Read about this pearl in Jim Smith's book Get Better Sound: If you are using a CD player, try turning it off and unplugging it from the wall outlet. Wait for one minute, not any longer. His theory is that this allows the computer in the the CDP to reboot. I would presume this should also benefit outboard DACs. I tried it and could tell a difference the first time I did it. Everything sounded better, clearer. I do it weekly now, but not detecting any further gains in SQ. Bottom line: my system sounds better. And it cost nothing.
Just taking your system apart and putting it back together cleans the contacts somewhat, which can liven up the sound. I just did it the other week and I was a little surprised at the difference. Dirty contacts do not help.
True that about the contacts. This time I only unplugged from the wall, then re-plugged. Intentionally did not touch the ICs to make sure I only was making one change at a time.
My car always runs better after an oil change! Have you tried the "Irrational but Efficacious" tune-up CD from Ayre Audio? Performs amplitude sweeps to demagnetize your system. Seems to work well.
Never unplug anything. That’s my motto. It disrupts the electrical mechanical interface and that takes a few days to heal. For that reason I’m out. If I recall correctly some CD players sound better after hitting PAUSE, then hitting play again, so it’s unnecessary to unplug anything.
I'd like to know: If your CD player is turned on, is the LASER active or only when you press PLAY? These things are only good for about ten years then must be replaced...
The laser comes on only after you press PLAY. Would you believe I have a product that is activated by the laser when PLAY is pressed? Actually the CD is inserted into the player on the tray when PLAY is pressed, then the laser comes in when the CD is in place over the laser.
Sorry my mistake. I meant electronics that are still plugged in. As for energy waste, well, look what is happening to the climate. In economics this is called externalities.
If you want to go live in a cave somewhere be my guest. Do you have any idea how much water is wasted every hour? Write your congressman, mayor, whatever.
@geoffkait - you may be on to something there. Let's see, high ceiling, expansive walls, good acoustics, throw in some bass traps and that cave may be just the thing!
Be careful - not all caves are Audiophile Quality!
People are selling a bunch of cheap junky caves (many from China) with LowFi sound.
Caves in granite are FAR superior to limestone. With granite, you can anchor those speakers AND your listening chair into ... well.. solid granite. No phase modulation distortion there!
Crummy soft limestone and sapstone will allow your speakers to move and smear the damn sound all over.
That’s what I’d like to know about it. 😀 For the record, for a while I used a very powerful adjustable white strobe light on CDs. Rather effective if I don’t say so myself. In fact, now that I think about it, I sell a relatively low power multi-color strobe light for CDs, CD Re-animator.
I believe #3 changes the energy level of the plastic. Subjecting materials to electromagnetic radiation of the right frequency and intensity can cause this. Just speculation.
Tried unplugging everything audio and my perception of the noise floor actually increased. I now hear outside traffic, airplanes overhead, my refrigerator that is still plugged in for obvious reasons, even the gas fireplace makes a bit of high frequency noise. Plus my laptop fan has a continuous air-flow sound which is less obvious when the forced air heat comes on. Also, it allows the wife to express her opinions on a multitude of subjects.
So, I think you are in error, as the stereo in play actually lowers my noise floor. I think this phenomenon is known as masking.
Well, except for the psychological masking effect, on an absolute measurable basis, your noise floor has dropped but that discounts the Wife factor. It's never good to discount the Wife factor.
For those in this hobby that have no Wife factor, perhaps because of their deep involvement in the hobby, the equation is a little different.
The noise floor is always higher with the Wife Factor, particularly when she is talking on the phone with her mother or sister. That's why I put exterior doors between different interior rooms. They block the noise nicely.
Speaking of #2 here's a free tweak. Place three 1 1/2" strips of 3/4" wide black electrical tape on the CD label in a radial pattern. This improves performance by stiffening the CD during play.
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