Simple & Inexpensive Tips for Improving Your Stereo System (TAS 197)

1. Tighten your speaker’s driver mounting bolts

The bolts holding the loudspeaker drivers to the baffle can loosen
over time, causing the drivers’ basket and flange to vibrate. Gently
snug-down the bolts and you’ll hear an increase in midrange clarity and
resolution. Be sure not to over-tighten the bolts and strip the baffle.
Cost: Free.

2. Cross Cables At Right Angles

It’s inevitable that analog interconnects, digital interconnects,
and AC power cords will meet behind your rack. Where they do, they
should intersect each other at right angles rather than running
parallel to each other. Separate all cables as far as possible. A great
device for separating cables behind a rack (or behind power amplifiers)
is Shunyata’s Dark Field Mini Elevators.
Cost: Free, Dark Field Mini .

3. Clean All Contacts

Remove all interconnects and speaker cables and clean their plugs
and jacks with Caig DeOxIt contact cleaner. Do the same with tube pins
and sockets as well as AC cords (after disconnecting them from the wall
outlet, of course) and your equipment’s AC jacks (but not the wall
outlets). Cost:Caig DeOxIt

4. Don’t Listen With the Lights Dimmed

Light dimmers operate by chopping up the 60Hz sinewave of the AC
power supply, which puts noise on the AC line. Turn the lights all the
way off. Cost: Free.

5. Absorb Sidewall Reflections

Hanging a rug or other acoustically absorbent material on the
sidewalls between you and the loudspeakers reduces tonal colorations
and significantly improves soundstaging. Cost: Varies.

6. Move your loudspeakers

It's unlikely that you loudspeakers are optimally positioned.
Experiment with small movements and be sure to get the toe-in on each
speaker perfectly identical. Even a slight difference between the left
and right speakers will affect the tonal balance and degrade imaging. Cost: Free.

7. Isolate your components from vibration

If you don’t have a high-quality equipment rack, invest in one. To
improve the performance of your existing rack, put cones or feet under
your components. The budget-minded should consider Vibrapods; those
with more ambitious systems should look at the Harmonic Resolution
Systems Nimbus.Cost:(Vibrapod); (HRS Nimbus).

8. Turn off component displays when listening

Some products allow you to turn of the front-panel displays—and for
good reason; they can subtly, or not so subtly, degrade the sound. Cost: Free.

9. Insert shorting plugs in unused preamplifier inputs

Preamp input jacks can pick up noise; shorting those inputs to
ground prevents noise from getting into the audio circuitry. If you
have a power amplifier with balanced and unbalanced inputs and use the
unbalanced connection, be sure to insert the small “U”-shaped shorting
pin in the unused XLR jack between pins 1 and 2, or use XLR shorting
plugs. Cost: AudioQuest Noise Stopper Caps , Cardas RCA Caps.

10. Replace stock bi-wire jumpers on your loudspeakers with high-end ones

If you have loudspeakers that can be bi-wired but use a single-wire
connection, replace the stock jumpers with a premium replacement such
as Cardas bi-wire jumpers. Stock jumpers are made from brass; the
Cardas units are solid copper with rhodium plating. 11. Move the listening seat forward or backward to adjust bass balance

Loudspeakers in rooms set up standing waves—stationary areas of high
and low pressure in the bass. Moving the listening seat forward or
backward by 1–2' can greatly influence the system’s overall tonal
balance. Cost: Free.

12. Get rid of the stock AC power cords

Those AC cords that come with audio gear might be fine for home
appliances, but they are bad news for an audio system. Even entry-level
AC cords made for audio can render a huge improvement.

13. Turn off all digital components when listening to vinyl

Digital components (CD players, DACs, multichannel controllers)
radiate noise that can pollute analog signals, particularly the
miniscule output from a phono cartridge. Some digital components
radiate noise even when turned off. Those products should be unplugged
from the wall during analog listening sessions. The background becomes
blacker and a haze over the music is lifted.Cost: Free

14. Forget about the sound and enjoy the music

Don’t fall into the trap of constantly judging your system’s sound quality.
After your system is tweaked, turn off the critical listening and
immerse yourself in the music. Cost: Free.

Compliments from the moderator/admin team for putting this excellent post up. One suggestion : you mentioned a number of accessories which will help, like Vibrapod, etc. Since you also put their price down, I assume you also know where to get them. It would be extremely helpful if you also list down places where they can be bought.

Keep up the good work.

A note to all forumers : please do contribute your ideas as well. For this excellent thread, like the Member's system thread, I will make an extra effort to moderate it (I don't actually bother to moderate any of the other threads), i.e. please no personal attacks, or flame-biat post (challenging people this and that) and no flames here. I will personally delete all posts which are destructive to this thread.

However, do feel free to contradict any suggestions/advice if your own personal experience or opinion differs. DIFFERING IS NOT FLAMING. It is also constructive as well. Feel free to debate courteously. NO FLAMING !

