2. misc-audio
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Tweaks That Don't Work

This may be the subject of some discord, but a great community service would be to help others not waste money on snake oil.

Please let us know what you've tried that had no impact - or negative impact, even - on your system. Also, if there are tweaks or products that are only useful on some systems for whatever reason, please let us know what kinds of systems do and don't benefit from the particular products.

Some of you out there have tremendous experience trying to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of your equipment and probably have a laundry list for us - let's hear it!
aggielaw
pictura
32 posts
 
Peter Belt's Rainbow Electet Foil works in my system. I would say that that is his most effective tweak. Just stick two short lengths on a CD. Audible. That said, some of his other tweaks offer no immediate significant audible difference. His position is use the tweaks for a period and then remove them. You should hear a degradation in sound.

I have use the PS Audio Ultimate Outlet on my DVD player and TV set. The colors are much richer and opaque. Perhaps Nzera should try his on his video setup and see if there's a difference.
twl
3,251 posts
 
I didn't try the foil on a CD, because I only use LP records.
Maybe that was the problem.

I did cut the recommended sizes and shape, and put them on each item in my system.

I left them there for a year. After removing, no difference noticable.

Oh well.
rel
119 posts
 
TWL: You may need to reapply the foil, being sure to ignore any protests from your components. Most commonly reported? A barely audible murmuring that sounds something like "Curses! Foiled again!!"
twl
3,251 posts
 
Hehehe.
aggielaw OP
264 posts
 
I'll be posting more about Richard Hardesty's work on other subjects, but he had just a short bit to say about tweaks. Generally, I believe his position was most tweaks are not worth the money spent (I assume directed at commercial tweaks), which mirrors a comment made in this thread. I believe he also infers that most tweaks damage the sound (or the accuracy of the sound, at least) rather than help it.

If you agree with Hardesty's theories - and particularly his position on tweaks - then most tweaks are useless or worse, harmful.

Thoughts?
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