stereophile: Past Votes

v class="headstory">Previous Vote Results


What's the weirdest tweak you've tried? Did it work? (Yes, you can define weird any way you want)

Submitted by Stereophile Staff, Nov 13 2005



Most of you admit to trying questionable tweaks if they are free or reasonably priced. What's the weirdest tweak you've tried? Did it work?

Yes it worked�here it is: 50%
No it did not work�here it is: 25%
Never tried one: 25%



Adjusting window blinds! I have a window behind the left speaker. Blinds closed concave: cold, tight, bright sound; Blinds closed convex: warm, spacious, natural sound. Go figure...
—*Jason*

I'll be the first to admit the brain is the most overrated organ but on the other hand I will not suspend belief in merely the hope something will work. I have to see the logic in it before I'll give it a try. I will tweak, but not if it's questionable in my mind.
—*Mitch*

"Weird" means disconnected from some predefined norm, I guess, as in a weird hairdo or weird behavior. In that sense, Sam Tellig's repeated urging for readers to try placing coins on top of their speakers, in a specific arrangement, seemed pretty weird. It is certainly not the normal thing one would think of doing with coins and speakers, so I had no idea how it could possibly work. It didn't. Even though nobody was looking, I felt strangely embarrased when I tried it again, with a new system I had purchased later, in the Constitution-guaranteed privacy of my own home. It still didn't work. I have even surreptitiously sneaked this tweak into various systems in dealers' showrooms (fortunately, I wasn't detected). It still hasn't worked. My hearing is okay and, from years of regularly attending live concerts in various halls around the world, I have a decent enough familiarity with what a real orchestra sounds like, so THAT'S not the problem. Sam, have you ever considered therapy? Not that there's any longer the possibility for an acceptable definition of "normal," in this Postmodern age, but maybe you could at least learn a little about these strange things you hear. Much has been written about the efficacy of booze as a good tweak�it has certainly helped my systems attain their maximum potential over the years. But that's not weird, is it?
—*Gerald Clifton*

Blutak applied on the metal walls of the CD housing enclosure in my top loading CD transport. Another vibration reducing trick!
—*Motown Dave*

That crazy green marker on inner ring of cheap CDs (I tried CD-Rs). I'm still not sure why I did that.
—*Nick Kats*

I tried to use fresh vegetables such as carrots and potatoes as isolators under gear's feet. The rational behind it is that the organic live cells absorbing vibration in "organic" way. It worked. However, two critical things: 1) I have to cut fresh carrots every time before serious listening, it only lasts two hours or so. 2) Make sure each cut has same heights and is flat on both sides, use certain kitchen tool if you have.
—*Jay*

Interesting that this comes up after Sam Telligs' recommendation in the 12.05 issue on the Isolpads; http://questforsound.com/accessories/acc_sqIsolPads.htm Well, check this out: http://www.soundproofing.org/sales/prices.html? Sure looks like the same thing to me at significantly less cost. I'll be ordering these!
—*Steve*

1) Try the "intelligent chip". I tried it on one disc and heard a noticeable improvement. 2) Lightly sand the outer and inner edge of the CD with sand paper (240 grit works fine) to remove the shine. This roughing of the edges stops a great deal of the laser reflections. This results in a more musical, natural and detailed playback.
—*J.Liguori*

I put wood blocks (about 2" thick) under the feet of my sofa to heighten my listening position. Spatial definition seemed better after this tweak.
—*Bruno*

Put in a dedicated circuit breaker and power cable all the way from the power box to the equipment location. Much improved low end "firmness". Not unlike a capacitor upgrade (which I did on one of my Haflers). I voted before not likely to try questionable tweaks but this one was my own idea and based on pretty well known principles like Ohm's law. Oh, and the whole thing about that it's impossible for a bumblebee to fly - that's folklore (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_045.html).
—*Patrick Taylor*

I probably got snagged from some high-end email list years ago and was contacted by a guy who claimed their special film would improve definition and clarity when attached to equipment/CDs/etc. I allowed him to send me some for free. It was on a stickyback liner and looked like some plain old metallic holographic type stickers. For kicks I put it on a few items but apparently I wasn't "sensitive" enough to reap the sonic differences. He wanted to sell me more at unreal, expensive prices. Ha ha.
—*Mark A, Colorado Springs*

I Added a 2" thick piece of stone from a gravestone maker, it was scrap so cheap, about $20 each to the top of my LaScalas. Really improved the sound. Also glass paperweights on top of my rega planet cd player, firmed up the bass.
—*Jim Green*

