Need Help: What In My Home Electric System Killed the Sound?


Could really use some troubleshooting from you electric experts out there, of which I certainly am not one.  House is in rural western Maine.  My electrician (licensed and very experienced, but not in audiophile context) is running a dedicated line to the 2-channel rig.  He installed the new line up to the outlet, but didn't complete yet (we're waiting for delivery on the outlet), so the new line is temporarily capped off at the wall.  In the meantime, elsewhere in the house, he changed a broken recessed light socket and changed the related wiring to that light.  Those are the only two changes to the electric I am aware of.   The 2-channel system remains plugged into the same outlet we've been using for years (until the dedicated line is in).  This weekend, the life is gone fro the system.  For example, volume at "25" on the pre-amp would normally be quite loud, but now it needs to be turned up to 40 to get the same loudness.  Regardless, dynamics are gone, tempo is a tiny bit slow and has lost toe tapping, and vocals moved from near field to way back in the mix.   Nothing was changed in the system (Rega Saturn CDP; McIntosh C52; McIntosh 452; and Polk SDA 1.2 TL (heavily modded)).   Any thoughts on what might have cause these symptoms?  Electrician can't pinpoint anything.  Any input appreciated.  
whitecap
More likely a drop or change in voltage vs. before. 

Is the light that was changed on a dimmer? Those can introduce all sorts of fun things. :) 

Is it possible you changed a setting, such as a balanced vs. not on the back of one of the Mac's? Or did you switch from balanced to unbalanced cables? 

Ask him to double check the voltage as well as the neutral to ground and ground. 
All above are good suggestions.
I would also try running an extension cord to a different outlet controlled by a different cercit breaker for the heck of it and see if the music sounds any different.
Please post your findings.
cousinbillyl06-13-2016 9:34pm " ... we have Ontario Hydro. They have installed 'Smart' meters. These meters calculate power usage. Since this calculation uses voltage, and since highest prices are during the day and evening, they raise our voltage to 125V ...

Most audio gear is designed for 115v/230v. This allows designers to build for a larger global demographic ...

Welcome to the world of corporate profits."

Sorry, but you don't understand how electricity works. You're not billed for voltage - you're billed for consumption, measured in kilowatt-hours. For a given appliance. even if the voltage goes up, the current (load) remains the same, within limits, because the wattage will be reduced. This has nothing at all to do with smart meters.

In North America, residential electric service is nominally 123VAC and modern household appliances are designed for this service.

Most audio gear is designed for 115v/230v. This allows designers to build for a larger global demographic ...

Welcome to the world of corporate profits."
120 or 125V should not do any harm. In fact most of equipment is stable from 105V to 130V and should not affect dynamics.

I thought the issue with smart meters was that they emit all kinds of crap--some consider it to be a health risk, right? And if affects your health, what will it do to your system? :) I’ll put my tin foil hat on if I’m wrong and head back to the bunker. Shades of Saul's brother the lawyer, right? 
best,

(and interested to hear what the problem/solution ultimately turns out to be for the OP)