6 HiFi HACKS You Need To Know and 6 HiFi HACKJOBS To Avoid At ALL Costs

Blue Tack Options:
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Laser Distance: amzn.to/3Hr7Wpi
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Washing Machine Isolation: amzn.to/4b1gYXv
Sorbothane (Bookshelf Sized: amzn.to/3U7IqwJ
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[@ryanlee6157]

Great video! You are the most helpful!

[@MattCoykendall1]

Glad you think so!

[@hondaphan4172]

Love your channel, Matt. I can't wait to hear your take on the new Emotiva speakers. Months ago I took advantage of their clearance blow-out sale and picked-up their C1+ CC and a pair of B2+ stand-mount speakers which are being powered by an Emo BasX A3 amp. I'm anxious to hear your review on their new tower speakers, namely the XT1 and XT2 when they become available as I'm hoping the XT2's will become my end-game speakers.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I need to reach out my contact and see what I can do.

[@tonymolina7744]

GM from NJ. Selling air and rocks ... genius! Washing machine pucks and tack are a big part of my system. I have space limitations in my main living space, so your advice on what to buy is spot on. Thanks for this, very useful my friend. btw ... the echo of children lasts for the rest of your life. Four kids ... all adults, only two left at home ... and I can't block them out - ever. And then there's the wife ... Great vid!🙃

[@MattCoykendall1]

Lots of simple tweaks out there that get many of the same results as the expensive options. I get it that everyone is looking to get that lost drop of performance but rocks and gemstones are a bit out there but none the less they give us something to talk about! Take care Tony!

[@riccitone]

lol! This was pretty hilarious and awesome. Call me a fool, but I actually noticed an improvement when raising my cables with wood blocks. But might just be they’re getting a little dampening from my seriously resonant - might as well be a giant passive radiator - wood floor. Something cool I tried for a small listening space was to replace the closet door behind the listening chair with a curtain, effectively increasing the room volume while providing some no cost bass trapping when leaving it open (sheets, pillows, jackets etc.). It actually worked. Finally, those cheap Nobsound spring pucks are money well spent🔥 👍🏼🙏🏼

[@MattCoykendall1]

I have actually looked at those spring pucks, I am curious enough to give them a try, why not!

[@guillermobrito4987]

Great video, thanks a lot, i didn't how critical were the pebbles in front of my house for hifi....just start singing them to get some money for a new sub.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Rock on! Literally

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Hack 1. Turn off your fridge. Those things are noisier than you think, even the quiet ones.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Don’t forget to turn it back on haha

[@sietchtabr5120]

No Sir, you only need to turn off the inside light when the fridge is closed😁

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

But what about my listening session lagers?

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

@@simonzinc-trumpetharris852 Smoke weed instead 😑

[@genemaddux9343]

Good deductive reasoning in this!

[@MattCoykendall1]

A mix of reasoning and comic relief

[@carminedesanto6746]

GM ☕️❄️from Toronto.. In audio…the perception is the reality . Have a great weekend.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Good morning! You too Carmine

[@carminedesanto6746]

@@MattCoykendall1You put your finer on it …the biggest issue is …the room / listening position 💺 A million dollars of gear..will not sound as good as a $10k system that’s immaculately set up. As for tweaks ..we all have our preferences..me , mechanical isolation, good power supply ( IFI power) and a comfortable chair..and 🥃 If you can’t get the room set up , speaker 🔊 position, subs..ect …may I suggest headphones and IEM’s . You’ll still need a comfortable chair and 🥃 Have a great weekend.

[@MattCoykendall1]

It’s amazing how slight changes can make all the difference

[@timharbert7145]

Yes! The pucks totally work. I use the furniture moving pucks under bookshelf speakers at home. At work, for desktop speakers, I use pieces of Styrofoam. For dacs using a USB phone charging block, try plugging into an unused USB port on a tv. I think my Modi 3 sounds noticably better powered that way.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I know DACs can be very sensitive to the incoming power, maybe that wall wart is the weak link and the output from the tv is superior. You never know how terrible some of these wall warts are without some measurements or experimentation.

[@tmdillon1969]

You mean I wasted my money when I paid 60K for a pair of Nordost Odin Gold speaker cables? Darn it!

[@MattCoykendall1]

Ha! I wouldn’t doubt someone out there has claimed they can see the sounds with these. My stance is basically if they feel it helps…good for them, just not for me.

