Have you ever hated the sound of your system one day, and loved it the next?

rvpiano
which power conditioner do you own?
Happy Listening!

Isotek Orion Power line Conditioner with Isotek Elite 5 foot Power cord

shadorne covered what I was going to say, but I'll add my experience with my playback system.

Often what I hear is beautiful music that sounds full range, clear, present, and it's easy to imagine I"m hearing what sounds like live, natural sound. *

But at times what comes across sounds obviously artificial, with lack of substance, treble that verges on graininess, and a confined sound stage. Hard to imagine anything natural about the sound.

I've come to the conclusion that the difference is not equipment, or power quality type issues. It's my perception of what I am hearing that changes.

One of the clues that this is the case, is that I can many times change perception at will. If I concentrate on listening to the musicians, vocalist, and recording environment, I can often be amazed at how "real" life like the sound is. But I can then conscientiously shift my focus to the short comings of the recording/playback process, of which there are many, and the sound loses much of its beauty, sounding like the miserable excuse for live music that it is. haha.

It's hard to describe exactly, partly because my shifting perception is mostly unconscience. This is also the basis of why I don't bother with tweaks.

* Bad recordings always sound bad

Notwithstanding tube problems, I think what denydog says is absolutely true.
When I listen just for the “sound” of my system  I hear all kinds of abnormalities, but when I’m listening to the MUSIC instead of my SYSTEM everything seems to sound natural.  It’s like the “suspension of disbelief” you adapt when reading a book or seeing a movie.  I don’t think we can ever really match the sound of real instruments on our sets, so if we listen just for that we’re going to be very disappointed. However when we listen for the music itself, we’re not so much concentrating on the physical sound, but the musical message being expressed. So if we “suspend” the belief we’re listening to live instruments we can get into the music much more easily and the instruments sound just fine.

clearthink has unmitigated gall.

First he states the impossible.

Then he is presented with a genuine and no obligation challenge to demonstrate the impossible.

Then he tentatively accepts challenge.

Then he attempts to dictate the terms of the challenge.

Then he is asked to act privately, and with the inclusion of legal council.

Then he refuses.

Then he cry’s fraud.

Then he repeats himself.