Have an electrician look for an unused -and unloaded- phase in the household.
[03]Replace the modern but capacitively and inductively loaded automatic circuit breaker with the screw/fusible fuse.
[04]Use a separate power line with at least 3 x 2.5 qmm cross-section for the equipment, but with 20 A fuse.
Better still are 5 x 2.5 qmm, twisted twice to 5 qmm, then use the remaining wire for the ground wire. Not NYM line,
but better use more expensive cable with foil shield (HF-tight).
[05]Replace regularly the pre and post fuses of the house installation, so one avoids sound losses by corrosion/0xidation.
[06]If a real HiFi strip is too expensive for you, instead of a plastic part, a lab strip with metal housing
(z.B. From Knürr (089/420040), around 60,-€ ) recommended, on whose cable you can also put a ferrite ring (around 8,-€). The difference is audible!
[07]Plug sequence in the bar: most important source, other sources, preamplifier or integrated amplifier, lastly the power amplifier(s).
[08]Regardless of the purchase price of the system, each individual device should be phased out to avoid unnecessarily high equalizing currents. (see above)
[09]Replace enclosed power cables with higher quality ones
[10]Do not operate dimmers on the mains phase of the system: they interfere!
[11]All tuners on the cable network should be decoupled by a sheath current filter. The same applies to video recorders,
which are also connected to the cable network and, for example, the surround system. This measure avoids hum loops.
[12]Star-shaped ground connection of all connected HiFi devices to a Schuko mains plug – ground contact,
the loosely plugged phase and neutral contacts should be removed from this plug for safety's sake.
[13]Common racks usually consist of a metal shelf with wood insert shelves. Now, if you run the metal rack over a thin strand of cable
If you connect the cable to the grounding point of the amplifier, the metal frame acts like a Faraday cage and shields against electrosmog.
The connection is also possible via the ground connection of a free RCA plug.
[14]Have a mains protection device looped into the power subdistribution to protect your music components against
to prevent overvoltages as well as direct and indirect lightning strikes and the usually inadequate insurance for such cases.
[15]Make sure that transformers and halogen lamps do not share the same circuit with the system. Connection for 3 x 230 volts has. Uses all three available phases. For example, without the risk of humming, dedicated circuits can be
are used for analog and digital devices respectively. Electricity is distributed in a star configuration at 230 volts.
The three-phase connection in the living room by the electrician costs about 250,-€, the strip is available from 190,-€.
[17]If possible, move listening hours to the evening, because then the network is much cleaner and the sound is correspondingly better!
AROUND THE CABLES
[18]Make sure with the total wiring of the plant that the signal and current cables do not cross if possible
still be laid together to loops, interferences would be the consequence.
[19]RF interference can be suppressed by ferrite sheathing of all cables.
[20]About every three years shorten the copper cables of the loudspeakers by a few centimeters,
so that the cable piece attacked by the oxygen disappears from the signal way. The same applies to NF connectors containing copper.
[21]A good antenna line improves the tuner sound quite considerably.
[22]Phono stages, preamplifiers, CD players should be supplied with current by accumulator power packs.
In contrast to mains filters the effects are always comprehensible independent of the location.
[23]It is essential to observe the running direction of cables (see labeling, otherwise try it out).
[24]Wrap a ferrite ring around the ground connection cable of the record player
and connect it again to the ground terminal – you will be astonished!
[25]Loudspeaker cables should be connected with cable lugs or directly, avoid banana plugs,
they worsen as a rule by too small contact pressure the sound.
[26]If the amplifier electronics consists of several components, then the
Signal cabling must consist of one type of cable for reasons of homogeneity.
TURNTABLE
[27]For belt-driven ones, twist the belt between pulley and platter once:
this prevents annoying chattering phenomena.
[28]A large-leaved plant placed next to the record player reduces electrostatic charge
and by it caused cracking noises.
[29]Many record players acknowledge the exchange of the standard rubber mat
against one of about the same thickness made of felt with airier reproduction.
[30]Keep all vinyl treasures in lined inner sleeves. In this way, fine surface scratches are avoided in the long run
avoided, which lead to crackling noises.
[31] Many analog drives and sub-chassis are adjustable via threads or screws, which often leads to unwanted resonances –
Remedy: wrap the corresponding parts with Teflon tape.
[32]Should the pickup excite the tonearm strongly and audibly to "sing some permanently elastic plasticine (Teroson) helps to replace
Behind, to the side, and in front of the pickup (never between the pickup and the arm!). Also attach a piece about the size of a hazelnut to the end of the arm. Afterwards readjust, and you have for about 3, – € a controlled sampling with gain in spatiality achieved.
[33]Check pickup systems every three to five years, as the rubber bearing gradually loses elasticity, even when not in use.
