[eclein]

I came to this site almost a year ago and had zero knowledge about hi-fi, mid-fi or anything-fi. So I read like every post I could and started on an extremely enjoyable journey to enjoyable listening. My music sounds so much better now and it didn't cost a fortune, so I decided I would post a list of things I did to save you time. Most if not all these items are from posts I've read here or direct contacts from others here doing the same thing.

1) Bi-amp if possible-its worth a listen-my AV receiver had 7 channels and using a feature where the back surround L & R were able to
    be used as Bi-amped front channels was a game changer.
2) A dedicated Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) a component that takes a digital source signal and converts it to an analog signal so
    we can hear it, these can be had from $99 to ??? and definitely take a little research but are worth the effort.
3) Tube sound is totally worth a listen...I love the sound my system has because I run everything through a Tube DAC/Tube Buffer..
    again something to investigate but if possible try it you might really like it as I did. Sound is personal-go with what you like.
4) If like me you have alot of music on a computer and want to bring that music to your HT or Stereo rig there are many ways and
    many price points. I kept reading about something called "Squeezebox"-its made by Logitech and makes it easy and pretty cost
    effective to bring your music from your PC wired or wirelessly to your main setup. I'm not affiliated with Logitech and there are
    many ways to accomplish this-the Squeezebox works for me so I'm mentioning it.
5) Power conditioning, clean AC...lots of ways to achieve it and it helps.
6) Raise your sub off the floor and bring it out of the corner if it resides there, made my low end tighter and took away "boomyness"
    My sub currently sits about 10 inches off the ground and on an even plane with my speakers. I stuck it on a box first-easy tweak.
7) Acoustic treatments-I drap a blanket over my HDTV, and other large items in the room when really listening-its cheap and works
    until I have the budget to buy or make real correct items for room treatment.
Speaker placement-I talked to a gentlemen who builds them for a living and asked him for a general rule and he said "if you start
    by using an equilateral triangle with your listening area at one point and each speaker at the other points thats a good general
    rule"
9) Tubes can be swapped-if you tried the tube sound and like it you can even change that sound by changing tubes within the same
    size. Different tubes produce different "flavors" of sound and are relatively inexpensive to change or "roll".
10) Caps or capacitors are like tubes but in the solid state world and can also be changed but this takes some now how and soldering
    skills...not as easy as swapping tubes but its definitely doable.
11) Cables - Cables strike me as unique in many respects as tubes, different cable/mfg/type etc. produce different types of sound.
    They are an extremely controversial item and I suggest you try different ones if possible then decide which brings me to...
12) Equipment tours- They are in my opinion a great way to hear different items within your own setup in your own home at your own
    leisure. Once you get established here its not hard to look for any "tour" announcements and get on the bus-they introduced me
    to many items that I have since purchased as a result of hearing them with my gear and my music. Great resource!
13) Vintage equipment is not a dumb idea, I have several pieces in my setup and in fact the strongest part of my system are vintage
    speakers. I have found tremendous bargains on the web via CL and others...buying old stuff "vintage" is a great way to check out
    different types of things and not get burnt.
14) Source stuff-Vinyl,CD's, whatever-amazing deals via the web..I personally buy all used CD's-some as cheap as .75 plus shipping
    import them to my PC and file them or play them. Vinyl guys will help you find Vinyl..there is a great used vinyl store near me and
    I'm in BF!
15) You can throw as much or as little into this hobby as you want...once you start it's a blast!!! Enjoy!!!
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16) Ask questions in this forum. My experience is that you get great response and excellent suggestions tailored to your situation, based on the information that you provide.
17) One addition I'd make to your list is isolation pads for bookshelf speakers.
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This post is only meant as a place to see some of the ideas I've used or tried in the 8 months I've been coming around here. If you
have some ideas of your own post them below, if I have mentioned anything that is totally wrong-correct me below....
 Have fun!!

[Rclark]

  nice post dude

[1369ic]

I see you've got a pair of 4312s.  I've got the B model I'm freeing up from surround-sound duty.  I'm researching an amp purchase and was wondering if you're using the Virture Two.2 with those. I'm wavering between low-power tubes (something like the Nohr SET), a vintage Luxman receiver or Virtue-type amp.

