Author Topic: Checked Your Screws Lately?  (Read 3488 times)

Offline James Edward

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Checked Your Screws Lately?
« on: January 28, 2019, 03:43:15 PM »
A modification thread regarding my Spatial speakers had me break out the #2 philips screwdriver and check the tightness of the screws holding the drivers to the baffle. Just about all could use some tightening, and some 3/4 to nearly a complete turn.
Not being an anal retentive type of listener, I could not break out the Diana Krall and pronounce mission accomplished, but it certainly can’t hurt to tighten things a bit.
I am also VERY conservative when it comes to things like this; my tightening was done with a light touch. Do they make torque screwdrivers in inch pounds vs the torque drivers I am familiar with in auto work?
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Offline malloy

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Re: Checked Your Screws Lately?
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2019, 07:07:16 PM »
I used to be very paranoid about this. I regularly used to (every month or so) re-tighten the bolts that held the front plate of my speakers (an Epos). I used a ratchet and over tightened the bolts and damaged the front baffle!

But I remember when I did tighten the screws, it seemed to focus the imaging and midrange/treble a bit better.

Offline tmazz

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Re: Checked Your Screws Lately?
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2019, 07:54:24 PM »
I don't know about my equipment, but I have been told on numerous occasions that I have a few screws loose.  :roll:
Remember, it's all about the music........

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Offline Nick B

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Re: Checked Your Screws Lately?
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2019, 09:18:33 PM »
I don't know about my equipment, but I have been told on numerous occasions that I have a few screws loose.  :roll:

The administrator refuses to comment on this issue.....
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Offline dflee

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Re: Checked Your Screws Lately?
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2019, 08:13:20 AM »
I'll see your screw tightening and raise you:
Read once that steel screws affect the magnetic drivers and you should change
them all to brass. Well I took one of each size to the hardware store and got all brass
and replaced every one of the steel with the brass. Tightening each snug and excitingly
turned on the stereo. Nada, nothing different audible wise. No better, no worse so I left
em in. They do look cool when the grills off though and don't seem to loosen as fast as the steel.
Haven't had any loosening on any of the electronics but did read in another site about loosening
all the screws helped. Not gonna try that one.

Don
"Enjoy pleasure, not because it is fleeting, but because it exists at all." Sacrament, Clive Barker.

Offline Nick B

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Re: Checked Your Screws Lately?
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2019, 07:36:50 PM »
I'll see your screw tightening and raise you:
Read once that steel screws affect the magnetic drivers and you should change
them all to brass. Well I took one of each size to the hardware store and got all brass
and replaced every one of the steel with the brass. Tightening each snug and excitingly
turned on the stereo. Nada, nothing different audible wise. No better, no worse so I left
em in. They do look cool when the grills off though and don't seem to loosen as fast as the steel.
Haven't had any loosening on any of the electronics but did read in another site about loosening
all the screws helped. Not gonna try that one.
Don


Don,
I wonder if anyone here has tried that and perceived a difference. If I don’t get an improvement in the sound, then “cool” comes in a close second  :thumb:
Nick
« Last Edit: January 29, 2019, 07:38:47 PM by Nick B »
Orchard Starkrimson Ultra amp
Supratek Chardonnay preamp
JMR Voce Grande speakers
Border Patrol SEi dac
Holo Red streamer
Hapa Aero digital coax
WyWires Silver cables
TWL Digital American II p cord
Audio Envy p cords
Roon, Tidal, Qobuz
PI Audio UberBUSS

Offline tmazz

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Re: Checked Your Screws Lately?
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2019, 08:58:57 PM »
I'll see your screw tightening and raise you:
Read once that steel screws affect the magnetic drivers and you should change
them all to brass. Well I took one of each size to the hardware store and got all brass
and replaced every one of the steel with the brass. Tightening each snug and excitingly
turned on the stereo. Nada, nothing different audible wise. No better, no worse so I left
em in. They do look cool when the grills off though and don't seem to loosen as fast as the steel.
Haven't had any loosening on any of the electronics but did read in another site about loosening
all the screws helped. Not gonna try that one.

Don

There was a guy who used to post here that went by the user name Werd that was a big advocate of loosening screws.

Haven't heard from him in close to 2 years now.

Remember, it's all about the music........

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• McIntosh MC 275
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• VPI HW-19 Mk IV/SDS/SME IV/Soundsmith Carmen Mk II ES
• Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 DAC/Rasp Pi Roon Endpoint
• DigiBuss/TWL PC&USB/MIT Cables

Offline Folsom

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Re: Checked Your Screws Lately?
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2019, 08:10:13 PM »
My go to, it has a clutch that can go so light you can't even get the screws in!


Offline rollo

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Re: Checked Your Screws Lately?
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2019, 08:16:58 AM »
   I have tried both ways with screws. Loosened to a snug fit and tightened all the way. Seem to prefer tightened. Appears better focused.


charles
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