[@michaelwright1602]

Thanks for the video Matt! I just pulled the trigger on those Sorbothane isolation feet for my Zu speakers. If anyone orders these, make sure you purchase the correct ones, they come with different weight ratings. The 30's will not work with a heavy speaker, you will want the 70, they come 8 to a pack. I have the SVS iso feet on my two SB3000 subs and they did make a difference in the bass by getting it out of, or decoupling from the floor. Now, my Zu speakers are beyond stupid with the bass, and I want to see if these help with the same issue. Thank again Matt.

[@MattCoykendall1]

You are welcome and that reminds me I would like to get a pair of Zu speakers in.

[@michaelwright1602]

@@MattCoykendall1Agree on the Zu's, they continue to impress, I now own two pair. The original Omen Dirty Weekends and their new DW6 Supremes. Pair them up with a vintage receiver/amp or tube amp, just incredible sound, they walked all over my KLH Model 5's. Incredible detail out of these, and solid bass. I cannot say enough good things about them. They can be somewhat picky with gear, I always tell folks to keep that in mind. They sound best with warmer sounding gear, Class A or A/B, just my experience. I use a vintage Sansui 4000 receiver and the PS Audio Gaincell DAC/Preamp for the WiiM Pro and Oppo. This particular Sansui has a very airy and tube like sound to it, and plays well with the Zu's. Very musical, call it "Fun Fi"!

[@Evolved_ue7]

Network streaming, sometimes just a reboot can improve your audio, it may say 100mb download speed, but what's in the download speed ? a reboot sometimes just cleans it up .

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Fun video, Matt... and right on point.... Listening at night ... Air density is slightly higher in the cool of the night. Sound travels better. Speaker placement ... moves as little as 1/4 inch can make a huge difference. Make sure the distance from your sweet spot to each speaker is identical. Equal distance is more important than actual distance. To be avoided ... Very expensive versions of things with the same features. Price is *_NOT_* an indication of quality.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Hey Douglas, thought I would switch it up, it’s nice to do some fun videos like this rather than only dedicated product reviews.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@MattCoykendall1 Absolutely ... reporting on the "audio scene" is just as good as a review.

[@gbrm6077]

I tried cable risers a while ago. They didn't make any difference. I then upgraded my speakers and amp, but didn't bother with the risers. After watching GR Research's video on risers, I tried them again not expecting any difference. I was shocked at the improvement. Even my wife who has no interest in audio commented on how good the system sounded. I have a dedicated audio room with acoustic treatment, so YMMV. There is a video on KZbin which may explain why this happens. Apparently the latest research indicates that electricity flowing through a wire doesn't act the way we once believed. It has something to do about the energy field that surrounds the conductor. You should be able to find the video if you're interested enough.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

I wonder ... do you know how often this same thing, especially the part about the wife noticing, has been regurgitated in these discussions?

[@gbrm6077]

471 times.@@Douglas_Blake_579

[@jukingeo]

The midrange rock had me rolling! It makes me wonder what the size and shipping costs would be on a subwoofer rock? Also, like with the battery wires, do they have passive and active rocks?

[@MattCoykendall1]

I feel like the shipping should be free after spending a fortune on a rock, I wonder if it comes with a warranty?

[@marcparsons1726]

I use a headphone tube amp as my stereo preamp (daisy chained). Kills any shrillness.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Yep, that’s a good option if you’re looking for a particular sound. Thanks for sharing your tweak!

[@gratmatassa5432]

hi UK here, need an inexpensive power cord get yourself some UK rated kettle leads (£6.00) they can handle 240 v & a healthy 3kw of power = 12.5 amps more than enough for the hungriest component. the wonder of being able to boil enough water for 2 cups of tea in under 60 secs imagine what it could do for your system.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Ha this is obviously the answer!

[@Roddy451]

BDR Cones... Mk3 & 4.

[@calvinnapier9977]

I know most will think this is classic snake 🐍 oil. I heard about a break in cd from Arye Acoustics a reputable company. I checked into it and bought the Cardas-Ayre cd from Amazon for $36. I had doubts but kept a open mind. I played my main reference cd Larry Carlton Discovery and while listening I had the feeling of needing to turn my sub up just at bit. So then I played the Cardas-Ayre cd through my system at average volume. Then after I put Discovery back in and no kidding I didn't feel the need to turn the sub volume up anymore. It really opened things up and to my suprise 😮 it worked. I don't believe it's snake oil on this one.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I have never experienced this one personally, I feel like if it makes a difference to you that’s good enough especially if the price is right. The only time I really have issue is when the product commands thousands of dollars and is something like a rock!

