What was the first tweak (other than tube rolling)?

caesar

Well-Known Member
May 30, 2010
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Other than tube rollling, what was the first tweak that was marketed to audiophiles?

Cables, electricity, vibration control, others?
 

BruceD

VIP/Donor
Dec 13, 2013
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Hmmmm--I can recall Bob Fultons cables when I first heard them--Tweaks per se?--ah Tiptoes?

Interested to see what comes up:b

BruceD
 

Kingrex

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Feb 3, 2019
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Footers, racks, power upgradea
 

treitz3

Super Moderator
Staff member
Dec 25, 2011
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The tube lair in beautiful Rock Hill, SC
Electricity? Weren't the old gramophones hand cranked?

Tom
 

JackD201

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
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Manila, Philippines
Speakers stands AFAIK They got the bookshelf speakers off of the bookshelves, stands for Quads and 801s too. Tip toes came in a little later perhaps? I was but a child LOL
 

Kingrex

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Feb 3, 2019
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Electricity? Weren't the old gramophones hand cranked?

Tom
Mine is. My modern stereo uses electricity.
10 AWG OFC cord to a heavy acrylic/corian power strip. Polished and Deox grounds with #1 grounding conductor. Bottom entry to panel. No other conductors within 6 inches of audio power leads. Accept for the neutral which is a #4 from the main grounded conductor to my cord termination in the panel. Parallel #10 silver coated mill spec copper ground wire for a total of 8 awg ground from panel to power strip.
 

Kingrex

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Feb 3, 2019
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Spock got me going on all the tweeks I have applied one day. I think I have maybe 12 or more. All fine tuning my audio system. Linear PS on Routers, modems, switches, Bluejeans Cat 6 throughout. Room acoustic panels. placement of furniture when I listen seriously. Racking and footers went through many iterations. AddPower and Akiko power conditioners. Tried 5 ior 6 other brands. All sorts of adjustments to my PAP Trio 15 horn speakers to get them as good as they can be. Cabling isolation. Power as noted above. Power is so critical. So is grounding.
 

spiritofmusic

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2013
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In the UK two decades ago, I always remember the 90/10 rule, no more than 10% on cables, stands etc. Indeed most people went 95/5 or even 99/1. Some £10-20k systems in the 80s (a small fortune then) literally used Tandy wire and coffee tables.

Then in 90s, Mana stands came along, w their stackable glass/steel stands. One could stack a dozen "shelves" under a Linn LP12 or Naim cdp. Extended obviously to phonos, amps.

This was the first product I remember to destroy the 90/10 rule.
 

Kingrex

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Feb 3, 2019
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Im sorry, I did not see the "Marketed to Audiophile". Monster Cable.
 

spiritofmusic

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2013
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Monster cable!!!! God, I nearly bought into that. I remember a friend going "should be renamed - marketed to saps!".
 

Kingrex

Well-Known Member
Feb 3, 2019
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Monster cable!!!! God, I nearly bought into that. I remember a friend going "should be renamed - marketed to saps!".
What do you mean. Do you still use zip cord? I believe cables matter. But that is me. I have not been involved in blind this that and the other. What I do know is weeks after insertion of a new product, does my stereo stop me in my tracks and make me listen with rapt attention. That in my book is how to know if what you did was right.
 

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