This seems like an excellent day to fall from grace.
I have something nice to chew on for you guys. Ableza already gave me a possible explanation but I wonder if there are other explanations.
Both Pietro and I added something to our sets. A little black box containing a high(very high)end filter. In my case I also changed some powercables, but to my knowledge Pietro didn`t change a thing other than adding the box.
And hear it comes...it changed my system a little bit too much for what it was supposed to do. More bass, better separation and even some more detail. Also it changed the tone a little bit but I`m not sure that is what I hear yet.
So this leaves me with 2 options for my new faith in gear:
a. Powercables do matter
b. Cleaner power is better
Both of which are ofcourse total BS going by the opinion of many around here.
Problem is...I do hear a difference in my set for sure and I am pretty sure I heard it in Pietro`s too but we didn`t A/B it when I was there.( So that doesn`t really count.)
So explain away, what am I hearing?
Based on what you are describing (since I have not heard your system, nor do I know what you have, or the specific items you changed out), you are describing changes in sound which you are attributing to the changes you made in your system. This attribution is reasonable if no other system parameters were changed.
As for the "why?" of it all, here are some possible reasons for the change.
1- Paul McGowan of PS Audio recently advocated for doing a "spring cleaning" on one's system, and aside from dusting, vacuuming behind, etc., he advised disconnecting all the cables, both power and interconnects, and setting them back in place. Using contact cleaner is an additional step available. Paul indicated that a small build-up of oxides and other metallurgical mysteries (have mercy, I'm not a scientist) could negatively impact sound on both cable types. As a tong time MOTT, Paul is an advocate for high quality cabling and *gasp* fuses. He spends far more time with gear than we do, and builds some highly regarded pieces, so his opinion is worth noting. It is also worth noting that he attributes his appreciation of cables to a demonstration given him by our own
@Baldr many years back.
2- Some devices that clean up AC power are valuable, especially if one's incoming power is "dirty." Jason has advocated for the use of isolation transformers, so he too recognizes the value of cleaner electricity, without inducing 'nervosa.'
3- The new power cords are impacting the sound of your gear, whether because it is isolating your power from spurious signals that can impart noise, or because they can pass more electricity (I know our beloved
@Ableza will argue against this point), or because they can filter noise products from the AC line is not clear. And yet you are hearing something more significant than you thought you might.
We have also had a full moon this weekend, and today is April Fools Day, so there may be other cosmological or metaphysical explanations that I have overlooked. In any event, while the "cables and other witchcraft make no difference" crowd will dismiss this out of hand, there are others here who can appreciate that what you are hearing is legit.
The real question: Does it give you a more fun and engaging experience of music in your system? If so, you are blessed.
