Cheap/Free Tweaks ($10.00 or less)

miklorsmith · « **on:** 16 Jan 2007, 04:40 pm »

Maybe on the lighter side - here's a place to post cheap or free tweaks.

I'll start - For two different vibration isolation ideas:

1) Cut a piece of flat wood into a 1.5" square. Glue some thin cork sheeting onto the wood (I like Gorilla Glue). Use a Dremel tool to sand down the rough corners from cutting, if you go crazy, your isolation puck could be round. Oooooo.

Make 3 or 4 of these and suspend gear. Listen and immerse.

2) Advanced alternative - Cut handle off spoon. Sand rough edges from cutting on bowl of spoon. Glue bowl onto blocks made under 1), above, using a glue gun. Obtain large, lead shot from sporting supply store. Place one ball into each spoon and carefully place equipment on top. Voila - your CDP will "float". A variation would be to use steel shot instead of the lead balls which would increase the lateral float but decrease advantage from varying material density.

Try this before spending lots of money on roller balls.

smargo · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 05:56 pm »

also these work remarkably well under my amp and cd player - resolution baby!!

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=11559662

they also sell round pucks made of cedar that are a little smaller that fit perfectly under my cd player. Below is the link that you will see the picture of the puck - with the hole in the middle - they also sell these seperatley although i can't find them on the web site.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/EnlargeProduct.asp?SKU=13481920&ZMPHT=380/4512113481920P.JPG

regards,
smargo

pacifico · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 05:58 pm »

I was thinking of trying hockey pucks

miklorsmith · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 06:53 pm »

Sweet!

Here's another one for spikes:

Get some threaded furniture feet from a hardware store. Cut them down with a Dremel to say 1" total height. Grind the cut edge down to a point. Get a little blu-tack and stick to the big, flat side and stick to whatever you're spiking.

This works better when you can use 3 spikes instead of 4, as getting the lengths exactly the same is a pain. Furniture feet are super burly so the final product is actually quite stout.

Joules · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 07:25 pm »

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92557
large speaker/equipment feet - solid brass too

gooberdude · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 07:32 pm »

1 pound each brass spikes for $8....awesome!!

The cedar block kits....awesome!!

i started into footers simply by cutting up 2x4's into blocks...

Mapleshade sells 2" sq maple blocks too, they sound great for 2$ each. Not sure about the sonic attributes now that they are $5 each though.

Best free tweak I know of is using a maple cutting board under an amp or turntable...

Canyoneagle · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 07:43 pm »

I've been curious about possible DIY room treatments on the cheap. This may be better posted in the 'acoustics' circle, but the cheap factor applies here as well.

Things I've considered:
- large corkboard panels covered with fabric or behind a tapestry
- foam rubber salvaged from old furniture - cut to size and/or glued into shapes, then covered with fabric and used in corners, etc.

Has anyone tried this?

Warmly,
Michael

miklorsmith · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 07:47 pm »

Soft furniture or pillows can act as first-reflection assistance or possibly bass traps when placed in corners. I have no solid information on the trapping potential of a big, puffy chair but you could try it out. It definitely works for first reflections, as I have a friend that rearranges his room a bit for critical listening.

R_burke · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 07:47 pm »

Quote from: pacifico on 16 Jan 2007, 05:58 pm

I was thinking of trying hockey pucks

I use them for my amp (Sonic Frontiers Power 2) that weighs over a 100 Lbs. Think I paid $1.50 each from a Sports Supply store (American Hockey Supply ?)

Canyoneagle · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 08:47 pm »

That makes sense.
My wife and I have hung tribal carpets (hand knotted wool), with far better acoustic benefits than with flatweave tapestries.

Nice decor, BTW!

Warmly,
Michael

PhishPhan · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 10:39 pm »

Once a day keeps the ear wax away.

eric the red · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 Jan 2007, 11:07 pm »

Quote from: smargo on 16 Jan 2007, 05:56 pm

also these work remarkably well under my amp and cd player - resolution baby!!

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=11559662

they also sell round pucks made of cedar that are a little smaller that fit perfectly under my cd player. Below is the link that you will see the picture of the puck - with the hole in the middle - they also sell these seperatley although i can't find them on the web site.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/EnlargeProduct.asp?SKU=13481920&ZMPHT=380/4512113481920P.JPG

regards,
smargo

Looks like the pucks are only available in their 'value pack' http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13481920, but for 15 bucks (sorry John) minus the weekly BB&B 20% off coupon, you could try them everywhere. BB&B also has a variety of hardwood cutting boards for under ten bucks. Racquetballs cut in half as isolation devices are worth a try as are hocky pucks under your speakers on hardwood floors.

smargo · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Jan 2007, 12:59 am »

[/quote]
Looks like the pucks are only available in their 'value pack' http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13481920, but for 15 bucks (sorry John) minus the weekly BB&B 20% off coupon, you could try them everywhere. BB&B also has a variety of hardwood cutting boards for under ten bucks. Racquetballs cut in half as isolation devices are worth a try as are hocky pucks under your speakers on hardwood floors.
[/quote]

no - i bought the pucks seperately in the store for under $10

thanks
smargo

Russtafarian · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Jan 2007, 01:30 am »

My two favorite cheap tweaks:

1. Pillow behind my head

2. Beer

TIC · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 Jan 2007, 08:19 pm »

Russta,

Unfotunately BEER doesn't meet the price criteria of the thread. It needs to be reapplied every time you want to hear its value! Can get expensive over time.....

Enjoy,

TIC

Jim N. · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 Jan 2007, 10:24 pm »

Have not bought from these folks but the prices for hard maple cubes seem low

http://www.barclaywoods.com/craft_parts.htm

BubbleChamber · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 Jan 2007, 01:02 am »

The Mapleshade cable website offers a few free tweaks. I am kind of surprised by a few things that the site has suggested.

For folks who haven't visited their site, here are the URLs:

http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/freeaudiotips.php

http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/turntableupgrades.php

http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/audioproducts/tubeupgrades.php

P.S. I am not affiliated with Mapleshade Audio.

mfsoa · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 Jan 2007, 01:08 am »

Some of the Mapleshade advice really flies in the face of conventional audiophile wisdom (wow, a triple oxymoron!)
Like sitting as close to the back wall as possible for best bass and a huge soundstage.

Now what has Ethan been tying to teach us about comb filtering?

But hey as always, if you like it, that's what counts!

zacster · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 Jan 2007, 01:57 am »

Vinyl self stick floor tiles applied to the inside of any gear that isn't already damped. At about 75 cents apiece at Home Depot, it doesn't usually take more than 2 to cover. Worked wonders on my Toshiba 3960.

BubbleChamber · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Jan 2007, 02:18 am »

Quote from: zacster on 21 Jan 2007, 01:57 am

Vinyl self stick floor tiles applied to the inside of any gear that isn't already damped. At about 75 cents apiece at Home Depot, it doesn't usually take more than 2 to cover. Worked wonders on my Toshiba 3960.

zacster,

That's a nice tweak. However I am afraid the tile will deteriorate and eventually will fall off due to the heat generated by the components inside the gear, especially inside an amp. Do you think those felt pads works better?