Hi,

My hi-fi sounds great sometimes and not others. I am told that it needs an hour's warm-up
and this could fit with the times it has sounded good. For example, great one evening but
poor the next morning. I leave the electronics on but not playing.

Is there a CD that can be played to loosen the system up? I suspect the speakers most.
Bass extension is particularly absent at times. Any suggestions as to whether playing a
very low frequency sine wave or similar could do the trick?

--
TIA,
James

James Harris wrote:


My hi-fi sounds great sometimes and not others.

Most likely causes would be your state of mind and your selection of music
to listen to.

I am told that it
needs an hour's warm-up and this could fit with the times it has
sounded good.

If your system has some technical defect, then warming up could deal with
the problem. In general audio systems are up to peak performance within a
minute or less of commencment of use.

For example, great one evening but poor the next
morning.

Your system could have a defect that makes it extraordinarly sensitive to
operating temperature.

I leave the electronics on but not playing.

Is there a CD that can be played to loosen the system up?

Nothing special should be required.

I suspect the speakers most. Bass extension is particularly absent at
times.

In fact, the cause could be anything else in the system.

Any suggestions as to whether playing a very low frequency sine wave
or similar could do the trick?

Not if your system is in good shape.

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
James Harris wrote:


My hi-fi sounds great sometimes and not others.

Most likely causes would be your state of mind and your selection of music
to listen to.

I am told that it
needs an hour's warm-up and this could fit with the times it has
sounded good.

If your system has some technical defect, then warming up could deal with
the problem. In general audio systems are up to peak performance within a
minute or less of commencment of use.

For example, great one evening but poor the next
morning.

Your system could have a defect that makes it extraordinarly sensitive to
operating temperature.



More like changes in your hearing. Have you ever noticed that you set your
clock-radio in sleep mode and go to sleep listening to the news or whatever
fairly quietly, but when it wakes you in the morning it is deafeningly loud?

Your hearing is done by a 'field' of very fine hairs inside your ear canal
that flex with the air movement that we call sound. During the day ambient
noise, from traffic, being inside a moving car/train/plane, and/or workplace
noise, etc etc cause the hairs to get tired and somewhat slow to move -
rather like a lawn on which the kids have been playing all day - so your
hearing sensitivity decays. Whilst you sleep in a relatively quiet
environment the hairs rejuvenate so that come the morning your hearing is
vastly more sensitive - the grass perks up again. The hairs also deplete in
quantity and flexibility with age, hence why in most people high frequency
sensitivity decays as you get older. Deafness, especially that induced by
working in a high-moise environment with protection, occurs when the hairs
stay tired and cannot restore themselves - i.e. the grass has had neither
food or water and stays 'flat.'

In terms of hi-fi, in the morning you probably don't play it quite so loud
which affects both how the speaker sounds in itself and how it interacts
with the room, thus affecting the subjective sound quality.

Subjectivity is by definition opinion, so how you hear something may and
most probably differ from how someone else hears it and hence why I think,
for example, that the Wharfedale 8.3 is awful, but What Hi-Fi think it is
the best thing since sliced bread!


--

Woody

"Woody" wrote in message
...

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
James Harris wrote:


My hi-fi sounds great sometimes and not others.

Most likely causes would be your state of mind and your selection of
music
to listen to.

I am told that it
needs an hour's warm-up and this could fit with the times it has
sounded good.

If your system has some technical defect, then warming up could deal
with
the problem. In general audio systems are up to peak performance within
a
minute or less of commencment of use.

For example, great one evening but poor the next
morning.

Your system could have a defect that makes it extraordinarly sensitive
to
operating temperature.



More like changes in your hearing. Have you ever noticed that you set your
clock-radio in sleep mode and go to sleep listening to the news or
whatever
fairly quietly, but when it wakes you in the morning it is deafeningly
loud?

My ears are literally congealed in the morning. As the day wears on, they
loosen up.
The tissues of the ears live in a world of thick, goopy liquid, the
consistency of which varies from hour to hour and day to day.

"James Harris" no.email.please wrote in message
.. .
Hi,

My hi-fi sounds great sometimes and not others. I am told that it needs an
hour's warm-up
and this could fit with the times it has sounded good. For example, great
one evening but
poor the next morning. I leave the electronics on but not playing.