Someone named Belt once got me to try little strips of rainbow foil on my CDs. I got as far as an A/B comparison before realizing that I was behaving like a total idiot. But your question brings up an interesting point. Weren't tiptoes a "weird tweak" in the 1970s? Weren't fancy wires initially a weird tweak? What about the idjits who went back to tubes after years of solid-state? Weights on your speakers? Isolation platforms for turntables? How in the world could power cords make any difference? Big columns in the corner of the room? The logical flaw in many of last week's responses is that just because you don't know the physics of what's going on doesn't mean it's not going on. I might also point out that saying all of physics works by "laws" is itself a faith-based statement...currently presumed, but only provisionally. What the "hard heads" are assuming is that something must sound plausible to them for it to conform to the laws of physics. Hardly.
—MJ

Using old keyboard wrist supports under the feet of stereo components, turntables especially. They are as good as the ones you buy just for that purpose! They might not look as good, but they are cheap! Just cut in squares and place under your components.
—*djl*

Everything�everything—makes a difference!
—*Ed Strnad*

Mini-Blind adjustment in listening room. Room too bright? Have mini-blinds for window treatments? Just turn concave side of mini-blinds on 45 degrees downward angle towards the floor! Music is focused downwards towards carpet/furniture rather than bouncing off the convex side of blinds towards the ceiling. Ceiling reflections are unwanted as they irritate the listener by amplifying the high-end. It's a stunningly simple and effective tweak.
—*Shawn Watson*

L. Walker has a box to change the phase of the AC powering (usually) a turntable. Note this is reportedly not designed to change the phase of the sound waves reaching your ear�it changes the phase of the alternating current powering the component. I thought it made an easily noticeable improvement in one position as opposed to the other, but I have no idea why. For all I know it was an Schr�dinger cat litter box [sic] type of situation....
—*suits_me*

Blutack between some old stand mounted loudspeakers and their stands, many years ago. Of course, I could also mention dozen others that didn't work. They usually cost me something close to nothing, so what the heck? Why not try it, have some innocent fun, and then admit that your system should be left alone?
—*Dimitris Gogas*

I tried the coin on top of the speaker cabinet thing. Nope, no change, that I could detect at least. But then my cabinets seem to be virtually free of resonances. I also raised my cables off the floor (with Mor-tite damped and [new] toilet gasket ring footed vintage ceramic electrical insulators [$3 ea.]) with no discernable change. I left them that way because it makes it much easier to dress the cables and because it is much easier to clean around and under them. So, in that my girlfriend is happier with dust-free cables and the system they are attached to, perhaps my overall sonic experience has improved.
—*Mike Agee*

Years ago, I bought a green marker to coat the edges of CDs. It was a regular marker identified by one reviewer as being the same as the audiophile version, but withut the groove on the tip and it cost 10% as much. Seemd to work a little, but not enough to use on more than a handful of CDs.
—*Louis P.*

Putting a quilt over the TV when just listening to music. The reflections off the screen must really mess things up, because the improvement is great. Better imaging and less midrange glare.
—*audio-sleuth@comcast.net*

Applying spiked metal feet and setting a turntable on a substantial piece of glass. I was young and stupid back then.
—*C. Chasinovsky, Van Nuys, CA*

$1.20 on top of speakers. Fungible fun ;)
—*Al Marcy*

Red Bull. It really does help me focus when I'm tired or have a headache. At $2 a can, it is a cheap enhancement to a listening session.
—*Travis Klersy*

A CD mat. In my case, an inexpensive SID. The improvement in sound was quite unexpected.
—*Anoni Mouse*

As usua,l the exact wording of this weeks question brings into question just how to respond. You are asking about "questionable tweaks"? I don't know it this falls into that catagory, but here goes. I think I once read in Stereophile that if you normally wear eyeglasses that taking them off can improve the listening experience. That sounded logical to me so I tried it and noticed an improvement. Not like the difference between night and day but like the difference between night and very early dawn. To be honest I generally forget to do it, but it does seem to work. And you can't beat the price. I will be very interested in the yes answers to this week's questions. Please list the ones that don't cost anything first so readers don't have to wade through the ones that cost money.
—*Craig*

A few years ago, someone suggested using interconnects made entirely of solder. I had some solder lying around so the "tweak" was essentially free. Did it work....Hmmm. Least said soonest mended with this one, I think.
—*Dave Bennett*

I have tried things that have (and have not) resulted in an audible improvement in the sound quality in my system. I have not tried any tweak I did not have enough information about to give me a clue as to a valid physical or electronic explanation as to why it might work. After all, this is merely music reproduction, not something much higher!
—*Paul J. Stiles, Mtn.View, CA*

I installed three bookcases full of hardbound books against the wall behind my listening chair. It did a great job of damping bass resonance modes that had been a longstanding problem in my room. I also happened to need the extra bookcases in my house....
—*Woody Battle*

Click Here For Previous Votes