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Feeling Tweaky

I recently tried my first system tweak, purchasing IsoAcoustic Orea isolation footers for my Luxman 507uX Mk2 integrated amp, Marantz Ruby CD/SACD player, and Shunyate Hydra Denali 6000S power conditioner. I liked the improvement in sound quality so much I’ve gone ahead and ordered IsoAcoustic Gaia feet for my VPI Classic 2 turntable and Magico A3 speakers. I never expected a tweak to make such an improvement, not just a change, in sound quality. By the way, my cables are Audioquest Rocket 88 speaker cables, Audioquest Colorado cables from the CD/SACD player, and VPI phono cables. The Shunyata Hydra Denali has a Venom power cable. All the other power cords are what came with each component.

Acoustic room treatments that would affect room decor are unfortunately out of the equation and I’ve already tried my best to design component shelving to be a vibration free as I could. I’ve thought about are redoing the house wiring to create a dedicated circuit, and making an ultrasonic record cleaner.

So my question to you all is, what tweaks have had the most positive impact on your own system, that you could you recommend for the above described system? There seems to be a lot of tweaks out there that range from the sublime to the ridiculous in both performance and price. I’d like to know what tweaks of the many out there have worked best for you so I can make a list and prioritize each in terms of performance and budget. Please share your favorites and I’d appreciate your advice. Thanks,


Mike



skyscraper

Showing 3 responses by sgordon1

sgordon1
407 posts
 
If "each tweak adds to the effect of prior tweaks"...
beware, they might not, when taken as a whole,
be contributing to better sound.  

For example, have you ever subtracted some HFTs that were too close together (horizontally or vertically) only to hear an improvement?  Or, replaced or subtracted vibration control products,
and concluded that "less is better?"

I like to pause, periodically, and evaluate the changes, just to "keep myself honest."  I would give more weight to experimentation,
than addition, in our quest for better sound.  Anyone agree?
sgordon1
407 posts
 
Suggestion, OP: invest a few hours,
on multiple occasions, gleaning some experiential nuggets
from the tens of posters on dozens of threads on the products and
ideas already mentioned to you.

It is easy and attractive to want to be
"spoon fed," and start your own post.
Why not consider a more productive path?
If you are serious about better sound, you have to
be willing to make sacrifices of time and energy.
And probably some dollars, too.

I think these are what can get you further down
the road, sonically.  You may want someone to say to
you, "Do this, buy that."  Why not make the effort
to learn, with your intellect and your ears, so you can truly
experience the satisfaction of being able to say, "Hey,
this is sounding BETTER, and I am creating something special!"

It's a journey and (along the way) can be a very
enjoyable one, too.
sgordon1
407 posts
 
Rim shot, and cymbal crash, to Geoff!
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