why is my system better at night?
Posted by: dayjay on 17 February 2014
Its 12:30am, I'm listening to Simon and Garfuncle and it sounds fantastic. It also sounds very noticeable better than it does in the daytime, clearer, better soundstage, more real to a degree that if I'd paid for an upgrade I'd be very happy. Am I going mad or is there a logical reason for this? And even more importantly how do I replicate it in sensible hours?
There might be less noise outside.
Many things are better at night!
A lot of people forget the biggest single factor in the sound of their hifi is themselves. Your moods change, your psychological and physiological states change throughout the day.
Have you been drinking - are you relaxed after a tiring day?
Mine sounds better at night and after it has been raining.
Always much better after a glass, or two of wine.
Tog
I always put it down to a cleaner power supply. Less demand on the local supply.
Less distortion in the power supply.., I guess.
In North America, peak power consumption occurs before and after typical work hours. Evening peak is from 4pm to 8pm, with a lesser peak until 11pm. Consumption is greatest on hot summer days from 3pm to 8pm. So if you are listening late at night, like dayjay, it could be the power supply.
This is a consistent finding here too. There are probably a number of reasons and I think mains quality is one of them.
Conventional wisdom says it's to do with the mains. Less demand means higher quality: more stable supply. Try a separate supply for the HiFi and a RA Megaclamp to ameliorate the effect of prime time users.
My system definitely looks better at night when all its dust is not showing.. As for sound, it probably has to do mostly with my state of mind, inching towards 'sleep' mode, becoming more forgiving.
Thanks for the responses, much appreciated, I suspect it boils down to either mains conditions or mind conditions but it certainly applies
This is mostly actually about the impedance change comming through the AC wall socket. This is what change. It is not the lower voltage like people usually trying to simplify and explain to themself. Some designs are immune to this and some not.
I think there are two key aspects
a) State of mind,
b) Electrical noise on the earth/neutral
I don't think voltage level has any if much factor as I have seen no correlation here - but definitely been able to observe / experience a) and b).
You can reduce the effect of b) if you have PME mains distribution by hiring an electrician to change the mains earthing/neutral system at your property. (assuming your property can support it).
BTW the optimal listening time for me is mid afternoon thru evening. I find late at night or after alcohol the experience is less rewarding - I assume that is down to my state of mind and - and I largely have isolated electrical noise as I have applied the earthing changes above.
Simon