System Tune-up: What would you recommend?

[Bunyip]

Hello chaps, wondering if I could get your advice, theories, opinions.

It's been a while since I created my current setup, and several years since I've had to do anything to it - such as disconnect it all and re-set it all up again.

 

(Shots of it here, for those interested: http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/18610-bunyips-boudoir/page-2?hl=bunyip)

 

Over the 2 years or so when I was setting my system up, I was swapping bits of equipment in an out, tweaking, moving stuff etc.

However I havn't changed anything for years, and it's been sitting there and doing its job. 

Which is great - I'm loving doing what I do with it - listen to music. 

 

However - I'm thinking there might be call for me to pull it all apart and put it back together because... well, I don't know why I'm feeling this.

DO you guys do this on a regular basis? Never? Once a week? Once a year?

Is it fine to leave it untouched and not have a fiddle with it - as it were?

Or is it good practice to blow the cobwebs off, untangle the cables (bloody Cable Gnomes!) now and again?

 

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

Bunyip.

 

 

[Krispy Audio]

I'm forced to move mine around due to the nature of my business, but if it were static then all I'd be doing is removing the plugs and cleaning the contacts say every 12 months. Also would get the brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner and get into the nooks and crannies to ensure there's no build-up or cobwebs happening. But otherwise I think you're better off leaving it as is. 

[gemini07]

However - I'm thinking there might be call for me to pull it all apart and put it back together because... well, I don't know why I'm feeling this.

 

It's OK mate - it's called 'upgrade-itis' and it happens to all of us here... Some say it's actually a form of middle-age crisis/male menopause (?!)/searching for the meaning of life/boredom/too much spare time/too much spare money, etc, etc.

 

Suggest you try one of the following cures:

 

Go and listen to a friend's system, then go home and rejoice in the pleasure/superiority of what you've got

Borrow someone else's speakers or components, try them out on the rest of your gear and either rejoice, or update

Try experimenting with different cables/connections. Even if it doesn't make any difference, you'll entertain some of us for weeks telling us why it didn't (and listening to those who say it should have..)

 

[daemon d]

I tend to pull mine down once a year, or 18 months, and clean everything, pop the lids and blow dust out of the guts of things. It also forces me to re-level and balance turn table and tone arm.

 

After this, I feel better and go back to listening to music.

 

You have a sweet looking system.  Pull it, clean it, assemble it, then plug an iPod into it as a source and play some 80 and 90 pop.

 

After you take the iPod out, you'll feel satisfaction again and will be able to relax

[vmhf]

Bunyip, the tune up is a good idea mate. I pulled apart my system once, cables and all, just so I could tidy up my random cable mess. 

I swear the sound was better after the area was all dusted, cables arranged nicely. Perhaps the dust had gone to my head though

[Juicester]

hey bunyip, if you're going to go to the effort of doing this (which for someone like me, is a mammoth task and hours of fiddling to get things back into cabinets and wired up) - I recommend you buy some Caig Gold De-oxit to clean the contacts on your interconnects and speaker wires etc, while you're at it... I've been putting off doing this myself for a while - but I'll bite the bullet eventually.....

[pete_mac]

hey bunyip, if you're going to go to the effort of doing this (which for someone like me, is a mammoth task and hours of fiddling to get things back into cabinets and wired up) - I recommend you buy some Caig Gold De-oxit to clean the contacts on your interconnects and speaker wires etc, while you're at it... I've been putting off doing this myself for a while - but I'll bite the bullet eventually.....

X 2

I do this every 6 months or so with my gear. All connections are treated at both the plug and socket. You maybe surprised how much oxidation can occur subject to the humidity of your room.

[Bunyip]

Thanks for the response fellas.

 

@gemini - Well, not really upgraditus - as I'm happy with my system the way it is, and actually really don't want to jump on that merry-go-round again! ;-]

 

@daemon, vmhf, juicester, peter_mac - OK, thanks for at least helping me rationalise why I feel it's probably a good idea. Oxidation (potentially) and dust and cable de-tangle.

daemon - I really like your idea with the ipod once it's done, and also to include a re-level and rebalance of turntable and tonearm.

I'll also check out the de-oxit.

 

@peter_mac - so you really feel doing this makes a difference? I didn't think you'd get that much oxidation with gold. But what do I know?

[Grainy]

I had crackling issues in my setup recently, could not find the cause. Ended up pulling

everything apart and once reconnected again, no issue.

So I'm now also a believer of cleaning contacts regularly. Do it

[cazzesman]

I take my cable/plugs/speaker wires/power leads etc off the various connectors every 6-12 months and retouch up the ends with .....

 

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/caig-deoxit-gold-g5-spray-contact-conditioner-5-oz.

 

To my ears it makes a world of difference.   Cheap tweak.

 

Regards Cazzesman

[daemon d]

You don't get much oxidation  with gold Bunyip; they do get some though, usually through reactions with dust. House dust is mostly organic and it releases tiny amounts of thiosulphate and other organic ligands as it breaks down, which react with gold directly.

 

Some gold plated plugs used to have a low gold %, which made them oxidise rapidly by comparison, but the pure stuff is usually used now because it can be applied more thinly and is less net costly.  Also a reason not to clean them too often.

 

Nickel or silver plated ones can be tragic though, and oxides are capacitive and resistive.

[Bunyip]

AN update - I finally got around to doing it - stripped the whole rig down, hoovered up the dust, detangled the cables, wiped down the rack - the works.

Took a couple of hours and was kind of fun; it's a good way to re-connect with your hardware and tinker a little here and there. 

I even re-organised the layout a bit and sorted out where to put my damn powerboard, which had been bugging me for ages.

So all in all, a worthwhile exercise. The only bummer was that I couldn't have music playing while I did it!

 

So thanks for all your advice and tips fellas. Here's a shot of the finished product.

 

[Guest Muon]

I regularly treat connections with DeOxit Gold, it does make an audible difference IMO too.

 

Making sure signal cables are well away from power ones is something I watch also.