I'm having one of those stand-out listening nights

[siddh]

So...since late afternoon til now my system is performing consistently, exceptionally well. One of those weird nights; an engaging musical experiences with deep soundstage, controlled bass and better than usual delineation. So odd when this happens, and of course so welcome as opposed to the nights when presentation collapses, or sounds bright and unpleasant...hi-fi-ish.
Could it be the electricity...or after 8 years have the cables finally broken in...or maybe it's just my mental/emotional state. Doubt the last, since that's usually a bit fucked up.
Anyways, it's a blissful evening. I may not want to shut it down.

[MylesBAstor]

Bottle it!

[siddh]

Tell me how...🤔

[1morerecord2clean]

🍾🥃🥂

[Per Sundell]

I think it is a combo of a good state of mind, good electricity and lower than usual background noise!

[Johnny Vinyl]

I love those days (or nights). I listen mostly during the daytime so I can't say good electricity and less background noises are a factor. As such I can only say it has to do more with mood or frame of mind over anything else. Even if electricity/lack of noise were a factor I'd still say its primarily a mood/mind thing.

It's been awhile, due to a lack of access to my room, but hopefully I will experience this kind of musical bliss soon.

[Goheelz]

Mood affects listening pleasure, IME. Also: your system had a chance to warm up for a pretty long time. Makes a difference here too.

Hope your good fortune continues . . .

[MylesBAstor]

Don't underestimate warm up time.

[Rust]

I've found that a little single malt can contribute to a listening session, however overdoing it can lead to issues when changing LPs.

[Alrainbow]

For me I doubt it's power not that I know better it's more about I scope and test it Ina few ways. It's pretty consistent really warming the system up matters almost as much as our mood. For me mood is a mystical thing. I can be happy playing loud and loving. One bad call or email or text and it turns to shiiit. In a second of that don't prove my point nothing will.

[marty]

.or after 8 years have the cables finally broken in...

Now that's funny!

[siddh]

So....a few days away from the system....and...the "magic" is no longer. It all sounds good, but nothing like 5 nights ago. The soundstage has shrunk, highs a bit more trebly, and mid-bass less pronounced. Only variable that I am aware of, is I have run a dehumidifier, lowering the humidity. No drugs, alcohol, family mishaps, work related stress, sexual escapades...or any other conspicuous disturbance to explain the changes. I continue to suspect it is electricity related. I have measured the voltage varies from 111 volts all the way to 121 volts. Years back I had a rep from WE energies take a reading. He also was perplexed by the low output at that measured moment. He theorized it to be related to the usage heavy and service capability.
So...back to "good" hifi, rather than "I'll be up in about 5 hours" music.

[MylesBAstor]

So....a few days away from the system....and...the "magic" is no longer. It all sounds good, but nothing like 5 nights ago. The soundstage has shrunk, highs a bit more trebly, and mid-bass less pronounced. Only variable that I am aware of, is I have run a dehumidifier, lowering the humidity. No drugs, alcohol, family mishaps, work related stress, sexual escapades...or any other conspicuous disturbance to explain the changes. I continue to suspect it is electricity related. I have measured the voltage varies from 111 volts all the way to 121 volts. Years back I had a rep from WE energies take a reading. He also was perplexed by the low output at that measured moment. He theorized it to be related to the usage heavy and service capability.
So...back to "good" hifi, rather than "I'll be up in about 5 hours" music.

I find that the system sounds better when constantly played every day. It seems to take a day or two say after being off a week or so to sound up to snuff. Of course, I could be imagining it too. 🤒

[jeffk]

I'm so glad someone with better gear has the same problems. this happens to me occasionally and I usually blame my cartridge setup. Various vtf/azimuth/vta changes ensue. I usually head to bed frustrated, then the next night the magic will be back. Luckily 8/10 are excellent sounding nights. Enough to make me lose my mind sometimes. Vinyl has so many variables, if only I could take loud digital music.

[siddh]

You know, Jeffk, the odd thing, or maybe not so odd, the analog playback sounded somewhat similar to my digital, which I very rarely play. A lack of texture and body. Too crazy.

[MylesBAstor]

I'm so glad someone with better gear has the same problems. this happens to me occasionally and I usually blame my cartridge setup. Various vtf/azimuth/vta changes ensue. I usually head to bed frustrated, then the next night the magic will be back. Luckily 8/10 are excellent sounding nights. Enough to make me lose my mind sometimes. Vinyl has so many variables, if only I could take loud digital music.

Some wisdom there. Some nights the system just sounds like crap and all the diddling in the world won't help restore the magic. Best to leave well enough alone and come back to fight another day. That is unless it's something obvious like a bad tube, etc.

[Alrainbow]

Here is some facts that do take place
our systems need warm up time some more than others the more resolving the longer. This is something that can be measured as our devices design spec is done when warmed up
next during breaking in one fact is caps do go through a chemical change this can be measured and is known some types of caps take longer.
Now the the next fact is this change breaks down when not being used returning it to a closer to new state. This may be why if our system is not played for a while it may sound different and only over time does it get better playing continually. I have for one do feel this is true in part.
Now having said this I have sweeped the room to see if something has changed of course I note no changes. But I do feel we do not know with certainty what to test for. But we humans can hear what we cannot measure as well not hear what can measure at times. This puts us in box of uncertainty for sure.
Cleaning the connections matters
warming up really matters
mood and our minds matters more to me then the rest do.
i am willing to bet if on a night some claim there system is bad others attending will not feel that way.

Now a follow up to this thought. As I am a headphone guy and have gone to many shows and mini meets. I have never heard anyone say what we have posted above only warmup or tube changing changes. Can it be our stuff is more complex more moving parts. If the cap concept that can be measured is true it's also our cross overs that need to regain the breakin as well.

[MylesBAstor]

Here is some facts that do take place
our systems need warm up time some more than others the more resolving the longer. This is something that can be measured as our devices design spec is done when warmed up
next during breaking in one fact is caps do go through a chemical change this can be measured and is known some types of caps take longer.
Now the the next fact is this change breaks down when not being used returning it to a closer to new state. This may be why if our system is not played for a while it may sound different and only over time does it get better playing continually. I have for one do feel this is true in part.
Now having said this I have sweeped the room to see if something has changed of course I note no changes. But I do feel we do not know with certainty what to test for. But we humans can hear what we cannot measure as well not hear what can measure at times. This puts us in box of uncertainty for sure.
Cleaning the connections matters
warming up really matters
mood and our minds matters more to me then the rest do.
i am willing to bet if on a night some claim there system is bad others attending will not feel that way.

Now a follow up to this thought. As I am a headphone guy and have gone to many shows and mini meets. I have never heard anyone say what we have posted above only warmup or tube changing changes. Can it be our stuff is more complex more moving parts. If the cap concept that can be measured is true it's also our cross overs that need to regain the breakin as well.

It might be a generalization but the old VAC Renaissance and Audio Note SE amps that had interstate coupling transformers took forever to sound right. The VAV took 3-5 hrs until it reached its peak. Think HP even mentioned it as the VAC was one of his faves back then.

[siddh]

Well....it's back. The texture, body; bass slam with growl rather than sludge; extended highs without abrasiveness; mids with body, density and air.

Warm-up? Not really. Things started clicking within 20 minutes. Cartridge adjustment? Just the traditional vta accompanying album thickness. No extra-curriculors, mood enhancers, or genuflections to the divine spirits. It's just kicking ass...love it.