When I was a poor audiophile, I loved tiny tweaks. Without switching out components, I could improve my system’s sound without spending too much money. Bypassing or replacing cheap capacitors, cleaning connections, applying Star typewriter-cleaning gum to vibrating headshells, and other tiny tweaks made memorable sonic improvements.

I recently replaced the cheap fuses in my Musical Fidelity kWP preamplifier with fuses made by HiFi Tuning in Germany, sent to me by The Cable Company. These have silver filaments, ceramic bodies, and gold-over-silver terminations, and damn if they didn’t seem to produce a subtle but noticeable improvement in smoothness and coherence. For less than $30 each (available in various sizes they’re worth trying, if only for the diversionary entertainment.—Michael Fremer