LOUDSPEAKER
[34]Tighten the lock nuts of the spikes, otherwise the box stands unstable and sounds uncleanly.
[35]An inexpensive, but considerable sound gain can be achieved by removing the metal bridges of the speakers
to find bi-wiring terminals replaced by ready-made pieces of the used speaker cable.
[36]Instead of the purchasable sable links, experienced HiFi tinkerers can use parallel to the connections of their box
use a tweeter impedance equalizer. The impedance curve of the loudspeaker (always printed in STEREO) gives information about it,
because without equalization the resistance rises above about 10 kilohertz. If this is the case,
try 1.5 µF and 6.8 ohms at first, then other values between 1 and 2.2 µF and 4.7 and 8.2 ohms.
[37]Tip for professionals: Change components in the crossover against higher quality can lead to aha experiences.
[38]If the bass components of the system disturb your neighbor, just put wooden curtain rings with it
tennis balls positioned in it under the loudspeakers.
[39]Tighten the fixing screws of the loudspeaker chassis half-yearly: brings more detailed, tighter sound.
[40]If spikes are not possible, compact speakers benefit from not being placed directly on the speaker stands
placed, but small lumps "Blu Tack" of the company Bostik, plasticfermit (hardware store) or something car body sealing tape as decoupling in between puts.
[41]Booming speakers can often be improved by positioning them in a box filled with quartz sand.
[42]Even bass-potent speakers benefit in terms of spaciousness and plasticity from a fast, accurate subwoofer.
[43]Special care is recommended when optimizing the runtime and radiation characteristics of your loudspeakers on the part of the manufacturer
in the installation to the exact alignment by means of a spirit level.
[44]A full water bottle on the speaker dampens cabinet vibrations.
PLACEMENT AND ROOM TUNING
[45]Remove resonance from system by good rack and appropriate decoupling of equipment and loudspeakers.
Attention: Not every "rack" sounds" equally well.
[46]If the system is in the cabinet, bases for each device create the "rack in the cabinet.
[47]Always place the components separately from each other to minimize vibrations and a mutual influence of their stray fields.
[48]Glass as a stand surface should generally be avoided, it usually makes the sound colder and harder.
[49]Floorboards and parquet floors are resonance-critical, as they resonate with. A stable wall mount –
not only for the record player- creates effective remedy.
[50]Do not place the components between the speakers. There an energy maximum prevails, which stimulates to resonances.
[51]Hot tip for speaker placement: place one of the speakers at the listening position and then move around the room
determine the best sound point. This is then the right place for the box.
[52]In rectangular rooms speakers belong in front of the long wall: less side reflections – better imaging.
[53]In somewhat reverberant, light-hearing living / listening rooms, thicker runners between the speakers prove to be acoustically advantageous.
Likewise the wall behind the listening place is to be damped, which can be accomplished quite favorably by thick wallpaper, wall carpets, curtains or other means.
[54]Feng Shui tip: The left speaker should be about five centimeters higher than the right one.
The clearly audible sound improvement results from the laws of energy flow and shape dynamics.
[55]A placement of the loudspeakers in the middle of the room or at protrusions, but with a lot of space to the rear, creates a huge
stage imaging with plastic locating.
[56]Never place equipment, including power amplifiers, directly on the floor. Devices (especially CD players/drives. Record player) set up horizontally.
[58]Meticulously measure the wall clearance and angle of each box.
[59]Whether you are actually sitting at the top of the listening triangle can be determined with a string from the tip of your nose to each box.
CARE
[60]Dust and nicotine form a sticky mixture that damages any mechanism- dust covers increase life expectancy.
[61]Clean hi-fi components with a soft kitchen cloth and a little window cleaner.
Even nicotine residues can be easily removed with it. Scratches on CDs can be easily removed with a soft cloth. Simply polish out toothpaste.
[63]Rewind tapes and cassettes at regular intervals. This reduces copy-through effects.
[64]Turn over woofers with thin sheet metal baskets once a year, since they easily warp, causing the voice coil to "scratch" begins
[65]Regular contact cleaning on all sockets, plugs and connectors of the system brings more transparency and silky treble reproduction.
[66]A very inexpensive alternative to the "miracle elixirs" for the contact care represents Balistol oil from the weapon or hardware store.
100 milliliters cost only about 5,-€ and last half an eternity.
[67]At turntables with SME-connection the contacts between tone arm and tone head should be cleaned more often.
The same applies to the contact pins of tubes. The cleaning is best done with a fiberglass eraser –
which is available for about 5,-€ in most stationery or photo stores.
[68]Records cleaned in an ultrasonic bath are unrecognizable in terms of the homogeneity and fine detail achieved.
[69]Clean newly purchased CDs with ethyl alcohol (pharmacy) from residues of the production release agents. Makes itself clearly noticeable!
