Am I Crazy???

nellis8166 · 02-04-2003, 09:36 PM

Ok, not sure if I am losing my marbles on this one, but I have noticed something over the last couple of weeks and I am wondering if anybody else has gone through the same thing.
There seems to be a difference in sound with my rig at night in comparison to the middle of the day. The only thing I can figure is that the power supply is taxed more at night when everybody is home and using a lot of electricity. I live in a highly populated berb of Buffalo, NY. Real cold in right now and I am sure that there is a lot more electricity being used at night.
Is this all in my head or could electricity use really be a factor??? As far as gear goes I have a HK as a pre/pro, Adcom amps, A Velo and a Polk 202 sub. When you add it all together it draws a lot of juice. Intrested to hear y'alls take on this.
Thanks!

Regards,
Nat

hoosier21 · 02-04-2003, 09:43 PM

Nope, you are not crazy, I feel the same way, my stereo sounds terrible during the day, and great at night after 10:00.

Here is a great read

http://www.decware.com/paper03.htm

roam around the entire site, it is full of interesting stuff.

phuz · 02-04-2003, 09:45 PM

Most likely it's ambient/background noise that is causing the difference in perception. I don't think it's your rig that sounds different, but the noise from outside, birds, or just your general mindset that makes the difference.

No I'm not saying you are crazy. This is actually a common and well known phenomenon in car audio because that is where it is most noticeable.

scottvamp · 02-04-2003, 09:57 PM

You maybe right - but in my casa my monster power unit has a Volts gauge and I always know how much Power my rig is getting.

nellis8166 · 02-04-2003, 11:30 PM

Very intersting article Hoosier, enjoyed reading it. Makes me feel better, maybe I am not going crazy...

Regards,
Nat

MxStYlEpOlKmAn · 02-05-2003, 12:08 AM

i think ur a crazy mofo....i dunno y but I just do......

F1nut · 02-05-2003, 01:56 AM

Music always sounds better at night with the lights off to me, you're not crazy....hoho, hehe, they're coming to take me away, hoho, hehe, to the funny farm........

Tour2ma · 02-05-2003, 04:46 AM

No, not crazy, but the improvement is not owed to the equipment or the little man with his hand on the AC supply dial either (“speed back up the clocks”, pahleeeezzz).

Fact:
The senses, in order of importance for Homo sapiens’ self-preservation, are sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. This batting order was set, and handed down to us, by our pre-history ancestors, who were as often prey, as they were predators (my apologies to any creationists in the Club). Even though we don’t depend upon our senses for survival on a daily basis any longer, the order is still in our heads. We simply get most of the information about our environs from sight.
Fact:
As one or more of our senses are deprived of stimulation, others sharpen up to compensate. (Only taste seems to be exempt from this.) Our brains just demand information. So when you listen in the dark, your brain shifts its focus to hearing. You “hear” more detail, not because it wasn’t there earlier, but because your brain was too busy with other stimuli to process all the information your ears were sending to it. Sound depth improves because you can’t impose the limits of walls, floor, speakers, etc., that you can’t see. The “sensory shift” phenomenon is vividly demonstrated by the Blind. The detail the Blind can hear, smell and feel makes our everyday use of those senses pale in comparison.

Additionally I believe there’s one more factor in play. Most of the time the late evening is just a relaxing time of day. The big wind down is underway. Thoughts of the job, the bills, all the worries, start fading. Lights down, eyes closed, head clearing and then the music grabs you pulls you in and flows over you. I can’t remember a great music experience when I was consumed by a pressing deadline, or otherwise pre-occupied. But given half a chance, just a brief moment of mental relaxation and the magic can happen. Personally one of the great annual listening nights for me is 15 April. Around 02:00, just after I finish my Tax return, or application for extension…

Edit:...spel chek...spell chek... spell check...

MxStYlEpOlKmAn · 02-05-2003, 08:40 AM

I like the music when da lights b off....its like the speakers aint there - the music is. Sounds the same tho....i still think hes a crazy mofo

nellis8166 · 02-05-2003, 11:04 AM

Go do your homework MX...isn't time for your mom to give you a bath???

Regards,
Nat

MxStYlEpOlKmAn · 02-07-2003, 09:17 PM

done my hw, i bathe myself - and i was just kidding im probally the craziest mofo in here...

nellis8166 · 02-08-2003, 12:42 AM

It was a bad day MX...was kind of on a short fuse, it was either you or the wife, and I have to live with the wife...you get the drift...apologies...

Nat

Tour2ma · 02-08-2003, 12:56 AM

nellis, FWIW I think you made the right choice...

George Grand · 02-08-2003, 08:17 AM

A great many people report the exact opposite of your findings. This is due to most industrial and commercial users of power being "off line" at night.

This was beat to death in Stereophile a number of years ago.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grand's)

danger boy · 02-09-2003, 04:19 AM

hmmmm could it also be. that at night your components have been turned on for a while.. and are warmed up and not cold.. like they would be at the beginning or middle of the day?