One addition I'd make to your list is isolation pads for bookshelf speakers.  I didn't think it'd make much difference, but I had some sound isolation material left over from a car speaker installation, so I bought a big ugly mouse pad from an office warehouse and stuck the two together (the insulation is adhesive rubber) and put them under my Swan M200s, which I run from my Vaio through a NuForce uDac.  They sit on a hutch on an old dining table.  A non-audio-aware friend staying with me noticed the difference before I had even put my tools away so I could sit down to give them a good listen.  Turned the bass more into bass notes.  I did a highly unscientific feel test with and without the makeshift pads and I could feel the difference in the vibration in the hutch.  Might be dependent on what you've got your speakers set up on, but it's worth considering.  I'm thinking about buying real pads to see how they work with the fronts on the surround sound system.

[eclein]

Welcome to audiocircle...using the Virtue TWO.2 to drive them yes...sounds great, I'm using a sub and I couldn't be happier. Plenty
of power for the 4312A's I can get to about 20% of the output before my ears bleed..LOL!!! Lotsa headroom!!! Enjoy and thanks for the tip.
 

[wilbert-vanbakel]

16) Ask questions in this forum. My experience is that you get great response and excellent suggestions tailored to your situation, based on the information that you provide.

[etcarroll]

I just swapped out the .59 cent outlet for a Leviton Hospital Grade, minor but definate improvement in sound, mostly a 'blacker background',  ie, when there isn't supposed to be music, now there is no sound at all.

So when there is music, it's cleaner, and maybe bass a little tighter, but that could be placebo effect.

[silver_strings]

2) A dedicated Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) a component that takes a digital source signal and converts it to an analog signal so we can hear it, these can be had from $99 to ??? and definitely take a little research but are worth the effort.
3) Tube sound is totally worth a listen...I love the sound my system has because I run everything through a Tube DAC/Tube Buffer..

A dac with a tube buffer really enhances the listening experience one of the best buys I've done in audio is buying my tube dac's

[Elizabeth]

I am in some ways  very frugal.
Cheap or free stuff one can do:
The AC outlet. even the $2.89 ones, Pass & Seymour 20 amp CRB5363 outlet. Replacing the cheap, really worn out one you now use is worth the $3 it takes to exchange, even if you do not think the AC can make a difference. Just replace the worn out outlet. (just be careful changing it)
Butyl Rubber feet. Chemical bottle stoppers, size ten. They cost $1,25 each. I use dozens all over the place, and they last a lifetime. A very good, inexpensive isolation device I still use a lot.
One bottle of Caig DeOxit. will last for many years. $30. use it on every single contact (connection) but sparingly!, wipe off before plug thing back in, a molecule or two  thick is all you want to leave on. (some folks swear by just plain alcohol clean is all they say you need. Clean all connectors, you can use a Q-tip by pulling most of the cotton off the paper stick, leave a bit of fluff. Fits perfect into RCA male connectors between barrel and pins.
Have a small 15 or 25 watt incandescent lightbulb plugged into the AC line between wall and stuff. It 'eats up' the grunge a bit. like put it in the first plug on your powerstrip.. it helps a little bit if you have no conditioner.
If you CD sound is a little too 'tizzy, or bright try snap on ferrite claps. Radio Shack has some, or AudioQuest has some more expensive ones. I have a pile around always at hand. Good on Interconnects from digital to preamp, and on AC powercords if you have no conditioners. Another cheap product I love.
Mogami, and other inexpensive interconnects. They are good but cheap. If you have decent gear, spend the money on the gear or music. lay off buying better interconnects until you really are ready. wait on them until you have the electronics you really want. Spending bucks on connectors is not a good way to maximize your money. Once you are at the equipment level you want, then think about connectors that cost more money. Mogami, Kimber PBJ, are two i had when i used cheaper connectors. Others out there. Blue Jeans.. etc.
And most of all. Learn to just stop judging all the time. Once you get the stuff set up. Just forget about the 'way' it sounds and listen to the music.
You will be happier.
Good luck.

[etcarroll]

Ok, another thing I thought wouldn't matter, but did for me, may for you - bi wiring your speakers, if they are so enabled.

Just bi wired my Onix Reference 3s with Skiing Ninja MAster xover and platinum bypass caps, sounds so much more alive.

So in order, best tweaks have been;

- swapping out cheapo outlet for hospital grade,
- bi wiring, (not exactly cheap though, Supra Rondo 4x4.0 cable @ $18 per meter)
- diy power cable, (also not cheap).