Hi-Fi Maintenance & A Friendly Reminder

Posted by: Greg Beatty on 10 January 2004

All -

Finally had a few moments last night to do some maintenance on my kit.

First up was re-converging our projection tele. The convergence had drifted 3-4 pixels or so and when three light guns drift 3 pixels in random directions, the resulting picture isn't nearly as sharp as it could be. End result: Regular TV looked like it got the high-def treatment. DVDs look lifelike now :-)

Then on to the hi-fi. All I had time for was unplugging and replugging the interconnects and speaker wires.

But Whoa!!! This is the reminder part - if you have not done this in a few months, or ever, DO IT!!! Everything gained in sparkle and realism. Mucho better for no cost.

I also usually check the speaker driver bolts, clean the CD and DVD read heads, and demagnatize the kit.

I'm curious what else forum members do to keep their kit working in top order.

Let's hear it!!!

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

[This message was edited by Greg Beatty on SATURDAY 10 January 2004 at 18:30.]
Posted on: 10 January 2004 by Wolf
I wish I had more room around my kit to more easily get to the connections in the back. And oh htat snake pit of cables in back of the coffee table...

Life is analogue
Posted on: 10 January 2004 by Greg Beatty
Perhaps I'm the odd one then...

Haven't changed a piece of kit well over 6 months.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here
Posted on: 10 January 2004 by Emil F
I have separate racks for the PSUs and the head units and my interconnects and burndies were lying on the floor. I put some small objects between the cables and floor and the improvement wasn't subtle. I wonder what will happen, if I make special stands for cables to keep them at the height of the boxes, so they don't twist?

Emil
Posted on: 10 January 2004 by Geoff P
Greg

The only untouched bit on my kit is the read head on the CD as you call it.
So how do YOU clean it ( I'm not sure I want to go there)?
Not another steam clean fan I hope!

GEOFF
Posted on: 10 January 2004 by Greg Beatty
GEOFF -

I use a Radio Shack lens cleaner CD. The disk has brushes on it - when you play track 2 on the disk, the laser head is moved under the brushes. The disk also has test tones and other stuff.

I don't have a Naim CDP and cannnot directly access the lens as you can with a Naim CDP.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here
Posted on: 10 January 2004 by Manu
Take care of CD lens cleaners, i have seen many lens destroyed by this type of things.

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
Posted on: 10 January 2004 by London Lad
quote:

I wonder what will happen, if I make special stands for cables to keep them at the height of the boxes, so they don't twist?

Emil


A Fraim for cables Smile

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!
Posted on: 15 January 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
quote:
Originally posted by Greg Beatty:

Then on to the hi-fi. All I had time for was unplugging and replugging the interconnects and speaker wires.

But Whoa!!! This is the reminder part - if you have not done this in a few months, or ever, DO IT!!! Everything gained in sparkle and realism. Mucho better for no cost.



Greg

Exactly

Regards

Mike

On the Yellow Brick Road and Happy
Posted on: 15 January 2004 by Goldstar
A little light dusting seems to do the trick.
In my experience, the less I disturb the kit the better it seems to sound.
52 Pre, 250 , LP 12 ,Troika , Ekos, Lingo (with filter removed)
Posted on: 15 January 2004 by Laurie Saunders
I have allowed a beautiful patina of dust to accumulate over the last several years.....as PR will testify...i am positive that the vibration - deadening properties of dust have really helped improve the sound of my system. Unfortunately, there are no quick short cuts to achieving this ....you just have to be patient and allow nature to take its course Razz

Laurie S
Posted on: 15 January 2004 by Stevea
quote:
Originally posted by Emil F.:
I have separate racks for the PSUs and the head units and my interconnects and burndies were lying on the floor. I put some small objects between the cables and floor and the improvement wasn't subtle. I wonder what will happen, if I make special stands for cables to keep them at the height of the boxes, so they don't twist?

Emil


In theory... Lifting your cables off the floor should/could make a difference but once they are off the floor taking them up to the level of the equipment has no theoretical benefit.

As for practice.. try it.

To test this theory (more strange ideas off the internet) I lifted my speaker cables up a couple of months ago with the aim of getting used to that sound and then dropping them back down again to see if I could notice a difference. I have not actually completed the experiment as the cables still sit off the floor and I have been busy playing with racks - but one day.....

Steve