2. misc-audio
  3. 1324927097

An unusual phenomenon verified.As is my custom, I

As is my custom, I turned on the music when I went to bed Christmas night. Immediately, I noticed the music sounded better. Was I in a better mood? "No". Did I feel better? "No". Something or everything I had eaten was disagreeing with my digestive system. Had I done something recently to improve the bedroom audio? No, not in years had I made any changes. Then why was the music sounding "distinctly" better.

Today was "Sunday". People who didn't even know what an audiophile was, have stated that music sounded best on Sunday afternoon. Audiophiles have said that music sounds best on Sunday because of the "power grid".

Almost all of your components have a power supply that turns AC to DC. Much of the cost of high end components is a result of this "power supply". Not only must it change AC to DC, but it also has to contend with all the extraneous noise that exists on the "power grid". Most noise is caused by business activity on the grid, we accept it as normal; it results in something less than a "black silent" background when we listen to music. We are only aware of it by it's absence. Rich people pay a fortune to get their audio off the public grid.

The more I listened to music on this night, the better it sounded. Since the lights were out and I couldn't see the walls, they disappeared; the soundstage was deeper and wider than the room. Not only was this Sunday night, but it was Christmas night; this meant that the business activity on the grid was close to 0.

Record after record, CD after CD yielded spectacular results; the music was glorious. Since I have my entire collection on a computer "playlist", I can listen in the inky darkness of the bedroom and never turn on a light. When I listened to female vocalists who became famous in their early 20's, I could hear that youthful femininity in their voices. While their voices remained beautiful throughout their careers, that youthful femininity was long gone as time went by.

Were the "Audiophile angels" smiling on me? Whatever was happening, I was not about to let one minute go to waste. Each record or CD displayed a new revelation. When daylight started coming through the windows, I couldn't believe it. After I had breakfast and returned to the bedroom, my magic chariot had turned back into a pumpkin.

Was that night some kind of a delusion? You be the judge.
orpheus10
6 responses Add your response
rja's avatar
rja
2,370 posts
 
Christmas Eve & Christmas
Most stores closed, most factories closed. Many people spending time with family, going to church etc.
Only a few gas stations, convenience stores and Chinese restaurants open unlike peak demand times in Summer with millions of air conditioners running. Probably fewer computers running as well.
Grid probably doesn't get much cleaner. Makes sense that audio system sounded good.
spinaker01
491 posts
 
Mood and attitude can effect the listening experience at least as much as the power grid electrical supply. Some days, I'm amazed at my system, and other times merely "content" Johnny Walker Black Label can move me quickly from later to the former! Salut
isochronism
2,893 posts
 
Tpreaves offered the best explanation.
Your senses were heightened, due to the phenomenon termed "Christmas spirit."
You gave the correct response by just enjoying it while it lasted.
Just think... you'll only have to wait one short year for it to again reach that fleeting plateau!
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

Tpreaves, if this had occurred in the 60's,or 70's, there would be other possible explanations; but I remember what I heard, and since it was gone the next day, it seemed like some sort of "opium dream" that had occurred during the night.

I've had my hearing tested and it's better than the equivalent of 20/20 vision. While that may seem impressive, I've been with other audiophiles who could hear better. I mention my hearing because what I heard defies belief. For example; the difference between the youthful feminine exuberance of a vocalist when she first came on the scene in her early 20's, as opposed to after she became a household name.

I'm listening to the same vocalists on the same system now, and I seem to be missing that aspect of their delivery. Since what "audiophiles" can hear goes far beyond any instruments ability to measure, it would take a coordinated effort of scientists and audiophiles to reconstruct the perfect power that boosted my system to such great heights that night.

As an "extreme music lover", I once listened to music with an "extreme audiophile". He had a battery powered amplifier. We listened to music for hours on end, and that is the only similar experience I can recall.

Learsfool, that "extreme audiophile" said the same thing about his experience with power conditioners; which is why he had a DC powered amp. While perfect audio is possible, it's too far beyond the reach of most of us to even consider. Enjoy the music.
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
Interesting story. I assume you are in a large metropolitan area? I have also found what you say about the grid to be true. There are compensations, though - the power supplies in large metropolitan areas are usually much more consistent, so one does not need expensive power conditioners. In fact, the couple I have tried made the system sound quite a bit worse. All I use is a surge protector that eliminates the RF noise, and does not have any effect on the sound otherwise. This is a very necessary article, though - it has saved my system more than once already from a bad storm (it fries itself to save what is plugged into it), and those happen all the time in my area.
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,686 posts
 
Your buzz wore off !!!!
Log in to respond
More to discover
80x80
ANTICABLES Level 3 "Reference Series"
8 Foot Speaker wires
80x80
Marantz 40n
80x80
TriangleART HATHOR