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wingnut4772
10-03-2006, 07:09 PM
Okay so this audio hobby is a crazy, addictive obsession into ever improving our gear. Let's save some money for a change and list your free tweaks here that you have discovered made a difference in your set up.

(Also feel free to add the insanely cheap)

My first free tweak is proper cable management. Be sure to at least separate your AC cords from your speaker wires and interconnects.
michael_w
10-03-2006, 08:51 PM
Fill your stands with shot or sand. It's pretty cheap for a bag of sand and can make a big difference.

If you have hardwood floors throw down an area rug between you and the speakers. It should help to null any nasty reflections a little bit.
BlueMDPicker
10-03-2006, 09:07 PM
Nevermind.... I thought this said Free Twinkies.
Early B.
10-04-2006, 01:46 PM
Play with placement.
madmax
10-04-2006, 02:04 PM
Put each piece of equipment on a good dense platform. MDF seems to work good.

Try different signal routing where possible. For example, maybe you have a tape input which you could run your CD player or whatever your main source is into and eliminate some circuitry it must go through. (Big tweak with the AI preamp I have).

madmax
ESavinon
10-04-2006, 02:18 PM
Clean the contacts twice a year including power cords.
Unplug every cable and wire used, spray with contact cleaner,then treat and clean any rca jacks/xlr jacks with deox it.
Willow
10-04-2006, 02:31 PM
not free but cheap, replace stock jumpers.
steveinaz
10-07-2006, 10:03 AM
If you have carpet, place your spiked speakers on pieces of tile. Try just 1/2" of toe-in, I found this to be optimal with practically every speaker I've owned.
surfntomm
10-08-2006, 05:08 PM
If you have carpet, place your spiked speakers on pieces of tile. Try just 1/2" of toe-in, I found this to be optimal with practically every speaker I've owned.

wont pieces of tile look like crap sitting on carpet under you speakers? :confused:
Early B.
10-08-2006, 06:43 PM
wont pieces of tile look like crap sitting on carpet under you speakers? :confused:

No.

He means 12" x 12" or similar size ceramic, granite or marble tile in any color that goes well with your decor. Some high end speakers and speaker stands use tile as bases. A solid base provides solid bass.
sucks2beme
10-08-2006, 08:24 PM
not free but cheap, replace stock jumpers.
Boy did I need to do this. The stock ones were 20 years old and nasty.
Night and day difference. The highs are back the way they should be.
Frank Z
10-08-2006, 09:36 PM
Use rubber door stops to angle the center channel speaker directly at the primary listening position.

Buy and use an SPL meter to properly calibrate your system.

Read up on proper sub setup and placement before buying a bigger, uglier sub.

Get your brain wrapped around the concept of proper placement for optimal sound.

Read your damn manuals front to back while actually sitting in front of your gear.

Read up on how your speakers use 1 watt of power.

Toe-in is your friend....disregard if you own SDA's

Surround sound effects should be seamless and not easily identifiable with regards to which speaker the sound came from.

Forget you ever heard of THX.

There are no movies produced in 7.1, 9.1, 104.1, 6.1 is all you'll find on a DVD.

DSP modes are garbage.

Dolby PrologicIIx kicks major azz!

The only thing that should be on top of your speakers? Air.

Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

We did in fact send men to the moon.

Russmans head really is THAT BIG.
Frank Z
10-08-2006, 09:38 PM
Oh yeah, almost forgot....
Download and read the Polk Audio HomeTheater HandBook. (http://www.polkaudio.com/education/hthandbook.php)


Learn how to use the search feature on this forum.
danger boy
10-08-2006, 09:40 PM
Oops.. my bad.. i thought you said Free Twinks.. :p (some of you will get that). ;)