Why does my system sound much better late at night?

gold · « **on:** 24 Jun 2012, 11:13 pm »

A) Is it because less folks are using the power grid?

B) Maybe just less noise in general?

C) More physically relaxed/tuned in?

D) All of the above?

srb · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Jun 2012, 11:19 pm »

D) All of the above

SoCalWJS · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Jun 2012, 11:20 pm »

E) None of the above.....

D is closest, but don't rule out other environmental factors - generally cooler and only light that you control. I almost always listen in low/no light, so at night, it's virtually an irrelevant factor getting the room light very low. Also, my stereo is upstairs - warmest room in the house. I can only get comfortable there in the wee hours during the warmest months.

I'm sure there are other factors as well, but I agree that I get the most out of my listening sessions well into the night. YMMV.

gold · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Jun 2012, 11:31 pm »

Summer months seem to be a factor for me as well. Couple of my buddies basically shut down their tube and Class A monoblock rigs during parts of the summer... My system is just ok sounding on those 90 + degree days.

Devil Doc · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Jun 2012, 11:49 pm »

Quote from: gold on 24 Jun 2012, 11:13 pm

A) Is it because less folks are using the power grid?

B) Maybe just less noise in general?

C) More physically relaxed/tuned in?

D) All of the above?

Nah. Probably been drinking.

Doc

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 12:07 am »

This video explains what you are going through.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=383V75X3Kk8

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 12:12 am »

Could depend partly on where you live. In the summer where I live, the bugs chirp at night. I have a large window on the outside of my room and can hear them clearly so I prefer the Winter months. Less humidity means lighter air in my room, too, I think. If everyone has gone to bed, I will even turn off a noisy fridge for the time spent listening. It's not much noise it just makes sense to me. Heat and A/C, too, when I can get away with it. And I buy into C).

Geardaddy · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 01:02 am »

All of the above with emphasis on power grid usage.

Douger · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 01:22 am »

Fewer people using the grid, and the power company cuts back the power which reduces spikes.

Blackstone · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 02:30 am »

Have you ever tried a PS Audio Noise Harvester? If nothing else, it blinks and tells you when something is going on with the power line. It goes crazy when a dimmer switch is turned on.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 02:37 am »

Quote from: Blackstone on 25 Jun 2012, 02:30 am

Have you ever tried a PS Audio Noise Harvester? If nothing else, it blinks and tells you when something is going on with the power line. It goes crazy when a dimmer switch is turned on.

This device looks great on paper, do you hear a sonic improvement using it??
Thanks

OzarkTom · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 03:22 am »

Definitely A.

That is why I use an amp that runs off of batteries. It sounds great anytime of the day.

gooberdude · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 03:30 am »

My last home in chicago was bad in this same way, after 10pm sessions always sounded better. I believe the idea that the electricity is cleaner, less demand on the grid, and the noise the Sun creates isn't blasting your immediate area.

That said, some noise busting gear (i use Alan Maher stuff) essentially eliminates these issues IME.

wushuliu · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 03:34 am »

'Cause they went to bed. Guaranteed noise reduction.

OzarkTom · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 03:58 am »

And I shall add, I noticed the power grid problem over 35 years ago, so the problem has not increased over the years.

Listen at 2am, and it even sounds much better if you are on AC.

serengetiplains · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 04:31 am »

Quote from: OzarkTom on 25 Jun 2012, 03:58 am

And I shall add, I noticed the power grid problem over 35 years ago, so the problem has not increased over the years.

That's an interesting observation, Tom. When I owned a house, I had a bunch of cheap ($100!) Elgar conditioners in my basement feeding electricity to my stereo upstairs. On a lark, I plugged two of these in series and heard an improvement. I added a third and heard more improvement. I added a fourth, but that created some gawdawful instability, so my experiment ended.

Noise. It's pernicious.

Ethan Winer · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 06:30 pm »

Quote from: gold on 24 Jun 2012, 11:13 pm

A) Is it because less folks are using the power grid?
B) Maybe just less noise in general?
C) More physically relaxed/tuned in?
D) All of the above?

Please don't shoot the messenger, but the answer is probably C. If noise on the power line were a factor you'd hear the noise as a slight whistling or static or whatever in the background. AC power problems can also manifest as clicks and pops when the refrigerator or furnace turns on. If you don't hear anything you can identify as noise, only a general quality difference, then it's not noise and it's surely not related to the AC power feed.

--Ethan

OzarkTom · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 10:59 pm »

I always heard a severe electronic glare that gave me a headache within about 10-15 minutes. This was during most of the daytime hours before 6pm. From 6-9. the glare was less severe, 9-11, a whole lot less, and then after 11pm, there was none. The soundstage would also improve, the holographic imaging would come in after 11pm.

A friend of mine was at my place after 11pm one time, and he swore I was running a surround system when he listened. I never had a surround.

Sonny · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 11:08 pm »

I don't know about you, but for me it's because there are less cars driving by as I live on a very busy street with single pane windows

gold · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Jun 2012, 11:41 pm »

I agree Tom just after 11pm things start to sound really good....