Top Ten Tweaks

Blueswan: I think that you were right on target with the thread. There is a lot to be done after the cheap tweaks are out of the way. I have added Neuance shelving under the tube amp and CD transport with great results as well as a pair of the BMI Whale Elite PC's. Also the Kontak cleaner for tube pins and sockets and other connections is a very nice product (superior to the high grade alcohol that I was using before). It's kind of funny in that once a tweak works, it then becomes a necessity.

In a more serious vein. I do believe Ezmeraldah's suggestion of separating the wires and cords is right on. As Dekay correctly pointed out, some tweaks work so well they become necessary. I found this with the cords and wires after I had tweaked everything else. But as I may have mentioned before, lifting the power supplies and conditioners up off the floor was a major improvement. Also I tried to work with my L-shaped room using the help I received here on the forum. Many thanks to everyone who offered suggestions. Also, tweaks can work together or sometimes work against each other...but its worth the time and effort. My cheapest shelf tweak? I put 2" styrafoam on the target shelf with granite tiles on top....works pretty good....cheers, Bluenose

Q-tips ** Murine Ear Wax Remover *** Enjoy! ;-)

Pipe cleaners for RCA connectors. Cleaning all contacts periodically (D-K beware of alcohol: it derodes the gold plating!) Black marker on the CD edges. Keeping cables away from each other (use cigarette or cigarillo boxes and thread cables through). Damping 1st reflections. Check for best placement of cones, etc, under equipment...

Black Diamond Racing The SHELF *****
The carbon fiber shelves have 25 times the resistance to resonance of 8 inches of Granite and 4 times the damping of 2 inches of MDF. It made a major improvement on sound and snapped the soundstage into a tighter focus.
Shunyata Viper Power Cords ***
Speaker spikes on brass holders***
Watt A Gate Audio Grade Outlet***
One inch toe-in on Dynaudio Contour 3.3***
Brass RCA Caps**
Caig Labs ProGold G5 Conditioner for all electrical connections**
Honorable mention: Auric Illuminator used on CDR's for the car's CD player ***
Moving cables around, so that none are touching each other**
Not a tweak, but made my CD collection happy: Wooden and unstained 1,000 cd holder case for $100 from Ikea*****
Positioning my chair for the optimum "sweet spot."*****