What High End BS Claims have you found to actually work in your system?

BobM

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OK, without getting into any "he said - she said" discussions, what typical cries of BS from the general community have you found actually produced a noticeable difference in your system. I'm talking things a bit more than subtle tonal changes or general feelings of wellness. Let's keep it to tangible stuff like increased or tighter bass, wider/deeper soundstage, more tinkly stuff coming through, better detail, etc.

I, for one, have absolutely heard differences in power cords. Now, whether it is the connector, or the cord, or the whole shebang, or the scientific explanation for the difference - I really don't care. I know and have absolutely heard different kinds of changes in the sound.
 
Power cords
DSP/DRC
Tube rolls
DSD128 and above!!!
FM Acoustics Phono Linearizer with the voddo button
A half cube thingy from a German company I say at the Zurich show 2012...on/oof was night and day difference.
 
i was recently surprised by how much difference the cheap (~$70) Furutech AC receptacles make compared to premium (~$30) Hubbells. Far and away the most cost effective improvement I have ever made (not counting cleaning contacts, etc. that cost only time not money).
 
Obscenely expensive interconnects and speaker cables with in line networks. I hear the difference. I can't listen to any other type anymore. I need a 12 step intervention.
 
And what about the reverse which I think would be more interesting? What High End BS Claims have you found to not actually work in your system?
 
Power Cords have not made any difference.
No change with speaker wire 10g
IC's have made a minimal difference.
Tubes have made huge differences.
I have also heard slight differences in digital Coax vs optical on the same source.
CD transports have made a noticeable difference
Swapping op amps have made huge differences
 
Stillpoints, all of them! They work including the harvesters.
 
Stuff that's worked for me:

- +1 to what Myles said.

- High quality cables. Yep, even those of the USB and POWER variety..

- Ensuring that the polarity of each component is correct.

- Tuning the sound of a system with resonance control devices. Or as I like to call em', cheap wood thingies.

- Taking anything that creates 'hard reflections' out of the listening space.

- AMR fuses. Seriously. I <3 em'!
 
Remember when everyone though Enid was crazy when she discussed the importance of AC plug polarity? Or that RCFs have a sonic signature? Little too much of that South Park smug cloud hanging over the thread.
 
Stillpoints, all of them! They work including the harvesters.


For the same (or close) result, but at a lower cost, Mapleshade brass Micropoint Footers under all electronics.

Shunyata Triton, Cyclops, and Hydra AV power distributors, power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables.

Because of the effect from these items I now consider power and vibration control to be the foundation upon which you build your system. Without a good foundation, your equipment is underperforming, and that applies to lower end as well as high-end.
 
There are two kinds of products sold to the high end community. First there's snake oil products from charlatans. And then there's the products I own.

Sort of like what George Carlin observed about drivers, anyone going faster is a maniac, anyone going slower is a grandma.
 
OK, without getting into any "he said - she said" discussions, what typical cries of BS from the general community have you found actually produced a noticeable difference in your system. I'm talking things a bit more than subtle tonal changes or general feelings of wellness. Let's keep it to tangible stuff like increased or tighter bass, wider/deeper soundstage, more tinkly stuff coming through, better detail, etc.

I, for one, have absolutely heard differences in power cords. Now, whether it is the connector, or the cord, or the whole shebang, or the scientific explanation for the difference - I really don't care. I know and have absolutely heard different kinds of changes in the sound.

The number one difference maker pour moi is the power conditioner. Before adding the conditioner, their was a roughness or a hard edge to the treble that I just couldn't cure. When I added my Audience power conditioner, the difference was like night and day. As much as any component change I've made in my system. Now the treble is very smooth and natural and does not call undue attention to itself. Count me in as a believer.

Ken
 
Myles - I don't remember seeing that thread, but I've come across a startling amount of (usually European made) gear that comes to the US with reversed AC polarity.
 
For the same (or close) result, but at a lower cost, Mapleshade brass Micropoint Footers under all electronics.

Shunyata Triton, Cyclops, and Hydra AV power distributors, power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables.

Because of the effect from these items I now consider power and vibration control to be the foundation upon which you build your system. Without a good foundation, your equipment is underperforming, and that applies to lower end as well as high-end.


Bud, I have tried the mapleshade footers & now use them as dampners on top of my components. The Stillpoints, they are underneath. ;)
 
Ohhhhh I almost forgot: Differences in sound via: different software on different operating systems.
 
Audio is complex in observation. As such I think it all has chance to improve or degrade our systems. Lampi makes a product that is needed in any system but not nec compliant in the usa. Polarity in itself is wronge from device to device for various reasons . And fixing it is simple but no manufatory wants you to.
Al
 
Listening ti high end audio will get me laid. Not true! In fact if I bring up a new possible purchase, my wife cuts me off for 6 months!!! lol
 
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