What's Going On?? Sound changes every night


O.K., this is what I'm experiencing: Some nights my system is superb and I just get sucked in and have to force myself to stop. This will be for 2-3 night and then all of a sudden, the next night or three, the music looses life and I can't get involved. The sound looses high end sparkle and extension. Things sound closed in a bit and percussions instruments that the night before were right in front of me are now fake with a closed in and shelved down presentation. Cymbals no longer sound like wood sticks on bronze but as if someone threw a blanket btw me and them.

Is this a power conditioning problem? I use a hospital grade outlet but not a dedicated circuit and no power conditioners. Or could it be my DAC which is a Perp Tech w/ Level 2 WrightMods and cryo treament. When the system works right I couldn't be happier but it seems something weird is going on every few days or so. Could it possibly be coming from the local power company and I need some sort of powerful line conditioner?

System:

Merlin TSM-MX speakers
REL Strata III subwoofer
Air Tight ATM300 stereo amp
Joule-Electra LA150 pre-amp
WrightModded Perp Tech DAC
CEC transport or Marantz SE 5 disc changer as transport
Cardas Golden Reference interconnects
TG Audio speaker cables
tomryan

Showing 6 responses by tomryan

All the responses are much appreciated. Last night things were a bit bright as opposed to the perfect mix the night before and the rather dull presentation the two nights before that! This stuff just started about 3 months ago and is the same even while mixing equipment.

I do think it's most likely something to do with the power coming to my gear and I'm going to call an electrician to get a dedicated line and circuit. By the way, can anyone suggest an outlet that may work better than the hospital grade one I'm using now? And I will be getting a new and better power strip as I just realized the one I'm using is 15 years old! Any suggestions for one (I know PS Audio makes one - any users?)?

By the way, I do live at the end of a cul-de-sac in a 50 year old neighborhood.
Thanks for the additional info, guys. Last night music was perfect for the mood I was in. Wife went to sleep at 10:30pm and I was rocking until 1:00am with Beth Patterson, Stan Getz, and Grant Green.

I am checking into power conditioners and a dedicated line but really think it has something to do with power coming into house. And that article fron Enjoy The Music was quite interesting and I hope the writer follows up someday.
I do have a volt meter and will try this. It has been very cold at night for the last 2 months here in Michigan, sometimes in single digits by 9-10pm. I'm also looking into power conditioners/regenerators and see the BPT Sig costs $2,500.00. Ouch!! Especially since I was just ripped off by mattiboy (like 6-7 other A'goners this past few weeks).

By the way, Link, how do you explain the Irish music I was listening to last night (Beth Patterson - littlebluemen.com)? Oh yeah, the single malt Scotch - I am quite the multiculturalist and have been known to enjoy a Paridiso tequila with Mozart concertos.