why performance increase after pause?

I leave all my gear on 24/7. I have extensively experimented with the bias and offset pots of my amps. Another thing I've noticed is (all my amps are class A/B) that when I've checked the bias setting immediately after getting all the gear "cookin", it is a few mv. or ma. down from spec. After letting it idle for a few minutes, it's back up where it "should" be. Also, getting the bias absolutely equal on both channels causes the amp to idle cooler even if the setting is lower than spec. I have an example of all the Ampzillas except Godzilla, an Acoustat TNT 200, a pair of LSR&D Leach Superamp monos, a Perreaux 2150B all professionally rebuilt and functioning as new. They all behave the same way. Could it be a function of the bias current being initially at a higher level off idle causing this phenomenon? Oh, I also have a couple of Bedinis. The 100/100 I have is very tolerant of quiescent current level. I run this amp at the high end of it's range for obvious reasons. However the other amps are, when at peak, also within spec. But this is always measured at idle. Turning up the bias at idle to compensate the drop, off idle, could be a solution as they will all tolerate that slight increase. That is, if this is the reason for this whole anomaly. Impossible as a yardstick since doing so will not cause the behavior to cease.

Csontos --

Instead of pausing the playback try leaving your listening room without pausing playback for the same amount of time(though not to other noisy environments), and then return to see if it has the same effect on you. I play music from a harddrive(that is, RAM) -- no that this info may matter to the issue/subject at hand -- and I've repeatedly found that when playing longer sessions of music from my setup, with what I'd call "normal" listening levels, a momentary leaving the room gets my back to a slightly "invigorated" sound. A psychological effect, perhaps, or an indication maybe of my having listened too analytically for an extended period of time, which would then lead my ears/mind in the need of a brief "intermezzo" of absence/silence to "recuperate."

Unless you're playing at very loud volumes at the limit of your speakers capabilities I'd say heating up the voice coils to a more marginal temperature will only benefit the sound. My own speakers treasure being "shown the whip"(not in any way excessive) for an hour so, or even longer, after which they're more distinct, full, and clear sounding. This, mind you, has an effect even when my amp has been on for many hours(my DAC runs 24/7), and conversely when the SPL's have again been reduced to much lower background levels for an extended amount of time(hours), the character of the sound appears to have reverted into a more constricted "stasis."

There's got to be something to this phenomenon.

This has been going on for decades. Back when I tried it, it even occurs on a reasonably warmed up CDP. And it only seems to effect the opening moments.

Sounds like a design flaw common to all lasers or the reading part of the laser as its implemented. Or something like that.

Better minds need to chime.

All the best,
Nonoise

Well the verdict is in. The BDP 95 exhibits the same phenomenon, only more pronounced. I now care a little more about it.

I guess my humor's a little on the dry side. I find Elizabeth to be very knowledgeable and to the point. So I just assume she takes comments like mine light-heartedly.

I am not quite ready to withdraw E's audiophile certification based on this although I'm sure she does not give a rat's ars whether I or anyone does or not.

Oh, so you've had us fooled until now? Nothing like representing yourself honestly eh, Elizabeth? I wonder, can your Bryston handle the truth? Davehrab, sure, I don't really care that much about it. I was just curious if anyone else noticed the same thing but it would be nice if performance didn't fall off that way. I'm using a Rotel RCD-02 I bought around 7 years ago. I think I'm gonna get me an Oppo BDP95.

You would think fancy well built and expensive CD players aimed at audiophiles at a minimum would be able to do their job properly without any special usage tweaks. I guess someone forgot something in the design and testing.

Frankly I'm not sure I have ever heard such a thing even with the less esoteric players I have used in recent years (CAL, Denon).

I have not used my CD player in over a year in that I always rip and play from music server now, so its really not much of a concern for me. NExt time I am using it, I'll try to give an unbiased listen, but am skeptical I will hear anything much less anything I could clearly attribute to the device. But you never know. I will not be loosing much sleep over this, even less than I do worrying about how my fuses sound.