[@oliverbeard7912]

Haven't heard of the lacquer one. This is a mad hobby sometimes. "Quantum Tunnelling" has been used by one of the brands,who also market acoustic products of questionable efficacy. The owner wears expensive suits and has 2 sports cars in the factory. That alone should raise alarm bells. The problem arises when people put so much faith in these products that they'll defend them vigorously even if they have no understanding of them. "Just listen" and "keep an open mind " is the motto,but there's no genuine logic based evidence,only emotional responses.Not looking for a fight and i feel similarly to yourself that if they genuinely believe that some of this stuff is kosher and they're convinced by what they hear (or think they do),then i think it's absolutely fine. I'm more disappointed that people are being taken advantage of.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Right, I agree if it’s something semi affordable I can live with it, If it’s a shameless money grab I tend to object pretty quick. At the same time if someone ignores reason and really wants it I guess it’s a whatever from me, it’s on them at that point.

[@trevorbartram5473]

Great vid, some suggestions. 1. Equilateral speaker/listening positions are fine but once you've done the initial setup, move forward & backwards with music playing to determine the BEST listening position. 2. If the speakers are located asymmetrically in the listening room it's much harder to minimize bass room modes. 3. Equipment displays are a distraction & pointless because generally the're not readable from the listening position. 4. If you make your own RCA cables make sure the cable is good quality (low capacitance, shielding, low microphonics) & the connectors have good quality plating (clean the contact surfaces every couple of years to remove oxidization etc). 5. If you suspect your system is subject to AC interference, try a common choke wrapped on AC & DC power cables. 6. Static electricity discharge into your equipment may damage it, if it's frequent consult an expert. It reset my AVR & blanked my TV for a few seconds, yikes, until I got it sorted.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

For any cable where you suspect RF ingress, you can buy really inexpensive Ferrite Bead chokes to clip around the wire... search for "Ferrite Beads" you will find dozens of sources, sizes and a ton of information. AND... no they do not affect the sound of your system.

[@pascalmartin1891]

Displays: 100% agreement there. I much prefer remote control from a phone app. This way I have the screen close to me, and I did not pay for that extra one.

[@trevorbartram5473]

I don't have a smart phone so I use an Amazon Kindle Fire tablet for control/display & the Echo Link as the internet bridge/streamer with a Schiitt Modi DAC connected to my amp, works great!

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

The equilateral triangle we hear so much about is really only a starting point. I often end up with the speakers closer together or sitting further away.

[@meutubedou]

I put a 1/2” to 1” piece of Rubber Mat (size of the speaker) under all my speakers.. Never any vibration whatsoever.. I have also used cork.. If any door or cabinet handles shake, I wrap a rubber band around it which stops it quickly..

[@MattCoykendall1]

I use cork on my speaker stands, cheap and works.

[@danielh12345]

I like those spikes with the little disk where the spike can drop in to, then a felt pad the dame size as the disk. Looks nice and it just vibrates in the disk. Its mostly cos they look nice and I could make them flexible. They are under my diy speaker stands (diy speakers attached to those with threaded inserts and nuts) so the speakers are quite inernt already. Just used a relatifely heavy beam for the stands. The spikes do slowly dig more into those little disks so it is taking some movement up. I tried it without the spikes and just a thick folded towel to test, spikes were just as good in this situation. For me it was mostly a decision for looks. But if I ever need my speakers to not be mounted on the stands I can still just thread the spikes into the speakers. The rubber mats / cork / washing machine stuff will be just as good if not function better for stuff that needs more absorbtion than I do.

[@Openeyesopenheart42]

Squash balls cut in half used under equipment like amps , turntables , small speakers etc can have a positive effect

[@MattCoykendall1]

Sure I can see that!

[@pascalmartin1891]

What is the mechanically sensitive part of an amp? I would rather make sure that the (metallic) enclosure is grounded--something not true with most class D amps (two prongs).

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@pascalmartin1891 Some tube amps, especially as the tubes age, can become microphonic.. It's an easy test... just tap the tube(s) with a pencil and listen to what comes out the speakers. Ideally, nothing. However, the whole idea of vibration damping has gone a little silly. For tube amps, yes. For a turntable, yes ... for the rest of it, total waste of money and effort.

