[FullRangeMan]

Many years ago I used the AQ Tweak Contact Enhancer on CD Player IC it had a surprising big positive effect on the music, but the audible benefit lasted only some hours.

[Zuman]

My personal experience is that I often won't notice any sound change due to a tweak when I install it. Sometimes, however, after having something in my system for weeks, months, or even years, I'll remove it. Frequently I'll then immediately notice a difference in sound, usually for the worse.
That's frustrating because it doesn't help me make improvements by "tasting" tweaks, but it does help validate their impact and encourages me to keep trying.
Difference-makers of note for me include: using a well-regarded switch for my Roon NUC/Server/Internet connection, as opposed to just plugging everything into the router; M101 Nova Ethernet cable; Taket Live supertweeters. I've had less success noticing a difference with isolation footers for both rack gear and speakers.

[rollo]

In the defense of tweaks... Plenty of utterly FREE tweaks around. The latest I tried was a gift from Michael Green who does 'tuning' as a professional. He suggested 'loosening the AC duplex, slightly" Holy Cow! it works! The sound became slightly less 'hard' a little softer, more natural.
Reminder FREE, Like FREE as in FREE. no cost. 
The free tweaks are the best. You can try it, or not, change it back, or not. no cost except a few minutes fooling around. Like speaker placement. 
Then more troubling.. footers.. There ARE dirt cheap good solutions, a buck each, even as low as fifty cents. Or you can splurge and buy $900 ones. EACH! ($900).
Most good tweaks started out as a free or nearly free IDEA. Grabbed by someone who managed to add in a profit. say 10,000%? Some folks take basic bits, claim they invented basic electronics, and then charge through the nose for it. (Bybee) when the fact is, anyone can make the SAME DEVICE for a few dollars in parts.
So IMO complaining tweaks are a 'rip off' is not fair. a lot (in fact nearly all) of them started out as an idea. a FREE or nearly free idea.

   A huge fan of Michael. Try taking the covers off. Cracking screws on enclosure, circuit boards, inputs and so on. Try woods under gear. The biggest affect came from removing plastic wire ties and separating the wires. Have fun trying.

charles

[edpetk]

Most tweaks are a scam, at best they do nothing, at worst they impart a coloration.  If the tweak is such a good idea why wasn't it incorporated into the original design or in all similar designs?

JLM, I get it and I agree with your catchphrase that the room is the elephant. By coincidence I was thinking today of a product I saw a few years ago as I was reinvesting in hi-fi that went underneath speakers, some sort of isolation or platform. Anyway, the "objective" listeners were blown away by the positive effect and now I'm wondering if those things really worked? I'm interested in getting some better response from my Zu Audio Dirty Weekends.

[Letitroll98]

JLM, I get it and I agree with your catchphrase that the room is the elephant. By coincidence I was thinking today of a product I saw a few years ago as I was reinvesting in hi-fi that went underneath speakers, some sort of isolation or platform. Anyway, the "objective" listeners were blown away by the positive effect and now I'm wondering if those things really worked? I'm interested in getting some better response from my Zu Audio Dirty Weekends.

I've tried various platforms under various floor standers and they've all made the sound worse.  I love free or nearly free tweeks that work, but none of the homemade platforms, mostly constrained damping affairs, improved the sound.  I tried heavy concrete patio stones, nope.  I always went back to either spikes or nothing usually preferring spikes.  However a lot of members are using those somewhat costly isolation pucks to reported great effect.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

The tweaks that have worked for me are replacing all the DC walwarts with cheap chinese LPS's, a Jcat usb card (nice improvement in clarity, detail, resolution and transparency),  sorbothane feet under my TT, belden 8402 IC's and XLR's, higher end usb cables for my DAC, tube rolling, adding a second subwoofer, upgrading capacitors and resistors in speakers and preamps.  By the way, my system is very sensitive to changes in RCA's, XLR's and USB cables.  An audiophile friend of mine calls my system the "Truth" because it is revealing to system changes.  Going from a high end laptop as a music server to a custom built desktop (This one really surprised me. The difference was significant with great detail, clarity, transparency and musicality).  Replacing the sand cast tweeter resistors with duelund resistors with my Maggies.  They really smoothed out the treble.

Tweaks that did not work, Hi Fi tuning fuses made my Magnepans sound very odd and worse.  I loaned them to a friend and he had the same experience.  Power cords did not make a difference with my amp and preamp.  ZaZen 2 turntable platform.  Maybe it makes a slight difference but not enough to justify the price.  Herbies TT matt, made no significant difference.