TUNING – TUNING – TUNING
[70]Decouple speakers from the floor in any case. With carpeted floors a pointed spike can make contact with the floor.
[71]Stick-on bitumen or lead plates are the all-round materials to eliminate disturbing vibrations in housings
(speakers and equipment), high sound gain in all areas.
[72]Buy healing earth from the pharmacy (box 8,-€) and fill and seal it in ultra-flat bags of the respective device size
(weld-in device circa, 30,-€). Place the flat bag on the device. Listen to the striking effect.
[73]Calm down the sound of your CD player by putting on a common car damping plate.
[74]Borrow and try out different cones/spikes for devices and loudspeakers! Not every part works equally effective everywhere.
[75]For stone and tile floors, an MDF board as speaker base can provide more warmth and dynamics.
[76]In sparsely furnished, tiled or parquet-floored rooms, the system sounds a bit dull due to strong, not quickly degradable
High frequency energy bright and annoying. Then it is worth a try to replace one of the bridges with a low impedance resistor (1-5 Ohm) for speakers with bi-wiring terminals
resistor (1-5 Ohm). This is an intervention in the crossover construction, but better a non-linear box,
which is more fun than HiFi with tears in the eyes.
[77]Always seek professional advice before tuning measures.
[78]On strongly vibrating floors, loudspeakers can often be supported very well with a plate of amorphous natural stone, such as slate or granite
(can be obtained from a stonemason), decouple. The plate should be covered on the underside with foam rubber or felt and on the upper side
if possible with spikes to be decoupled. Place your components on heavy slate plates. Place a cork or felt mat underneath to protect the shelf.
[80]Use aluminum cap nuts as a cheap spike replacement.
[81]Placing granite slabs on preamplifiers or other components protects against microphonics and brings much more quietness into the sound image.
[82]Replace the original device feet with better ones from the accessories section.
[83]Power supplies generate vibrations. For remedy remove the screw connection of the power supply and put one of the known
Dampers or rubber feet under (possibly glue). Attention: The intervention is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty and the
VDE regulations compatible, in addition the loose transformer must be absolutely secured during a transport.
[84]Chamfer and/or paint CD edges – never again a CD without a chamfered edge! Reproduction by burn-in. Improve demagnetization of the system.
[Test and play-in CD to be obtained from the Fa. Alto]
[86]Mechanical transformer hum can be prevented with source devices also as follows: Unscrew the transformer from the floor panel and remove the underside as well as
Clean the bottom plate with alcohol. Then spray several sheets of clear silicone in between and eliminate the
jack up the transformer with four small wooden wedges so that it does not sink completely to the floor due to its own weight. After two days, remove the wooden wedges. Closing the cabinet. With full and final amplifiers this does not function usually,
because here the transformers are too heavy.
[87]A simple permanent magnet -for example from an old loudspeaker- can replace expensive CD demagnetizers.
Just put the CD on the magnet for a short time and it's done. The effect – larger space, more homogeneous voices –
is admittedly not quite as good as with the devices of the industry, but can be achieved just cheaply.
[88]Bi-amping generally provides a significant gain in accuracy and relaxation of playback.
LIFE WITH HiFi
[89]Insure system including TV against overvoltage. Must be applied for separately as part of the household insurance policy,
then usually 15 percent of the total termination sum is allotted to the overvoltage protection.
[90]Saving energy is important – but optimal sound can only develop with equipment at operating temperature:
Therefore, you should allow the system a warm-up phase of several hours!
[91]If possible, switch to a cheaper electricity provider.
[92]Listen to music in the dark, this increases concentration and saves a lot of electricity.
[93]Exchange components with other HiFi fans. This easily expands the hi-fi horizon.
[94]There is no substitute for listening experience, especially musician practice and live concert experience.
[95]Get an overview of the market through trade magazines, tests, Internet and stroll through local stores.
[96]Trust your experience skills at the dealer. Once you get goose bumps, you can't go wrong.
[97]The signal source irrevocably determines what comes out of the system `raus. When buying this place invest disproportionately.
[98]Pay attention to a coherent system concept. Even the best cables can not save anything on the wrong combinations!
[99]Don't be impressed by effects during the demonstration at the dealer's premises.
Only extensive and relaxed test listening, preferably in your own four walls, will ensure your listening pleasure for years to come.
[100]Share your hobby with others! Organize for example a regulars' table with hi-fi enthusiasts.
Have fun!
USED "HIGH END BUY WITH WARRANTY! 20 years we inspire the friends of classic hifi. High end equipment throughout Europe. In our online store you will find several thousand hifi products and well over 30.000 records, CDs and other sound carriers.
We will be happy to advise you personally in our offices in Niederzissen, where you can discover many hi-fi treasures in our exhibition.
Visit us here during our opening hours or make a personal appointment.
Sufficient parking facilities for cars, vans, campers and trucks are available.