Csontos ... isn’t that something ... truth is stranger than fiction .. why ... because Fiction must be believable ... you have good ears

Mappman ... since 1999 I’ve only owned two CD players a Denon D5000 and a Ayre D1ex ... both of these are premium machines featuring multiple transformers, linear power supplies, premium caps and resisters from the factory , multi bit 1704 Burr Brown K dacs

The Denon has a OP Amp based analog out .. it’s only weak point and the Ayre has a Class A no negative feedback FET based analog output ... basically a Class A preamp vs some under achieving integrated all on one chip amp

The Ayre doesn’t screech on the peaks like most OPamp based CD and dac’s analog output’s section do

In both these player the slight improvement in the PAUSE RESET REPLAY sequence is clearly audible ... but hardly worth the effort when listening for pleasure and relaxation

Rcprince ... your experience’s mirror mine exactly ...especially the shortness of duration and why I don’t subscribe to this practice when just listening for pleasure

"I have found Davehrab's tweak to work on virtually every CD player or transport I've had--Krell, Sony, EMM Labs, Forsell."

If so then one more reason to dump the CD player and go to a music server.

Does anyone hear a similar effect with a music server?

I have found Davehrab's tweak to work on virtually every CD player or transport I've had--Krell, Sony, EMM Labs, Forsell. Some people call it "jogging the laser". Never understood why it happened, but it does seem to happen (things sounded a little more focused to me), if only for a short time.

Davehrab, which CD player specifically have you found this to work with? The same with more than one of the same model?

I'd have to think that if this works the player is either defective or poorly designed and would be looking elsewhere.

Sounds like your hittin the nail on the head, Davehrab.

Timrhu, send me a PM!( It'll be just between you and me)
Csontos

As soon as Audiogon reinstates the feature whereby members can contact each other I'll get on it. ;)

I suspect it is the crossover. They suck up a lot of power which gets converted into heat which can be sizzlingly hot. Could be the particular speakers I'm using are more prone to this? I'm using a pair of Mission V63s with a pair of Velodyne subs. I have an old pair of Kef 105s I haven't used for a long time but I don't remember this phenomenon with them. But then I didn't listen to CDs with the Kefs. My turntable is also in storage.

Hitting “PAUSE” then hitting the “BACK” button and replaying the same track over will clear the player’s buffer and improve the sound temporarily .. why I’m not exactly sure or have forgotten

It seems the action of clearing the buffer can lead to a slightly improved sound until the buffer starts to refill again

The effect is temporary and very short lived but audible

Maximum Capacity is a rating not a challenge (;-}

It is obvious you have been infected by the audio affliction often referred to as 'imaginary' hearing. It come to all of us very early in our audio lives. Best to ignore it by selling off the offending piece of equipment. That way you can move on to your next imaginary experience.

I remember reading about this with CDPs many years ago in one of the major stereo mags at the time. It went something like starting your selection and pausing just before it played and then continuing playback. It was said to be more dynamic sounding.

I just thought it had something to do with getting up to speed or something getting in sync. Or something to that effect. When I tried it, it seemed to sound louder or hit harder, but back then I was more impressionable than I am now.

I'm surprised to see this come up again as I would think that by now this would not be happening, attributable to early hardware. As I write this it comes to mind that I was listening to Coplands "Fanfare For The Common Man" on my good old Phillips CD-80 when I tested this. Those tympani drums did seem to hit harder.

All the best,
Nonoise

you reset your ears and brain just like PC.

Maybe the wires "relax" and the re-surgence of electron flow re-establishes the path as fresh. Maybe not just the wires but everything in the signal path as well benefits from a pause. I haven't ever noticed this phenomenon but haven't ever listened for it either, but you have me curious. I will say that the second side of an LP always sounds better after the cartridge has a warmup period.
Are you just noticing it on you CDP? Could it be clocking related? Just some random thoughts...but, isn't that what forums are for?

The voice coil theory is plausible I suppose.

Maybe not the same subject matter, but I've noticed that if I load a cd twice it seems to sound better.
I don't know why, but it does.

Voice coils cooled down?

Timrhu, send me a PM!( It'll be just between you and me)

FWIW (perhaps not much)- I recall someone else making a similar observation in another thread.

There can only be one plausible reason for this phenomenon.
But I don't feel like starting an argument now.

Hit the PAUSE button between tracks and then hit the back button and replay that track again ... this should clear the buffer and can improve the sound briefly ...more open and transparent

Why the cleared BUFFER sounds better for a brief period is beyond me ... just try it

Hit PAUSE between tracks .. hit BACK button ... replay the track over ... be happy for free upgrade

Well, not quite. BTW, you capitalized a second letter there, Mapman. But seriously, I do notice a more dynamic sound in the first cut after pausing when the gear is at idle for maybe 5 min or so. Shorter or longer periods don't seem to make a difference.

If happening it could be a psychological/euphonic thing, similar to ADHD. THe sound of the music when it starts seeming most euphonic then the effect lessening over time as interest is lost for whatever reason.

It's mind blowing.