[nlitworld]

I recently tried the inexpensive shorting plugs for all my unused rca inputs (preamp, amp and subwoofers). I was skeptical but figured it was cheap and worst case scenario it would keep dust out of the plugs. I was amazed at the simple but VERY noticable improvement in clarity, all for $12 on amazon. As soon as I pulled them all out to do an immediate A/B/A/B test, a thick blanket of haze enveloped the system like a 1980s LA sunset. There was no tricking, no confirmation bias, and no going back. As always, YMMV but on my gear that was a surprising real winner.

[Live_Sound]

Hello everyone,

My name is Gus. I am from South Jersey...
Being a very devoted audiophile for over 30 years now!
I have a decent system and a decent set of trained ears...
I can hear every change I introduce to my stereo system...
I believe that everything can influence the sound...
Above all, I believe that our psychology, mental state and physiology can influence the way we perceive the sound from our stereos
That's why sometimes our stereos sound not very involving. Music, simply is not happening
Thank you!

      Gus

[FullRangeMan]

I will agree with you, very true.

[twitch54]

I believe Synergistic also has one that they sell. Do these work? Have you tried them?

LMAO, one of the biggest 'snake oil' outfits around. I love the stories of the audio fools that spent stupid $$ money on their ridiculous 'fuses'............

[FullRangeMan]

And the $600 Furutech power plug (not a cable only the IEC plug).

[Mr.Me]

Hello all,

Im new to audio circle and relatively new to HiFi.  Just read this post about potential tweaks I was interested in.  Thanks for insight.  Helped know where not to put my funds.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Another tweak that I did recently was adding all Duelund RCA, XLR and Speaker Cables.  These have a warmer and rich tone without sounding rolled off.  Especially the RCA and XLR cables.  The speaker cables were a little more subtle but the results are undeniable.  Well worth the money.

And please, no response from cable deniers.  These cables made my new Arendal 1528 speakers sound fabulous.  They had a slightly bright edge which game me fatigue and now they sound great with a hint of warmth and they have no fatigue.

I bought my son a pair to use with his Chord Qutest DAC and it did the same for him. 

[RPM123]

Big fan of Add-Powr ElectraClear eau4 AC power harmonic resonators and that's a mouthful! I started off using one for my OLED TV, but initially didn't care for the results after several days, so I contacted the company to return it. I was advised to leave it in for about 10-14 days which I did and voila...picture did improve with richer colors and more contrast. What I wasn't expecting was an improvement in my stereo, especially in phono mode. Background became quieter and hum was reduced to a significant degree! What really amazed me was that my stereo and TV are on different circuits and separated by about 4 feet. Of course I had to get another one for my dedicated stereo outlet and the improvements became even greater. There is really quite a black background now. I also purchased a third one to put across the room, but at this point I'm uncertain how much if any improvements were made. But, I'm leaving it there.

I believe the owner used to work at Nordost and developed their noise reduction products before starting his own company. The company also make a slew of other products, none of which I have tried.

[snaimpally]

Stabilant 22A. Invented for and used by NASA. Improves electrical contact at the molecular level. I have a bottle and it has lasted me a long time. Works.

[FullRangeMan]

Stabilant 22A. Invented for and used by NASA. Improves electrical contact at the molecular level. I have a bottle and it has lasted me a long time. Works.

I had the AudioQuest and the effect lasted only afew hours.
The effect of this Nasa product lasted how much time for you?

[Early B.]

Over the past 25 years, I've tried countless tweaks, and many of them worked. However, there isn't a single tweak that has lasted throughout many system changes.  The best "tweak" is free -- speaker positioning.

[NIGHTFALL1970]

Big fan of Add-Powr ElectraClear eau4 AC power harmonic resonators and that's a mouthful! I started off using one for my OLED TV, but initially didn't care for the results after several days, so I contacted the company to return it. I was advised to leave it in for about 10-14 days which I did and voila...picture did improve with richer colors and more contrast. What I wasn't expecting was an improvement in my stereo, especially in phono mode. Background became quieter and hum was reduced to a significant degree! What really amazed me was that my stereo and TV are on different circuits and separated by about 4 feet. Of course I had to get another one for my dedicated stereo outlet and the improvements became even greater. There is really quite a black background now. I also purchased a third one to put across the room, but at this point I'm uncertain how much if any improvements were made. But, I'm leaving it there.

I believe the owner used to work at Nordost and developed their noise reduction products before starting his own company. The company also make a slew of other products, none of which I have tried.

Thanks RPM123!
I owe you for this. I never heard of this company. I bought 4 of these: Powr Bar 8
These things really work! OMG! I thought that my system couldn’t get any better. The realism was just elevated to the next level. These are a tweak that works!🤟👍😁

[mresseguie]

I've tried the ADD Powr website 3 times, but keep getting this message: HTTP Status: 404 (not found) Nevermind...fourth try worked.

Any suggestions?