I think that warmed up electronics bring out the true sound of audio equipment. hence the break in period for most speakers and electronics and wires/cables. just my two pennies worth.

wlrandall · 02-09-2003, 07:40 PM

1) Power quality/line voltage are their worst during the day. Factories tend to put a lot of garbage back into the system (harmonics, spikes, surges).
2) Our power station is not too far from our facility. Doesn't matter what time of day or what day it is, there is a rock steady 24.9 kV @ 60 hZ coming out of the plant. What happens in 1) is what messes it up.
3) Most devices are rated to operate at 120 +/-10%. If your line voltage is dropping below that limit call your electric company. They'll usually come check things out for free.
4) Compare the power consumption of your audio equipment to your appliances:

My "toys": ~1.5 kW
Water heater: 9 kW
Range: 10 kW
A/C: 11.5 kW

Only a fraction of the big hitters, isn't it?

If the voltage within your house is dropping, that could be a problem. Turn everything off, do a sound check. Repeat with several large appliance running. Check line voltage during both tests and compare. I lived in such an underpowered house years ago that my CD player would drop out every time the A/C cycled on.

Wally

02-04-2003, 09:36 PM	#1
nellis8166 Polkateer Member Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New York Posts: 291	Am I Crazy??? Ok, not sure if I am losing my marbles on this one, but I have noticed something over the last couple of weeks and I am wondering if anybody else has gone through the same thing. There seems to be a difference in sound with my rig at night in comparison to the middle of the day. The only thing I can figure is that the power supply is taxed more at night when everybody is home and using a lot of electricity. I live in a highly populated berb of Buffalo, NY. Real cold in right now and I am sure that there is a lot more electricity being used at night. Is this all in my head or could electricity use really be a factor??? As far as gear goes I have a HK as a pre/pro, Adcom amps, A Velo and a Polk 202 sub. When you add it all together it draws a lot of juice. Intrested to hear y'alls take on this. Thanks! Regards, Nat

02-04-2003, 09:43 PM	#2
hoosier21 Polk Expert Member Sales Rating: (17) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,914	Nope, you are not crazy, I feel the same way, my stereo sounds terrible during the day, and great at night after 10:00. Here is a great read http://www.decware.com/paper03.htm roam around the entire site, it is full of interesting stuff. __________________ Acurus RL11 - Preamp Aragon 8008ST - Power amp Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B - Vandersteen 2Ci (8) 12" driver DIY - Subwoofer Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp Outlaw ICBM - crossover Beringher BFD - sub eq Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote! "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."

02-04-2003, 09:57 PM	#4
scottvamp Polkologist Member Sales Rating: (1) Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,294	You maybe right - but in my casa my monster power unit has a Volts gauge and I always know how much Power my rig is getting. __________________ PS3 and HD Front Projection, life is good. Too bad Blu-Ray and the PS3 are already obsolete.....

02-04-2003, 11:30 PM	#5
nellis8166 Polkateer Member Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New York Posts: 291	Very intersting article Hoosier, enjoyed reading it. Makes me feel better, maybe I am not going crazy... Regards, Nat __________________ RTi10 CSi5 RTi28 SVS PB12-ISD2 Denon 2106(pre/pro) Adcom 5503(200x3) Audioquest Diamondback ICS Kimber Kable 8tc biwire(mains and center) "Don't let your silly dreams fall in between the crack of the bed and the wall." -J. James

02-05-2003, 12:08 AM	#6
MxStYlEpOlKmAn Polkologist Member Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vr3MxStyler2k3 Posts: 2,114	i think ur a crazy mofo....i dunno y but I just do...... __________________ Damn you all, damn you all to hell....... I promised myself No more speakers. None. Nada. And then you posted this!!!! Damn you all! - ATC

02-04-2003, 09:45 PM	#3
phuz Polkologist Member Sales Rating: (4) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Texas - Moo Posts: 2,251	Most likely it's ambient/background noise that is causing the difference in perception. I don't think it's your rig that sounds different, but the noise from outside, birds, or just your general mindset that makes the difference. No I'm not saying you are crazy. This is actually a common and well known phenomenon in car audio because that is where it is most noticeable.

