Streaming music sounds better late at night. Is this just me?

Ah, ok. So, I am not going crazy...yet.

Steakster, thanks for the link. May be I should think about getting an LPS for my modem. That may be my weak link.

Steakster, thanks for the link. May be I should think about getting an LPS for my modem. That may be my weak link.

According to FCC website:

“Most AM radio stations are required by the FCC’s rules to reduce their power or cease operating at night in order to avoid interference to other AM stations.  FCC rules governing the daytime and nighttime operation of AM radio stations are a consequence of the laws of physics.  Because of the way in which the relatively long wavelengths of AM radio signals interact with the ionized layers of the ionosphere miles above the earth’s surface, the propagation of AM radio waves changes drastically from daytime to nighttime.  This change in AM radio propagation occurs at sunset due to radical shifts in the ionospheric layers, which persist throughout the night.”

kijanski,

I don't know much about the ionosphere, but are you saying that the SQ improves at night because of the radical shifts in the ionospheric layers rather than the reduced stress on the power grid?

@chungjh   Reducing transmitting power reduces pollution from electromagnetic waves as well as pollution of the grid by radio stations.  

My system tends to sound best late at night ~11PM and the very best on Sunday night. I have noticed this for forty years with different systems, in Arizona and Washington. 

OK, is there anything we can do about this? I already have a very good power isolator Torus RM20.

We had few discussions on this subject and so far nobody has been able to pinpoint the reason for improved sound at night.  I suspect that all factors play small role, including electrical grid pollution, reduced AM waves, reduced cellphone traffic etc.  
There will be some noise injected from the Ethernet.  Ethernet has inherent isolation, but nothing is perfect (there are always few pF across).  Perhaps some ethernet filtering might help, but I don't know much about it.  Other than that, usual precautions, like running signal and speaker cables away from (or perpendicular to) power cables, proper grounding and shielding etc.

This has been going on for ages with Radio. Radio always sounds better at night even in the car.

Since the major factor removed is the Sun and another factor added, the Moon, both of these are probably involved by influencing electrical noise.

In hot areas electricity usage rises at night due to aircon so less people using electricity maybe is not a factor.

Late night listening has been a go to listening period for myself on regular occasions.

To sit down without distraction when the body really rewards for being allowed to  relax, is a great time to take part in a self indulgence, these simple pleasures will generate the feel good factor.

How much the system improves as a result of using the system at a time when the ambient is at its most quietest and the impact of the Lower Grid Usage on the system at this time of the evening during the  playback time is an unknown, but the experience being encountered is worthwhile to keep pursuing. 

@chungjh, excuse me. What's a LPS ?

LPS=linear power supply. 

You can simply improve power. Direct lines, made of audiophile wire, you can go further on that… I think it was Stereophile last month about complete home power equipment replacement. On the digital end there is an Ethernet regenerated… and / or audiophile router. But like all things you have to balance cost with benefit and where else you could have spent the money.

After I reach a new level with my equipment… I occasionally do a small upgrade to see it’s effect… until there isn’t much (really never happened). I added a second direct line for my amp recently… it made a significant improvement. 

I totally agree with this.  I liken listening at night versus during the day as listening with a good power conditioner versus plugged into the wall.  It’s like our whole “perceived” noise floor of the world declines significantly at night.  I can’t measure it and can’t come close to explaining it, but if I really wanna explore the differences between gear I do it at night and not during the day.  That’s the best I can describe it.  Just my $0.02 FWIW. 

Let’s not ignore another more humanistic factor that may come into play here, in that one may feel more relaxed and receptive in ones self at such a time of day, for my part I find a nice glass of 20 yr old single malt contributes enormously .

Agree with tsushima1 ... I have found that my music sounds better when I'm relaxed and have got nothing else on my mind. This is true regardless of the time of the day.

No question, there is a humanistic factor. But the fact that the analog sound doesn't change very much throughout the day indicates that there is something else going on.

I am retired… there are no diminution of stress on Sunday nights, and there have never been any mental state factors involved. I typically realize the sound is notably better… then start asking myself why… did I do something to the system… go through a list of stuff, then noice it is Sunday night.

Sprinkle some Talisker holy water on the Lyra and cue down !

@tsushima1 has the formula…. retirement helps…. nobody calling asking me IF we rolled out a couple hundred million dollar widget…or not…

I am a TriJet robot in a twin engine world

Everything audio related sounds better to me at night.

Has anyone tried to see if a very high quality power conditioner can cure this problem?