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"But it sounds better at night...."

A well-traveled topic that I raise yet again.  On the "are power regenerators snake oil" question, the response that has made most sense to me is: No, if you have some material issue with the power supply coming into your home.  If you live in an area with what I will call normal modern power infrastructure, and have quality components, you will probably not notice a difference.

But I live in a city, do not suspect any power problems, and feel with a pretty high degree of certainty that my system sounds better at night.  This is a common sentiment, attributed to more activity on the electrical grid during the day.  Can these two positions be reconciled?  Why DOES the system sound better at night to me and many others?


Is our perception straight-up wrong, and the result of some bias or non-auditory reason why listening at night is a better experience?

Maybe when listening at night, one average for most people, the system will have been on longer, and therefore be more warmed up?

Is our perception real, and supports the proposition that baseline electrical system usage does materially affect many systems, and you don't need a clear power "problem" to benefit from a regenerator? 

Let's rehash it all again gentlemen!
 

mathiasmingus
pharaoh's avatar
pharaoh
7 posts
 

Aside from solar radiation, quite real, there is industrial noise on the power lines during working hours. Neighbourhood activity also contributes. Soon after about 10pm when most people have turned off their lights, computers, microwave ovens etc., the lines are more free of noise generated by everyone else's electronic appliances. Even LEDs create line noise, so better to turn off your lights and even leds in your gear.

More usage during the day reduces line voltage too, making sound slightly harsher, less natural.

Having a power regenerator helps heaps, but it is still affected by line noise, surprisingly. This is snake oil for people with cloth ears, but there are genuine benefits from listening at night.

mathiasmingus OP
52 posts
 

Thanks everyone.  Think I can distill it all down:

1. Try a power regenerator after recovering from today's material financial outlay (new ARC preamp).

2. Listen to music at night, with beer and darkened room, and enjoy.

Part 2 can start immediately!

 

riie
219 posts
 

Because you are using the ULO (ultra low overnight) rates which is music to your ears.

tatyana69
269 posts
 

My system sounds substantially better after 21:30

Why?

Because the generator or supply path supplying my house changes each night at the same time

With the clock change in winter it is 20:30

Each night I hear the change - check watch - yes 21:30

 

 

 

aewarren
644 posts
 

@bigkidz  Ok, but I think I liked it better the nonsensical way it was.   

 

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