For some, a system upgrade is unachievable, especially due to job security concerns during the Covid-19 pandemic. So it would be good to hear about budget upgrades people have done for under 100 pound/dollars/euros.
They must be ones that you hear a decent improvement for, and not an upgrade you convinced yourself there was a difference just because you now spent that money (yes we’ve all been there).
It would be good if people “like” the responses that they have tried and agree with
Cisco switch. £50. Blue Jeans Cat 6A cables. £90.
A media upgrade as opposed to hardware - a mint or excellent condition first vinyl pressing as opposed to a reissue. Well worth seeking out originals via record fairs, the auction site or Discogs, for their (generally) improved SQ.
£0 - remove the grill from your speakers
New hearing aid batteries 
or
A few bottles of nice wine.
final suggestion
A lottery ticket and a lot of luck.
or in my case; do a better displacement/positioning
Audio serenity gel pads 8 for £13.92, 4 currently used under Naim QB2, just improves the SQ, better defined vocals, mid range and bass…bargain.
Hudson Hi-Fi’s Silicone composite = £22.
I use these under my 300DR to great effect. Also under other electronics.
Easy and zero cost.
Stay away from this forum and stop reading upgrade threads, enjoy what you have.
Proper speaker positioning - free.
£27.90. Clean all the speaker cable plugs and other electrical pins and connections.
Free : cable dressing. Make sure speaker cables and interconnects are not touching power cables.
Earwax microsuction (NOT syringing) about £80 for both ears, then you will really be able to hear the differences that all the freebie tips suggested above make
Witch Hat Morgana and or Phantoms come in at around £1000 depending on the permutation.
Cheaper still is the bottles of wine suggestion, coupled with staying up till 3 in the morning with no-one else in the house. That’s when my set up sounds at its best. Genuinely.
I would agree with this but I was just wondering how many people do this and how often?the ears are supposed to be self-cleaning but at times a little help would be useful.
Currently I am experiencing mild tinnitus, a constant high pitch buzzing sound from (I think) one ear. I’m not sure if periodic cleaning of the ears would help reduce the symptom.
I just ordered some more to go under my new speakers. Also have a bunch of them used on other kit in my headphone rigs.
Having bought a DIN shortie from Russ Andrews, I worked out how they were made (not difficult!) and knocked up a full set of five more to cover all the inputs of my 202. All-in cost was… well, can’t remember now, but it was a long way short of buying them ready-made.
Noise floor dropped and the sound got a bit smoother, but the pleasure in having saved money by making something with my own hands meant I would have been happy even if they had just sat there doing nothing.
Mark
Power down, unplug and replug all connections a few times, power back up and enjoy
but if you must spend slightly over the £100 change your plug fuse to a Synergistic Research Blue or Orange.
