What’s your vote for the most ridiculous, overpriced, and useless tweak?


My vote: Furutech Outlet Cover 105 NCF $220, with “special crystalline material that has two “active” properties.” https://www.thecableco.com/outlet-cover-105-ncf.html

glow_worm

Showing 7 responses by mitch2

I have no idea what is in the Gate Frank.  PerfectPath Technologies do seem to have an "overabundance of enthusiasm" for that product.  They say one thing that I suspect is true;
“Words cannot describe”
Anyone else find an inverse relationship between the amount of hyperbole used to describe a tweak type product and the actual performance enhancement brought about by the product?  
How about a similar inverse relationship between the packaging used for certain products and the value those products bring to a system.  For example, why would a device designed to be installed in your breaker box need to be delivered in a watertight Pelican case?  Finally, add a mystical connotation by sealing the case the item is in (i.e., opening this case voids the warranty) and "mums the word" about what is inside, and then you have a product that can sell for many multiples of what you put into it.
It would be a good idea to isolate all the printed circuit boards from the transformer
There are a variety of anti-vibration grommets and stand-offs that can be used with a pcb.
Steve McCormack uses the anti-vibration stand-offs and he placed the large Plitron toroidal transformer in my DNA-2 LAE on a metal plate that was then isolated from the chassis.
Thanks for the explanation.
Makes me wonder if that is one reason some equipment manufacturers don't subscribe to tweaking (beyond providing good power, solid support, and room treatments) since in many cases the tweaked result may be different but not necessarily better or, at best, subjectively better - i.e., some like it some don't.
I guess it boils down to how much time, energy, and money someone is willing to spend to change the sound of their system by 5% +/-.
Since I have the power, support, and room thing covered, I continue to find component/speaker changes move the ball way more than whether I use Herbies feet or cones under my gear, what fuses I use, whether the EVS ground enhancers are plugged in, whether my high end zobel networks are attached, etc.
@whostolethebatmobile 
What about my vote for the Maxiimus P16?
useless - it generally makes the sound worse, smears focus and destroys the soundstage.
Curious - how do you know what it does to the sound? 
Do you own one?
How do you guys even hear about some of this stuff?
Surprising to see the folks at Mono&Stereo were "Gobsmacked" over this item.
I am thrilled to remain blissfully ignorant of most of this stuff. 🕶
However, I did have a seemingly sane person explain how the "blue fuses for $150 each" transformed the sound of his amp/system.  💥🚀💨

Oh Liz, those are “manufactured” by you-know-who and as “Flying Saucers” they are part of the “2001: A Space Oddity” line-up that is not without its fan-base (you can typically identify them by the tin foil hats). I suspect the head Space Cowboy and CEO himself will be beaming down here to weigh in anytime now.
BTW, they are on sale at 3 for only $25.