02-05-2003, 01:56 AM	#7
F1nut Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (10) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Mars Hotel Posts: 19,097	Music always sounds better at night with the lights off to me, you're not crazy....hoho, hehe, they're coming to take me away, hoho, hehe, to the funny farm........ __________________ 'Political Correctness'.........defined "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." President of Club Polk

02-05-2003, 04:46 AM	#8
Tour2ma Old School Member Sales Rating: (1) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: SE Texas Posts: 9,025	No, not crazy, but the improvement is not owed to the equipment or the little man with his hand on the AC supply dial either (“speed back up the clocks”, pahleeeezzz). Fact: The senses, in order of importance for Homo sapiens’ self-preservation, are sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. This batting order was set, and handed down to us, by our pre-history ancestors, who were as often prey, as they were predators (my apologies to any creationists in the Club). Even though we don’t depend upon our senses for survival on a daily basis any longer, the order is still in our heads. We simply get most of the information about our environs from sight. Fact: As one or more of our senses are deprived of stimulation, others sharpen up to compensate. (Only taste seems to be exempt from this.) Our brains just demand information. So when you listen in the dark, your brain shifts its focus to hearing. You “hear” more detail, not because it wasn’t there earlier, but because your brain was too busy with other stimuli to process all the information your ears were sending to it. Sound depth improves because you can’t impose the limits of walls, floor, speakers, etc., that you can’t see. The “sensory shift” phenomenon is vividly demonstrated by the Blind. The detail the Blind can hear, smell and feel makes our everyday use of those senses pale in comparison. Additionally I believe there’s one more factor in play. Most of the time the late evening is just a relaxing time of day. The big wind down is underway. Thoughts of the job, the bills, all the worries, start fading. Lights down, eyes closed, head clearing and then the music grabs you pulls you in and flows over you. I can’t remember a great music experience when I was consumed by a pressing deadline, or otherwise pre-occupied. But given half a chance, just a brief moment of mental relaxation and the magic can happen. Personally one of the great annual listening nights for me is 15 April. Around 02:00, just after I finish my Tax return, or application for extension… Edit:...spel chek...spell chek... spell check... __________________ More later, Tour... SOPA-PIAS Taste Good "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul" - Dennis Gardner "Life's been good to me so far" - J. Walsh Stripped down system flooded by Ike (thanks alot motherf----r) ... SDA CRS+ (floaters) - Carver C4 Pre (anchor) - Carver M4.0 (survivor by ~1") Last edited by Tour2ma; 02-05-2003 at 04:49 AM..

02-05-2003, 08:40 AM	#9
MxStYlEpOlKmAn Polkologist Member Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vr3MxStyler2k3 Posts: 2,114	I like the music when da lights b off....its like the speakers aint there - the music is. Sounds the same tho....i still think hes a crazy mofo

02-05-2003, 11:04 AM	#10
nellis8166 Polkateer Member Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New York Posts: 291	Go do your homework MX...isn't time for your mom to give you a bath??? Regards, Nat

02-07-2003, 09:17 PM	#11
MxStYlEpOlKmAn Polkologist Member Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vr3MxStyler2k3 Posts: 2,114	done my hw, i bathe myself - and i was just kidding im probally the craziest mofo in here...

02-08-2003, 12:42 AM	#12
nellis8166 Polkateer Member Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New York Posts: 291	It was a bad day MX...was kind of on a short fuse, it was either you or the wife, and I have to live with the wife...you get the drift...apologies... Nat

02-08-2003, 12:56 AM	#13
Tour2ma Old School Member Sales Rating: (1) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: SE Texas Posts: 9,025	nellis, FWIW I think you made the right choice...

02-08-2003, 08:17 AM	#14
George Grand Polk Master Member Sales Rating: (36) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Exit 5 on the Jersey Turnpike Posts: 6,645	A great many people report the exact opposite of your findings. This is due to most industrial and commercial users of power being "off line" at night. This was beat to death in Stereophile a number of years ago. George Grand (of the Jersey Grand's)

02-09-2003, 04:19 AM	#15
danger boy Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (10) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Spokane, Washington Posts: 14,082	hmmmm could it also be. that at night your components have been turned on for a while.. and are warmed up and not cold.. like they would be at the beginning or middle of the day? I think that warmed up electronics bring out the true sound of audio equipment. hence the break in period for most speakers and electronics and wires/cables. just my two pennies worth. __________________ I need a new sig... "Ask not what can your stereo system can do for you, ask what you can do for your stereo" - little ol me

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

02-09-2003, 07:40 PM	#16
wlrandall Polkateer Member Sales Rating: (0) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 438	1) Power quality/line voltage are their worst during the day. Factories tend to put a lot of garbage back into the system (harmonics, spikes, surges). 2) Our power station is not too far from our facility. Doesn't matter what time of day or what day it is, there is a rock steady 24.9 kV @ 60 hZ coming out of the plant. What happens in 1) is what messes it up. 3) Most devices are rated to operate at 120 +/-10%. If your line voltage is dropping below that limit call your electric company. They'll usually come check things out for free. 4) Compare the power consumption of your audio equipment to your appliances: My "toys": ~1.5 kW Water heater: 9 kW Range: 10 kW A/C: 11.5 kW Only a fraction of the big hitters, isn't it? If the voltage within your house is dropping, that could be a problem. Turn everything off, do a sound check. Repeat with several large appliance running. Check line voltage during both tests and compare. I lived in such an underpowered house years ago that my CD player would drop out every time the A/C cycled on. Wally