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The next best Tweak ???

There have been several postings at AA about a new tweak from the mind of a gent named unclestu that I would like to share with Audiogon members.

I really don’t know why it works or how it works.
This tweak will cost you about $10 bucks but hold on to your hats...

unclestu discovered that the Ground Control (that was designed by Bud Purvine and sold by AudioPrism)design could be improved on.

You will need to make two sets for your speakers.

What unclestu came up with is to take a 6V Lantern Battery, add a 1000uf Electrolytic capacitor across the top springs (+ to + and - to -) connect a wire to the negative side of the battery and then attach the other wire end to the negative post on your speaker.

I have also made a couple that I plug in to my Preamp and Amp. Those were made with RCA’s ground on the wire end and I used 9V batteries utilizing 9V battery clips.

I've got to say, big improvement across the board, Soundstage, bass, mids, treble. But the most dramatic change is in the dynamics.
128x128ozzy

Showing 8 responses by pixelphoto

pixelphoto
70 posts
 
If there are no + or - indicators on the cap the longer lead is the positive lead and the shorter lead is the negative lead.
pixelphoto
70 posts
 
Hay Jedinite
I had the same problem with not knowing which lead was which but slbenze over at Tweakers' Asylum clued me in. I just bought two more caps at Fry's and these have even length leads but do have arrows. I just attached them to the 6V batteries at my speakers and the main result is more dynamics.
Happy listening!
pixelphoto
70 posts
 
Well it's been two weeks since I've installed this fantastic tweak. The best way for me to express the effects of it is to yell YOWEE! For just about $35. I've installed 4 6V lantern batteries with 1000uf 50V electrolytic caps. One at each speaker, one each at the AVR and CDP via RCA plugs. The result is more dynamic sound across the frequency range (at least the freqs I can hear). The sound is cleaner/clearer, more detailed, decay is more extended and natural. I can now better hear instruments such as the triangle and brushes on cymbals. Staging is wider and more upfront. Instruments are more defined with more space round them, especially from my jazz cd's.

My system may be lo-fi but I'm grateful for it. With the thoughtful implementation of about 12 tweaks I've been able to squeeze out more good sound with each one. The 2 most dramatic tweaks have been the use of crystals and this battery-cap tweak. Give it a try; it just may breath new life into you system.
pixelphoto
70 posts
 
Just ordered 10 ea 10K caps from eBay for $15.09 total. Seller is local so should receive them by midweek. I wonder if these will bring me to the point of diminishing returns on my system? Maybe an alarm system or motorcycle battery next!
Just thinking, if I were to come into big bucks and could buy any so called hi-end system I wanted would I still have as much fun as I'm having tweaking my present system?
pixelphoto
70 posts
 
Anyone have a idea as to how long it takes for a 10k cap to charge when connected to a 6v lantern battery?
pixelphoto
70 posts
 
Ozzy, the same here (hear). I recently bought a NAD C 326BEE intergrated amp.; burned it in for 4 days nonstop. Played some Diana Krall and noticed that most of the sibilance I always heard was almost gone. I attached a 6v battery with 10k cap to the amp and that eliminated the remaining sibilance. All gone, banished. There is much more to be said about this tweak but I'll end with, I'm really happy I found out about this tweak.
pixelphoto
70 posts
 
Yea, I'm a born tweaker. Been tweaking since I was building die cut balsa wood model airplanes many crash landings ago. The caps I ordered are radial type, light brown with DON imprinted on them; 10KuF 25V 85" 20x35mm electrolytic. More fun enroute!
pixelphoto
70 posts
 
I received my 10K 25V caps yesterday. Removed the 1K caps from the speaker ends and installed these and let them set over night. I just finished listening to "Memories of a Geisha" and I love it even more now. The sound stage is deeper, instruments clearer and the bass is mo solid. I'm now going to replace the 1K caps at the AVR and CDP.

Last week I install a 9V battery to the plasma and was rewarded with a positive visual enhancement. All this for just a few dollars.
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