you can use humidifier, but to my knowledge neither central nor window ac dries it up completely. |
Wow, I never knew this. I will immediately turn off the AC and listen naked while sweating profusely all over the couch. It's only 100% humidity here in Fla. Maybe I really should consider solid state.
But seriously, I have noticed the souncd improving as it rains. Thats even inside an air conditioned environment. The air is thicker I guess when humid, so there is some science related here. Seems like the air conditioned space wouldn't know the difference if it rains ouside, so who knows what's going on? The insulation on the power line into my building is all cracked from the sun and I have often wondered if the water on the conductors is doing something that improves the sound. Maybe it's just the lightning!!! |
when i get too much booze and drive the car the next morning I notice that my windows fog inside. i guess you can use booze as tweak to that issue. |
You need to try a different power cord on your A/C. The difference is not subtle! |
Why do some members post the same question three times in one day? Very annoying. |
Maybe connection problems/inadvertent multiple clicks. Not *that* annoying. |
I think Hifiharv is onto something (the serious part of his comment). The effects of the rain must be changing (charging) the air molecules in the room somehow. That means less inertia for the speaker output to contend with. With air conditioning, the air molecules aren't as charged. Highly charged air molecules equal warm weather. I wonder if the humidity level goes up in Harv's house after it rains even though the air is on and the windows are closed?
I had a ear opening experiencing last night when I was put through an a/b test of Stein Musics H2 Harmonizer system. For anyone who doesn't know what this is, Google search it and read the reviews from Enjoy The Music, Stereotimes, etc. This system was designed using quantum physics and it basically charges the air in the listening room. This elongates the air molecules. The charging of the air molecules means that when the speaker output enters the listening room space it does not have to overcome the inertia of uncharged/un-elongated air in the room. It's impossible for most of us to comprehend this but who cares. I never asked how much this system cost. The distributor told me the actual harmonizers and stands aren't that expensive but it's these magic diamond things that cost all the moeny. I know, it sounds freaky but the difference using this system is night and day. It's not subtle, as the reviews will tell you.
I think the rain is changing the air molecules (density). |
1. No idea why this thread has three different iterations. Pretty sure I only pressed "Go" once.
2. That Harmonizer sounds interesting. Hope it's not expensive. Magic diamonds scare me.
3. I would guess that, during rain, an air conditioner is either pulling in more moisture, or working harder to dehumidify, so it's not really a surprise that internal air is wetter. I have no idea what I'm talking about.
I should add that it may just be my speakers (Polk LSi9, still breaking in). |
Technically on overcast weather you get substantially less dopamine and your mood changes as well. |
Stein harmonizers can be very good but if I was going in that direction I would put PMR Resonators on my short list. Good Luck |
In all seriousness, I do know that the old Monitor Audio Studio series were sensitive to temperature. The definitely sounded sweeter at approximately 75 degrees F or higher. I believe it had to do with its metal dome tweeter. |
I found central a/c fine, but window units are too noisy...attic fans can completely undermine the sound, and ceiling fans create a "Leslie" effect. |
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Bthogan, On the serious side, rain storms also tend to cool things off and A/C units cycle on less, taking some of the strain off of the power grid. Some of the other serious comments are possible too, but power was the first thought I had while reading you post. |
I've experienced the effects of air and now I can't live without it. |
I'm breaking in a pair of Polk LSi9s, and my main complaint about them is that they sound dry (acoustically). I'm kind of grasping at straws in terms of causes, and looking for hope that it'll go away. I run my a/c all day, even when I'm not at home (I have my reasons). So I was considering whether the dehumidifying function of my a/c - which I, personally, can't do without - might also be drying out my speakers (physically), and contributing to the dry acoustic quality.
That's where this came from. Speakers are slowly warming up. Also, I may need a more powerful amp (got an Adcom GFA-545, getting a McCormack DNA-1 or Parasound HCA-1500A).
These Polks have more detail, and better imaging/presentation, than what they're replacing (EFE Technology, forget the model, they're great but they lose detail and the treble breaks a bit), but they're...dry. |
I would suspect that humidity would affect electrostatic speakers in a certain manner but I can not see how a dynamic speaker would be affected by either ac/humidity.
Maybe a designer will pop in on this thread with their point of view. |
Power can certainly be an issue, especially when the stereo system is sharing
the same power line with the air-conditioning machine. However, changes in
the density and/or pressure of the air can also be responsible for what you
hear. To put things in perspective I would note that:
1) Our ear drums detect sound by detecting variation in the pressure of the air
molecules.
2) The drivers of the speakers are pistons that move the air in the room. They
create the variation in the air pressure.
3) The speed of a wave (sound wave in this case) in a medium depends on the
pressure and density of that medium (the air in this case). Cable manufactures
often talk about this phenomenon.
Thus, it should be clear that the humidity and pressure of the air in the room
can affect how well the waves emitted by the speakers will be transmitted to
our ears. The air in the room can be view as a cable transmitting the signal
generated by the speakers to our ears.
I do not know the actual magnitude of all these effects (they all are very
small), and, for sure, there are more factors that play a role (e.g. ionization
state of the molecules). However, since our ears are extremely sensitive
instruments, I would not be surprised if people (or at least some of them) can
hear the effects induced by these perturbations.
More significant and trivial effects are the currents of air and the noise
created by the air-conditioning machine in your room. But I assume you are
not referring to those.
Of course, one should also not overlook the effects of pressure and humidity
on our brain, ears, sinuses, etc.
Paul |
I have had the same thoughts about air temperature and humidity, both on the instant effect on the sound and also on the long term health of the speakers. I make sure that there are no direct drafts of conditioned air flow directly at the speakers, but have not done much else. I also wondered about fumes from burning a gas heater, but do nothing about that either. BTW -- Running your favorite music with just firelight is amazing. Use minimum emmision portable fires like 'ecosmart' or other similar types. |
