Need Help: What In My Home Electric System Killed the Sound?


Could really use some troubleshooting from you electric experts out there, of which I certainly am not one.  House is in rural western Maine.  My electrician (licensed and very experienced, but not in audiophile context) is running a dedicated line to the 2-channel rig.  He installed the new line up to the outlet, but didn't complete yet (we're waiting for delivery on the outlet), so the new line is temporarily capped off at the wall.  In the meantime, elsewhere in the house, he changed a broken recessed light socket and changed the related wiring to that light.  Those are the only two changes to the electric I am aware of.   The 2-channel system remains plugged into the same outlet we've been using for years (until the dedicated line is in).  This weekend, the life is gone fro the system.  For example, volume at "25" on the pre-amp would normally be quite loud, but now it needs to be turned up to 40 to get the same loudness.  Regardless, dynamics are gone, tempo is a tiny bit slow and has lost toe tapping, and vocals moved from near field to way back in the mix.   Nothing was changed in the system (Rega Saturn CDP; McIntosh C52; McIntosh 452; and Polk SDA 1.2 TL (heavily modded)).   Any thoughts on what might have cause these symptoms?  Electrician can't pinpoint anything.  Any input appreciated.  
whitecap

Showing 2 responses by cousinbillyl

Story Time:

Here in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, we have Ontario Hydro. They have installed 'Smart' meters. These meters calculate power usage. Since this calculation uses voltage, and since highest prices are during the day and evening, they raise our voltage to 125V. This during the day and early evening.

Most audio gear is designed for 115v/230v. This allows designers to build for a larger global demographic.

Try listening to your system after midnight. Typically voltages drop back down to 120V.

Welcome to the world of corporate profits.
Watts (and therefore KiloWatts) are amps x's voltage. Since motors (fridge compressor and furnace fan motors as examples) work on current, this current draw remains constant, but the voltage is higher, so you use more 'watts'. Hydro company makes more money, blah blah blah.

If memory serves me correctly, over at diyaudio, Nelson Pass conducted a small experiment. Using a Variac, he adjusted voltage on numerous systems. EVERYONE in the room preferred 'lower' voltage settings. 115v was one of the preferred settings. 120v was bad, and anything above this was horrid in comparison to 115v. YMMV