Is there a CD that can be played to loosen the system up? I suspect the
speakers most.
Bass extension is particularly absent at times. Any suggestions as to
whether playing a
very low frequency sine wave or similar could do the trick?

--
TIA,
James



My hi-fi sounds great late night and during the early hours... single malt
may have a lot to do with it ;-)

"James Harris" wrote

My hi-fi sounds great sometimes and not others. I am
told that it needs an hour's warm-up and this could fit
with the times it has sounded good. For example, great
one evening but poor the next morning. I leave the
electronics on but not playing.

Perhaps you might consider a power line conditioner.
These devices reduce RF, EMI and other distortions
that leak into your hi-fi gear from AC power lines.
While some equipment does not appear (sound
wise) to benefit from the device most will, IME.

Most audio stores will allow you to demo these
devices for free so there is no financial risk. The cost
of these units start at $200 and run up to $4,000
depending on your needs. For a periodical review of
these units check out Stereophile issue Vol. 17 No.
12.


Is there a CD that can be played to loosen the
system up? I suspect the speakers most. Bass
extension is particularly absent at times. Any
suggestions as to whether playing a very low
frequency sine wave or similar could do the trick?

Yes, they are commonly referred to as break-in or
system burn-in CD’s. They range from highly
specialized (Purest Audio Design System Enhancer,
$110) to a single track on a test CD (Cardas/Ayre
System Enhancement Disk, $20 or XLO/Reference
Recordings Test and Burn-In CD, $27).

In article ,
Powell wrote:
Most audio stores will allow you to demo these devices for free so there
is no financial risk. The cost of these units start at $200 and run up
to $4,000 depending on your needs.

For a few chokes and capacitors at most? Some people have more money than
sense. Better to buy equipment where the maker has catered for possible
mains borne interference.

For a periodical review of these units check out Stereophile issue Vol.
17 No. 12.

Love to know how you arrange for a 'dirty' mains supply to be anything
like typical.

--
*Eat well, stay fit, die anyway

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn

"Mike Gilmour" wrote
My hi-fi sounds great late night and during the early hours... single malt
may have a lot to do with it ;-)

Beer googles for the ears?


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967
110890
Manchester, U.K.
http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

"Dave Plowman" wrote

Most audio stores will allow you to demo these devices
for free so there is no financial risk. The cost of these
units start at $200 and run up to $4,000 depending on
your needs.

For a few chokes and capacitors at most?

For example, better designs might include having isolated
transformers, balanced design technology, regeneration of
the wave form, outlet isolation/open ground, provide for
special need of source/power amps just to prevent
electrical grid injection noise.


Some people have more money than sense. Better to
buy equipment where the maker has catered for possible
mains borne interference.

And, some people have bad credit (no plastic) which
prevents them from trying a free demo unit in their home
setup. Or they don’t know any better. Which are you?


For a periodical review of these units check out
Stereophile issue Vol. 17 No. 12.

Love to know how you arrange for a 'dirty' mains supply
to be anything like typical.

Consider doing your own home work (empirical experience).

In article ,
Powell wrote:
For a few chokes and capacitors at most?

For example, better designs might include having isolated
transformers, balanced design technology, regeneration of
the wave form, outlet isolation/open ground, provide for
special need of source/power amps just to prevent
electrical grid injection noise.

You must be referring to US stuff. All UK equipment already has an
isolating transformer. It would be illegal to sell one without.


Some people have more money than sense. Better to
buy equipment where the maker has catered for possible
mains borne interference.

And, some people have bad credit (no plastic) which
prevents them from trying a free demo unit in their home
setup. Or they dont know any better. Which are you?

I know that you're advocating the spending of money that isn't needed.
Just buy decent equipment in the first place.


For a periodical review of these units check out
Stereophile issue Vol. 17 No. 12.

Love to know how you arrange for a 'dirty' mains supply
to be anything like typical.

Consider doing your own home work (empirical experience).

So I take it you just do 'subjective' testing then? Figures.

--
*Change is inevitable ... except from vending machines *

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn