Blindjim, A long posting to answer your question about how to begin with Herbie's is missing in action. A short version: If you go with the starter teflon ring type for smaller, cooler tubes, and the metal ring type for larger, hotter type tubes, you will get a painless (monetarily, and physically) introduction to tube damping, and probably just stop there. Remember, ninety day home trial. Wow!
Also, the simpler footers, selected for component weight, and size, make an even greater, overall sonic improvement in "everything you didn't realize is missing in your system" at very modest cost.
Please email through the Audiogon email system so I can answer more easily any questions (perhaps, by phone) arising as you make your choices while communicating with Steve, at "Herbie's".
You may want to get that initial feel for what kind of satisfying changes you hear with the basic items, as I did, before thinking about the more expensive part of the product line. Like your previous experience with different species of wood, there is an excess of choices for restless ears to try.

listener57 August 11, 2006 02:19

Snofun3,
auralex.com seems to have every sort of idea to improve a room. The offered "two hours" of personal interaction with a company rep, after the potential customer sends in his room details, seems amazing.
Even without first addressing room effects, and deficiencies, optimizing resonance/vibration control of each individual component box or cabinet can be heard as desirable, audible improvement, to start with.
I have leaned toward including the (almost mystical) Machina Dynamica line of products for taming room effects, and enhancing performance of a system. These are virtually invisible when placed, and emulate , even surpass, the benefits of products based on more mainstream acoustic theory.
In my systems, many different approaches are complementary, and qualify as potential upgrades, before even shipping away to someone who can offer hands-on upgrading within a component.

listener57 August 10, 2006 20:32

Blindjim, I share your concern about a mat separating from top label surface of CD, and remaining inside the playing mechanism area when the tray moves in or out. That is why whenever I see the first hint of less adherence of the Grungebuster CD mat to the CD's top label side then I rub off the microscopic film of dust or particulate matter on the mat's contact surface with CD label side with a drop of water, or saliva.
I don't know if this exchange of bodily fluid for good sound is at all perverse, but if my mat ever gets stolen then a simple $200 DNA test will identify whether the recovered $12.50 Grungebuster CD mat is really mine (audiophile paternity testing).
Also, I have been fully outfitted with Herbie's tube rings, and IC connector rings, and it is a very worthwhile upgrade.

listener57 August 09, 2006 18:17

A few "almost free" upgrades: herbiesaudiolab.com
Three $8.85 Big Black Dots beneath each speaker, especially your older sub, on a solid surface such as smooth granite tile on rug, or on wooden floor.
There are similar, smaller footers from herbie's for placing under your various components, power conditioner, etc.
Their use should make a surprising upgrade for very little money.
Although I use a variety of footers, such as Aurios MIB's, Audio Points, Mapleshade brass footers with maple stands, Mi-Rollers, in a number of systems, the most astonishing cost-benefit ratio followed using Herbie's under a part of a sound system, and achieving comparable results to any of these other choices. Because of being a virtually unknown product, the Mi-Rollers are another find which I encourage Audiogoner's to consider, when looking for easy to use, reasonably priced footers.
My single best cost-to-benefit recommendation is to try using Herbie's Grungebuster 2 CD mat (currently "2.2") for $12.50. Biggest surprise upgrade for almost no money spent.
You will have a lot of fun hearing how much improvement you can add with these upgrades for the masses ideas.
Herbie's has a ninety day home trial period, and from my experience, it is doubtful that you will go for a refund.
There are a bunch of contact enhancers which I have found can be helpful, even dramatically so, but those probably should be a follow-on upgrade, once you see how easy it is to do some non-invasive upgrading.

listener57 August 09, 2006 00:37