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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
avialuf OP
7 posts
 
Thank you all for the help! I did try another amp (audio analogue Puccini) and it acted the same way as YBA.
I even called to the YBA distributor (Montreal,Canada) and asked what they think about this problem. They were very helpful but again this did not help.
Then I bought a digital volt meter and the voltage is about 121-122 and does not fluctuate too much- 0.2 + - on a good or a bad day. The weirdest part is this: sometimes my wife and I can both pinpoint the moment when the sound goes "wow" - it becomes open and a little louder, vivid and controlled and then it's over.
I probably have to mention that about 2 months ago I installed Furutech fuses on both units and it did changed the presentation for a while.
I've contacted the APS about their regenerator and it seems that they have a pretty good return policy. Also they recommend the same model as Kennyt uses(APS PurePower 700).
I ones heard that frequency fluctuation can affect a CDP digital clock and therefore the entire presentation.
Any ideas are welcome!
Please help.
lak's avatar
lak
3,516 posts
 
Avialuf,
Does your system sound better late in the evening or in the early morning hours when most others in your area or building are asleep?
What other appliances are on the same circuit as your audio gear?
gbart
290 posts
 
Avialuf, how many measurements did you take and for how long ? Did you check the line voltage when the sound was bad ? A quick check here and there may not provide the whole picture. The best way of checking longterm voltage stability, is to use a datalogging meter (digital multimeter with PC interface) and software. It can be left connected to the AC for about 24 hours and logs power quality for that period. Unfortunately those can be quite expensive. I have one that I bought from Radio Shack many years ago, when they sold pretty decent meters.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
Do you leave the entire system powered up 24/7?
avialuf OP
7 posts
 
Thank you all for the replies.
Lak-yes it sounds better in the early morning and during weekends. There are tv,dvd,modem,computer and router on the same fuse (unfortunately I can't remove them, at least not now) but they are not plugged into the conditioner or the same outlet. Also the same appliances connected on "good" days too so I would assume they are out of the accusation.
Gbart -good comment but those meters are very expensive.
I measured the voltage during good and bad days for a few minutes and it's always about the same.
Onhwy61 - yes it's on 24/7.
This ordeal made me listen my system less and less now - it's really upsetting after all the money spent and all the effort to enjoy it only on those "good" days. What I think really affect the system is the "air-conditioning" season - there are a lot of old clunkers in the building and I can hear them working 24/7.
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