I am sure everyone especially the newbies will really benefit from this thread. Eventhough I already know all of the above (plus a few extras of my own, I will put them down later), I too will feely say I benefit from this thread because I now know of alternative cost effective mods and hopefully soon, where to buy them as well.

sorry, I direct copy this article from The absolute sound ( TAS) website. I should delete the price from usd. I found this article is interesting, hope to share to some people.

Ah, I was 'suspicious' that Vibrapods can cost less than RM10 !!

I found that most shops like HiWay Laser, Audio Image, CMY, etc sells suspension feets. They are not cheap but they work as in extracing the bit of performance from the equipment. It will NOT make the equipment sound like a higher-end one but it will let the equipment deliver its best.

We can always do it another way. Any forumer who knows where and how much the accessories listed above costs, please contribute.

Vibrapods is cheap. but not easy to use. It got model 1 to model 5. Unless you can try it before buy, wrong model will spoil your system.

Lastly look at your listening room, see what u can do to enable the space in the room to help u listen better or more comfortable. It could be making it tidy and neat, or slightly more work such as bass traps to reduce(don't know if u folks will use the word eliminate) bass booms, and some simple treatments on the sides, back or front, to reduce some unwanted sound reflections. The more elaborate way will be to buy those 'proven' designs panels from the hifi shops who knows the best design for your needs. If u are on a very very tight budget, u could venture into diy panels, but it's a lot of work and effort, but maybe worth your while when u finally could sit down to listen comfortably. Well, fact is, setting up a really nice listening system is no easy task la and u got to pick up enough knowhow from your hifi buddies to get started. So don't just wonder why your friendly hifi shop in your neighbourhood has a really nice sounding hifi room, just do it la!

What about our listening position?

Cardas rca cap @ a & l audio - rm6 per piece

Cardas xlr cap @ hiway laser - rm120 per pair

poi wrote:Cardas rca cap @ a & l audio - rm6 per piece

Cardas xlr cap @ hiway laser - rm120 per pair

Which branch A&L to get rca cap in RM6 so cheap. I like the effect cardas cap so much, may be next time try the cardas xlr cap too.

A & l branch @ amcorp mall. Recent visit saw a lot of new stock.

Bought mine at CMY, 1 Utama a year ago at only RM48 per dozen. They claim it to be Cardas since there is no printing or logo on it.

BrAvO wrote:Bought mine at CMY, 1 Utama a year ago at only RM48 per dozen. They claim it to be Cardas since there is no printing or logo on it.

Sorry to tell you I also bought the cap from CMY. But the cheaper cap from cmy is not cardas branded, it make your system quiet but also lifeless. But cardas cap at A&L sound more better than cmy one, it don't have lifeless problem. I don't know why the original cardas sound better than fake one, although they look is similar.

Suggest to retest "brandless" vs "cardas" caps again.

There should not be any "black magic" to such caps. They are just simple metal RF shields that makes the equipment circuitry better shielded from stray airborne RFI/EMI.

Another quick check to see if these caps will colour the sound or not would be to test for magnetivity. Such caps should ideally be non-magnetic.

Mugenfoo Bro. Find one day to demo you.I also don't know why they sound different. But I can hear different rca Cap can make my system sound different. Especially telos cap is most easy to differentiate.

The Telos gold sounds different from the telos platinum, very subtle. Then again depends where your listening space is conducive to listening to music or it's just for watching movies with your HT system. If it's a proper listening room(now the word 'proper' can be so different to different persons), u should be able to listen to even the most subtle of differences in the sound.


Sometimes one may get 'shot' when one says there is an improvement in the sonics. So perhaps 'different' may be a better choice of words, as different sounds will appeal to different listeners.

kkthen wrote:

BrAvO wrote:Bought mine at CMY, 1 Utama a year ago at only RM48 per dozen. They claim it to be Cardas since there is no printing or logo on it.

Sorry to tell you I also bought the cap from CMY. But the cheaper cap from cmy is not cardas branded, it make your system quiet but also lifeless. But cardas cap at A&L sound more better than cmy one, it don't have lifeless problem. I don't know why the original cardas sound better than fake one, although they look is similar.

I believe Cardas has both 'brandless' and the ones with the 'Cardas Nautilus logo displayed on new Signature Series RCA Caps (RCA C SS). These non-shorting, billet brass, nickel plated caps fit over unused female RCA connectors to shield against RFI, EMI, dust and corrosion' (quoted from a webpage).

Btw sifus, for these caps as compared to shorting caps, are there differences/effects etc, for example used for input RCAs. I used shorting caps for the inputs RCA for my int-amp. Again from the webpage.. 'Signature Series RCA Shorting Pin Caps (RCA C SP SS) can be used to short out an input RCA. This is desirable on some equipment to lower the noise floor. Some manufacturers ship them with their preamps. With the RCA SP SS the user can decide to either short or not short inputs. Generally outputs prefer not being shorted. Billet brass, nickel plated caps fit over unused female RCA connectors to shield against RFI, EMI, dust and corrosion.

Main reason for question is the pricing, USD11.50/pair for shorting cap vs USD56/dozen for the RCA caps and of other undiscovered benefits/hazards.

Btw, if the logo-less Cardas caps price from CMY mentioned above is correct, everyone should grab it ..

