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My system acts weird

My system is Audio Aero Capitole, Yba Passion integrated and Harbeth sHl5 speakers, kubala fascination interconnects and kubala expression speaker cables.
I have noticed that most of the time it sounds just ok.(not like it should) sometimes it sounds just plain horrible and sometimes it sounds just right. The sound can improve dramatically for a period of a few minutes and then collapse again. The best performance was during the long weekend - the music was just flowing, lovely and involving. I assume that it could be the power(I live in an old condo building). To rule out the cdp and amp problem I used borrowed CDP and AMP for a while and all the time problem still existed.
So I bought a line conditioner "Sound Application". Even though it does make a difference it did not resolve the problem.
The symptoms of a "bad sound day" are:
base is all over the place-boomy and overwhelming
Soundstage is flat and not well defined.
Entire presentation is just not enjoyable.
I consider buying a re-generator and so far it's ether PS audio Premier or APS PurePower.
If any of you had a similar problem please do share your solution.
avialuf
lak's avatar
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lak
4,710 posts
 
I think the problem might be due to the power (AC) being supplied to your "old condo building" and all the other items from neighbors that are running and polluting the AC. I've never had this happen to me personally because I live in a newer development in my home. I have read of similar situations over the years that sounds like what you are describing. I'm uncertain as to what the solution is. A different way to clean the AC would be with a used isolation transformer (see my power filtration picture in my system). I have a friend that solved his AC problem in his apartment by plugging in an isolation transformer to the AC wall outlet (he wired it for that) and he installed a high quality AC outlet on the other end of the isolation transformer that he plugged his system into. I don't know if that would help any better than what you are currently using.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
Have you lived there long enough to know if the problem is seasonal? If yes, and the problem is summer, than utility use by neighbors may be the culprit.

My voltage goes from a low of about 115 during the heat of the day to 118 / 119 very late.
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
Living in a condo where you lack flexibility with improving your power your best bet is to try the APS, and or the PS Premier. I have had both, and preferred the APS 700 but did not keep it. Both of these devices are most likely system dependent like all other components. Based on the feedback, for some, these units have worked very well, just not for everyone.
avialuf OP
7 posts
 
Thank you all! I appreciate your help.
Lak - I have one of those isolation transformer and it produces too much of its' own noise. I had to put it in a wooden box to silence it.I used to used it for my turntable set up and I tried to use it with CDP with not much of success.
Magfan- I bought this place less then 2 years ago and only put my system together a few months ago.
Foster_9 - can you please elaborate on your experience with APS and PS Premier? Why did you prefer APS 700 and why didn't you keep it?
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
This was a couple years ago but the APS back up battery began to lose its charge, but in APS' defense they were very good about responding and taking care of customer service-related issues, including replacement and refund. The Premier decreased the dynamics and rolled the upper end in my system. I liked the APS better because my system did not seem to sufffer dynamic loss near as much as with the Premier.
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