Do you ever experience one of those listening sessions where the sound is far better than usual? I’ve recently been experimenting with power component and cable placement and I think I have found my best combination of cables and conditioners and the sound I have been getting has been excellent but tonight I’m getting a sound that I forgot that I could experience. The sound I am getting is as good as I get with my current system and the sound is quite good. I am excited!
Absolutely! I call them my Best Evers.. Happens (VERY roughly) around every six months. I believe it’s due to the cumulative little improvements I’ve done to my system.
For me it happens once a week or so. Haven’t been able to figure out the cause despite adding a good line conditioner to the system. It’s not that the sound is noticeably bad most of the time, but rather it is at whole higher level when it’s sounding great. It only takes a few seconds to hear the difference. It’s a mystery and infuriating. As I make improvements the great sounding times keep getting better and better.
I think for me “human factors” are part of this somewhat random “better than usual sound quality.” If I’m in a great mood to start and things in life are going especially well the system often sounds better than usual. Seasonal allergies and any other compromised health things that affect hearing of course also play a role.
I with you on those observations. Also, my mood, alertness, ambient noise, lighting, temperature/humidity/air pressure (!) affects it too.
Add to all of those variables a glass of the good stuff, and things can change.
For me the best listening is always at night and in the dark. Goosebumps!
I don’t “drink,” so with me it’s whether I have the time to dedicate to listening. If I have a few hours it keeps sounding better and better with more time.
I don’t drink or smoke either. The music helped me in my sobriety. I listen to music all the time and my headphones get good use every late evening early morning.
My midfi system experience is really good aligns with Palouse and kc’s physiological comments but will add that it’s as much related to the quality of the recording.
I seem to be getting more and more of these moments and I thought it was related more to my mood while I was listening than something being different with my system. Times that I was feeling good and to ready to really listen and enjoy. While I still think that is a factor, my system currently sounds the best I have heard it but my body is screaming at me and I am in an awful mood. So… at least my system sounds fantastic.
I’ve experienced that too when I know that the sound is good but if I’m feeling crappy then it’s a bit of a dilemma experience.