, but quiet, listening companion
  
• If it ain't broke, don't fit it
  
• Unplugging anything that makes noise, e.g., refrigerator. Set a timer, or you'll have trouble!
• Some kind of tone controls. If your system sounds great on some recordings, it will sound terrible on others. Tonal balance has a lot to do with that.

 

Three things that a lot of people consider to be "snake oil". A power conditioner, upgraded interconnects ( including phono cables ) and speaker cables.

 

I'll add my vote to this being among the most effective tweaks as well as being the least expensive.

 

cool!

& yes: If it ain't broke, don't fix it

 

- Speaker placement. Speakers need to go where they will bring out the magic of your system, not where they look the best or tucked away in the corner. This issue can cause marital strife or sonic strife. Which one is up to you.
- Follow manufacturer instructions about separating components from each other, placing gear on solid, level racks, etc.
- System synergy. Do your homework to ensure your cartridge mates well with the turntable and/or preamp. That your amp is compatible with your speakers, etc. It's best to use the same brand of interconnects and speaker cords.
- Clean your records before you play them and keep your stylus clean.
- If you are not sure how to set something up, especially a cartridge, ask your dealer or someone who does to do it.
- The quality of the source recording is important, whether it is a vinyl album or a cd or whatever. If it isn't well recorded and pressed, the best system in the world won't make it sound good.

 

Cut 12" X 12" X 12" triangles of Owens Corning 703 insulation and envelope them with an open weave clothe, with the color of your choice, and suspend them from the corners of your plaster or drywall listening room using those cheap screw in picture hanging hooks and safety pins. This will remove ringing and slap echo. Its important to leave a gap between each surface to be a more effective deterrent to reflective echo.