Easy, Free Tweak for CD/SACD player

This was my fist thought as well.

 

Thanks!

 

Yeah I can..
The best way to explain it is that the sound snapped in to focus, like I said this was most evident with my pre amp,then the phono stage.
Can't do internal Dampening on a Rega Apollo cdp so,I use Hudson HiFi Silicone Feet they work just as well. If you're wondering about the possible effects it's the same principal as a turntable they should be as stable as possible ie:not too close to speakers,flat steadier level surface,etc.

Look it's the CHEAPEST tweak anyone can try,if your component/s can have a heavy book placed on top of them & still function correctly,you can try books on them & then take them off again, simple.

-evo777

 

Thanks evo. So all of what we are talking about here is vibration, right?

 

Absolutely!!!!

-evo777

 

OK, thanks. The manufacturer of my player makes a lot of claims that they did a number of things to reduce/minimize vibration on my player. It's a DCD-1600NE. I posted some info near the end of the first page.

 

Ok I'll take a look,cheers

-evo777

 

I believe you meant Dynamat and if so hopefully you used Dynamat Xtreme, not the original.

 

Yeah (lol) you're right mate but it was another make,it really is a Excellent tweak on pre amps.

-evo777

 

Just tried the weight (heavy doorstopper) on my rega apollo which I only use as a transport. Didn't like it at all, sucked the life out of the sound.

 

I don’t disagree with you.

I have been in digital and CD since 1984. Nearly every CD player that I’ve own has been tweaked and modified. And I have tried nearly every CD tweak you can think of. I have also used the green marker pen (in the 90s), tried cryo freezed CDs, demagnetized CDs etc.
My conclusion is that digital is somewhat likewise imperfect as analog, but in a different way.

But todays CD/SACD players are much better in how they handle the digital signal; less jitter, better A/D’s etc, so much of the tweaks that had some impact in the 80s and 90s, doesn’t matter today, Imo.
The Yamaha SACD player that I own today has the Vacuumstate super clock, and it also has a total of 7 Bybee music rails placed in the PSU that regulates all voltage on the analogue and digital boards. And a few modifications on the analogue board with better parts as well.
I’m happy with my digital sound, especially when playing SACDs.

 

The material the weight is made from makes a difference.

 

Yeah, I tried again today and listened through headphones and speakers and came to a similar conclusion. It also dulls the sound. Definitely better, more open with nothing on my player.

 

...And be careful when that drawer closes.

 

Yep same result here, soundstage more open and voices more full-bodied without any weight on top. So that's 1 myth busted ! I was surprised though that the result was immediately noticeable.

 

I'd like to announce my new business - Kevin's Kool Audio Improvers.

$50 for the Standard (nicknamed "paperback")

$500 for the encycloped . . er Audiophile version.
Get 'em before they're gone!

 

I have that SACD player. I'd just leave it be.

 

George, I just tried this right now. Yes there's definitely a difference here. The over all sound becomes better defined and loses a slight glare that seems to disperse the sonics making it sound less defined and touch smeared. The sound seems tightened up if you will. I like it for free.

 

Yes, lightweight components or those with flimsier casework are likely to benefit the most from the internal damping and additional weight. Same thing with transport and tray mechanisms: the flimsier, more plasticky they are the more they will benefit form damping with something like rope caulk or mortite.

I am focused mainly on analog but stumbled on these tweaks many years ago when I was using digital more. I found that relatively inexpensive DVD players benefited pretty substantially from this kind of tweak, as well as stuff like power cords and decent line conditioning, possibly as a result of their less robust power supplies when compared to then current "audiophile" CD players. I sold an Arcam Alpha 8SE CD player many years ago (for about $800 at the time-it was about $1300 Cnd new) because I could hear very little difference between it and an RCA DVD player that I bought for about $250-$300 and then ran through my line conditioner, damped considerably and upgraded with a decent (but not outrageously priced power cord). The DVD player improved dramatically with those tweaks whereas the Arcam seemed to be much less improved/affected by them.

This is a subjective hobby with different listeners having different subjective listening, or "hearing" preferences. I'd describe the improvements brought about by this kind of tweak as resulting in a more controlled and more dynamically accurate musical performance: low frequencies will probably tighten up a bit and be more extended and you'll lose a bit of splashiness in the high frequencies.

I like that but others may perceive it as a negative and contributing to a "lifeless" or less exciting sound.

Nice thing about a tweak like this (as most are) is that it is pretty easily reversible.

Edit:

Seems like Dave above was posting as I was writing/editing and we hear it in a similar way.

 

There should be enough people sitting around the house looking for something to do these days. Do a blind test. Get an assistant to take the weight on and off. Instruct them to do it quietly, and not even telling you when they are either removing or adding the weight. You have to tell them the moment there is a change. Then, if you think you have identified a change, tell them whether the weight is on or off. Don't cheat. Have them practice doing so very quietly. Keep their body in the same place. Tell them to be random about the changes.

 

Thanks, guys. I pretty much hear the differences you describe. It brings up some questions:

1. Do you think the sound with the book/weight on top is closer to the sound that is on the CD?

2. Did you find the improvement immediately, or did it take your ears awhile to adjust?

3. Would you say you have a "live" room? My room is fairly dead - wall to wall carpet, cloth couch, cloth curtains, etc. I wonder if how much someone likes the change is related to how "live" their room is.

 

George, and everyone. Just thinking out loud here...

This reminds me of what happened when Steve H. told us to try a butcher wood cutting board under our amps and other components if possible. I didn't think there would be much if any difference, but there was when I put one under my amp. A very similar sonic improvement. Unfortunately I only have the one until the border opens up again so I don't have to pay 5 billion $'s in shipping from the USA.

I wonder if the same thing could possibly work just as well without the inconvenience of having to put something on top of the player. Thoughts guys.

 

Same here with my Oppo.

 

Thanks, would you say your room is particularly "live" or "dead"?

 

1. No idea, but I was using a Steve H. mastered CD.

2. It was immediate for me George.

3. Yes although I do have a large area rug, cloth couch, metal Venetian blinds and a lot of glass so it's kind of a 50/50 really.