[@Openeyesopenheart42]

@@pascalmartin1891 valves, also if your turntable is on the same surface as your amplifier, it helps negate any effects if someone accidentally knocks either.. admittedly it would be a larger knock, your needle amplifies every vibration it feels…. Maybe 😂 After 30 yrs of this hobby and FAR too much money spent, any upgrade that circumvents me emptying my wallet deserves a try.

[@we8463]

Cables are the biggest rip off in the audio industry!

[@Dr_Girthly_Baggington]

DONT buy or sell rocks .... Rocks ruin people's lives... I knew of a guy that had a nice hifi and sold rocks, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison for intent to supply a class A substance... ( he was not selling amplifiers )

[@MattCoykendall1]

Ha good advice here

[@jimfarrell4635]

Nice vid. For under standmount speakers I like Moongel pads, which are made for dampening snare drums etc. Slightly more expensive than Blu Tack but does a great job. Under subs I like SVS Soundpath feet. Again, more expensive than washing machine pads, but I have tried both and the SVS feet are much better and still will not break the bank. Ikea chopping boards are perfect as equipment stands, with sorbothane feet under them. A great tweak. Lastly, Darko came up with putting metal doorstops on small, desktop equipment to stop them moving round. It works and you can take pleasure in your friends trying to work out what the hell they are.⁸

[@MattCoykendall1]

I will give the moongels a look, I think I recall seeing them in a Darko video at some point. The SVS feet are pretty good, I have a couple pairs as well!

[@jimfarrell4635]

Cheers, Matt. I took the plunge and, with a bit of trepidation bought Isoacoustics Gaia feet for my big and heavy (110 lbs each) floorstanders. I have to admit, for those speakers (Wharfedale Elysian 4s) in my room, on my wooden floor, they were worth it.

[@MattCoykendall1]

Those are really nice I can’t deny it

[@pascalmartin1891]

Did you forget to mention that the positioning of the rocks in the room is critically important? :-) Speaker cables: since the agreement is that the gauge is important if the cable is not short, I looked at Home Depot price for 14 gauge wires (only solid kind is available).. it is more expensive than 14 gauge pure oxygen free speaker wires rolls from Monoprice. Buy semi-decenr banana plugs for the amplifier side (to avoid short circuits between posts) and, voila, you got good speaker cables (proudly made in the USA 🥴).

[@MattCoykendall1]

Can’t believe I forgot the rock placement! Next time I will factor in the phases of the moon as well.

[@osliverpool]

With you on all of those. I've been convinced that music can often sound better at night since I started listening 50 years ago, but I'm increasingly convinced it's at least mostly psychological... Maybe there's less ambient noise at night, and maybe mains power is cleaner at night, but there's almost always a lot less mental noise in my head at night.

[@MattCoykendall1]

I think I am with you here!

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Watch the movie "Gravity". When she enters the various airlocks and turns on the air feed, you will hear the sound levels coming up with it ... YES... it actually does work that way! Sound is totally dependent upon air pressure. Nighttime air is cooler and slightly denser than daytime. Sound actually does travel better at night.

[@osliverpool]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 Re "Nighttime air is cooler and slightly denser than daytime" - not indoors it isn't, with the heating on.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@osliverpool LOL... I should take it, then, you don't live in Canada.... Good point, thanks for posting it.

[@osliverpool]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 Hehe, no, the relatively balmy north of England 🙂

[@mikecampbell5856]

I loved the heck out of this video. A hi fi hack that came out in the 80s was painting the edges of your CDs green. Another was a product called the CD shaver that beveled the edges of your discs. Both were said to diminish laser lens diffraction. Paul McGowan of PS Audio said that cable risers improved resolution. I quickly unsubbed from his channel. If you come up with any more hacks, I hope you make another video. Thanks!

[@MattCoykendall1]

I read about the cd hack you mentioned while I was researching this video!

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@MattCoykendall1 TechMoan has videos on both ...

[@pascalmartin1891]

Cable risers: I remember that the theory was that the (concrete?) floor was creating some capacitance effect (which he could have measured if he wanted to confirm his hypothesis). At least the risers he used were cheap, what was most expensive is probably the space used to lay down the raised cables neatly. Audiophilia is a form of obsession, sometimes..

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@pascalmartin1891 One guy tried to tell me that the speaker cables vibrated and laying on the floor had a damping effect. Audiophilia, in these extreme cases, is not simply an obsession... it's a disconnect from reality.

[@simonzinc-trumpetharris852]

Those cd hacks are BS. They do nothing at all