Has there been any inexpensive item that enhanced your system's sound?


For me it was an inexpensive power cord that was laying around for years, a Pangea AC9.  I have it connected to my Yamaha A S2000.  I've tried the stock cord on the Yamaha and then some of my other cords, (Wireworld, VH Flavor 4, Acronlink/Oyaide custom cord and a MAC). I've had lots of amps and integrated amps over the years, and this is the first time the Pangea contributed to making better sound. It surprised me because I had tossed it aside and forgot about it.  Power cord performance is such a crap-shoot and dependent on so many other variables in the audio chain.  Any inexpensive item you've come across that enhanced your system's sound? 
foster_9

Showing 1 response by auxinput

I have found that the quality of the power supply voltage significantly affects your sound quality.  With all the talk of power cords, outlets and everything here.  I would say the biggest inexpensive element I have found are Isoclean fuses.  These are the cheapest fuses ($49 retail) and they have improved things in every piece of equipment I have put them in.  I have tried other fuses, including Hi-Fi Tuning, SR 20, SR RED, Furutech.  Each of them had good points and bad points.  Each introduces a character to the sound.  Some of these may be good in your system depending on system synergy.  However, I feel the Isoclean made the best and most neutral improvement overall.  It provides a very natural and full sound and fixes a lot of brightness problems with stock fuses.  Other fuses may compensate for different problems.  The SR RED can improve a system that is too bright (it's actually the most non-intrusive fuse, but it reduces the resolution of the sound).  The SR 20 can improve a slow system, such as tube, but it's too bright and bass lean for most solid state.  Hi-Fi Tuning put a metallic edge on the sound that I didn't like.