Someone please, add a tweak here!

[OldiesButGoodies]

It does not have to be a good one,  can even be questionable so we can start a lively argument (like how marking the edges of a CD with green magic marker makes a CD sound better,  or the benefits of gold wire interconnects, etc).  There must be tricks you have used in your systems that could beef up this section of the forum!   


 

[rgpit]

OK. Here is a real one ... Clean and re-seat your interconnects. If it's been awhile since you've done this you will be surprised at the difference.

rg

[TNRabbit]

^^^ x2, but use DeOxit for the cleaning~

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

Teflon tape around the arm of a 1200 or similar largeish hollow arm can help reduce resonance.

[non-prophet]

Make sure you do not have a fluorescent light fixture or CFL bulb on the same circuit as your stereo!!!

[MacGeek]

Put the Hi Fi on it's own dedicated circut.  Better still, put the amp on it's own circut and the rest of the system on another-all on the same side of the Buss.  For the amp, bump the wire size (such as #10 for a 20 amp circut that requires #12, or #10 if it's a long run the the breaker box).  I ran 4 lines when I had the house rewired-one for each amp, one for the pre-amp and sources and one for junk (lights, etc)

And cleaning the interconnect connections is sometimes the only real difference we hear when comparing cables.  The old ones never sound as good, because the connection is improved just by the cable swapping process, and we think it's the cables that are better.  Maybe this will start a cable argument.

Try listening with the speakers positioned so that the tweeters are slightly above ear level and limit the stuff between them, or pull them forward, if the decorater permits.

[Kingman]

If your turntable skips tape a penny on the head of the cartridge... ...

[OldiesButGoodies]

This is a great list - thanks! Should keep me entertained for a while.  The teflon tape idea is definitely new to me and a "must test".   Deoxy on the terminals with careful before an after listening leds to a lot of listening,  which is always good...  and never though about the fluorescent lamp n the circuit issue - need to look at that specially not that CFL bulb sare everywhere. 

Thanks!

Pepe

[schwarcw]

Make sure that you rebalance your tonearm after applying the tape to the tonearm.

Also, don't play you lps with the acrylic cover closed.  The closed air chamber will induce vibration from your music playing.  To demonstrate the effect, put an inflated baloon against your ear and tap on it.

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

I like to remove the cover all together, especially if playback is at a high volume.   The flat piece of plexi can act like a soundboard.

[Sir Thrift-a-Lot]

Do you guys know about Magic Eraser as stylus cleaner?   Works great.

[DJTommyK]

^ ^ I'll second that one.  The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (original, plain) works *wonders* for your stylus.  Just *gently* dip the stylus onto the Magic Eraser 2 times or so, and you're good to go for at least a couple of LPs, unless they're really dirty.

I'll also add, pick up a couple of the micro-fiber cloths from the store - they can usually be found in the auto parts section in Wal-Mart, etc - and use them to clean your album before dropping the needle.  Does a great job, and the cloths are washable.

[Anders]

Sure you can improve (or worsen) the sound of your system with tweaks.
If you really want to improve your system then have your components modified.

Just a lil plug for me and my mods

[SunnyDaze]

I agree with Tommy K. I use a micro fiber rag lightly moistened with 50% rubbing alcohol to clean vinyl. It doesn't leave behind any fuzzies and it gets most of the dirt.

[Bunni]

Sure you can improve (or worsen) the sound of your system with tweaks.
If you really want to improve your system then have your components modified.

Just a lil plug for me and my mods

Just a little plug for Anders and his mods