Cheers,

zb

Where got sell Caig DeOxIt and how much?

How about fuse? Heard they do inprove the performance. I was told Hi Fi Tuning fuse is the best in the market at a hefty price of RM100 per unit.

ongaaron wrote:How about fuse? Heard they do inprove the performance. I was told Hi Fi Tuning fuse is the best in the market at a hefty price of RM100 per unit.

For me, the effect of fuse like changing power cord, It will make your system different but also add characteristic of fuse. So Hifi tuning fuse may be good match in some system, but bad match in others system too.

kkthen wrote:

ongaaron wrote:How about fuse? Heard they do inprove the performance. I was told Hi Fi Tuning fuse is the best in the market at a hefty price of RM100 per unit.

For me, the effect of fuse like changing power cord, It will make your system different but also add characteristic of fuse. So Hifi tuning fuse may be good match in some system, but bad match in others system too.

Concurred, recently replaced a Hi Fi Tuning fuse with Furutech's for my amp and has IMHO, improved ever so slightly clarity and details of familiar tunes Considering the price is approx 5-10% (or a lot less for higher end system) for the most 'Bang for Buck' improvement, one of relatively inexpensive ways to improve your system.

Cheers,

zb

This is worth reading (see page 24 to 40) for those who are into audio grade fuses.

http://www.affordableaudio.org/aa2009-06.pdf

How about putting a brick on top of the speaker?

So far, I have not seen red bricks on top of speakers yet.
But I have seen a piece of marble on top of subwoofer.

dlyz wrote:Where got sell Caig DeOxIt and how much?

Caig DeOxIt
Bought mine at X-audio Singapore near Bukit Timah. Around SG60. I believe they will do shipping as well. Just contact them

does it clear tarnish from rca jacks?

Yes it does,

kkthen wrote:

ongaaron wrote:How about fuse? Heard they do inprove the performance. I was told Hi Fi Tuning fuse is the best in the market at a hefty price of RM100 per unit.

For me, the effect of fuse like changing power cord, It will make your system different but also add characteristic of fuse. So Hifi tuning fuse may be good match in some system, but bad match in others system too.

KKThen,

Similar experience here. I'm using no name "audiophile" fuses with a schematic symbol printed on it like pictured below. Seems like the fuse acts like some sort of electrical filter because I can hear improvements across the board.



Now the symbol indicates that these fuses are directional and how can that be right? Afterall A/C alternates in both directions right? So how can fuses be directional? Engineers will argue this to death but as for me, well, I don't know much about these things but I can tell a difference when the directional fuse has it's anode end at live and cathode end at neutral. Placed the other way, it's still better than the stock fuse but not as good as when placed as indicated.

Yep, have forgone fuses where I can, most US plug and Schukos have none and hardwired /soldered my Transparents pcords directly to pins for the UK Specs-plugs. Only kena unplug if not listening to the systems or hope 4 the best if lupe

zb

Bimmerman Bro, I am using the same brandless fuse as yours. It is cheap
but more matching my system compare with expensive furutech rhodium
fuse. The both brandless & furutech is directional. How about your
new toy, vibration control device? This more small tweak give my system
improve 10%.

kkthen wrote:Bimmerman Bro, I am using the same brandless fuse as yours. It is cheap
but more matching my system compare with expensive furutech rhodium
fuse. The both brandless & furutech is directional. How about your
new toy, vibration control device? This more small tweak give my system
improve 10%.

Oh you mean that crazy magnetic levitation devices. Ha ha ah! Crazy last minute purchase but since I don't have a proper Hi-fi rack, it gave me a 50% improvement. Actually, difficult to quantize into percentage lah but used with my amp it helped to separate and liberate details that were there to begin with but were smeared and mashed up due to vibrations.

I do have some concerns though. Because these "maglev" devices emit quite a strong EMF, I fear it might magnetize my amplifier chassis and surrounding equiptment, resulting in other forms of detremental effects. You know how Furutech is always advertising their stuff as demagnetized and cryoed and these maglev things may just undo Furutechs implementations. Clearaudio makes a similar product which is shielded but got to be prepared to pay more that RM2K for 3.

Do you have the same concerns?

400+ tweak for your system

http://www.audiotweaks.com/collection_ascend.htm

bimmerman wrote:

I do have some concerns though. Because these "maglev" devices emit quite a strong EMF, I fear it might magnetize my amplifier chassis and surrounding equiptment, resulting in other forms of detremental effects. You know how Furutech is always advertising their stuff as demagnetized and cryoed and these maglev things may just undo Furutechs implementations. Clearaudio makes a similar product which is shielded but got to be prepared to pay more that RM2K for 3.

Do you have the same concerns?

No. As long as this device give me good improvement, I don't care it. One of my friend also like it, He say the effect of this device sound like add one expensive power conditioner.

Yeah, I guess so. For me it sounds like I just changed my amp!!! I think to say 50% imporvement is not fair. It's definately more than that. Improved spatial imaging is most noteworthy. It now sounds like 5.1 surround on 2 speakers. Amazing!

Hi Guys,
May I know which website that you buy the hifi-tuning fuse? Thanks.