View Full Version : The cold snap.
Floyddroid
03-03-2018, 13:48
It has been a real shock to me these past few days whilst being partially cut off and unable to travel very far at the effects such low temperatures have on hi-fi components. Especially speakers and headphones. I thought that my Senheisser headphones were Donald Ducked as I was getting hardly any bass from them and they sounded brittle and course. After the heating had been on for half an hour they were a totally different beast. Same with my speakers. Anyone else experienced this?:scratch:
wee tee cee
03-03-2018, 13:57
Took the 57s out of the cellar last night needed at least an hour to come on song.
Sherwood
03-03-2018, 13:59
It has been a real shock to me these past few days whilst being partially cut off and unable to travel very far at the effects such low temperatures have on hi-fi components. Especially speakers and headphones. I thought that my Senheisser headphones were Donald Ducked as I was getting hardly any bass from them and they sounded brittle and course. After the heating had been on for half an hour they were a totally different beast. Same with my speakers. Anyone else experienced this?:scratch:
Unless the ambient temperature in your room was well below zero I would suggest that it was more likely that you and your ears were performing below par. :scratch:
Hi Steve,
I had the same issue with my system, hardly any bass. When you think of it though the main transducers (Cartridge and Speakers) rely on rubber components which have to be at optimised operating temperature usually around 18-21oC. My room was 15oC so well below and it was not until an hour into playing my bass returned.
Your not imagining it mate.:)
brian2957
03-03-2018, 15:09
Yup , I thought my system wasn't sounding great the last few days . I started changing interconnects around :doh:
paulf-2007
03-03-2018, 15:15
Regardless of temperature but certainly more noticeable in the winter that my speakers sound better after an hour and a pair of PX25 monoblocks I used with lowthers needed an hour to sound their best. The lowthers revealed that more than any other speakers. At Scalford one year the fella in the next room had got his kit running and I had a listen and it didn't sound so good but at the end of the day when you'd have thought I'd had enough I went back after packing up and his kit was right on song.
Sherwood
03-03-2018, 15:32
Do you not think that many of these problems might be due to the increased demands on the power supply. I am lucky in that I have a new and very well insulated house, but I know many people with central heating who are using electric heaters in conservatories and other harder to heat rooms.
Geoff
My house is very old and leaks heat like a sieve. It only gets warm enough when I have both fires going and the central heating on.
I have observed this reduction in bass before but in combination with a cold valve amp my system really takes a good hour before it sounds right. I am sure the rubber surrounds on my speakers are the main culprit although the cartridge is just as bad? I am sure I would have none of these issues in a modern insulated house.
Floyddroid
03-03-2018, 16:02
Hi Steve,
I had the same issue with my system, hardly any bass. When you think of it though the main transducers (Cartridge and Speakers) rely on rubber components which have to be at optimised operating temperature usually around 18-21oC. My room was 15oC so well below and it was not until an hour into playing my bass returned.
Your not imagining it mate.:)
Thanks James. Yes indeed my Heco Statements i know are extremely temperature dependant and need to be played at normal room temp for at least twenty mins have been shite these passed four days. I am relieved to hear your comments.
Floyddroid
03-03-2018, 16:03
Do you not think that many of these problems might be due to the increased demands on the power supply. I am lucky in that I have a new and very well insulated house, but I know many people with central heating who are using electric heaters in conservatories and other harder to heat rooms.
Geoff
Yes i would say that this could well be a contributing fact also.
paulf-2007
03-03-2018, 16:15
Do you not think that many of these problems might be due to the increased demands on the power supply. I am lucky in that I have a new and very well insulated house, but I know many people with central heating who are using electric heaters in conservatories and other harder to heat rooms.
Geoffnot if you're implying that the supply is reduced by the demand. I've not come across mains voltage below 240v and mostly around 245v. All the talk around power supplies is tosh
Floyddroid
03-03-2018, 16:21
not if you're implying that the supply is reduced by the demand. I've not come across mains voltage below 240v and mostly around 245v. All the talk around power supplies is tosh
No so with DC on the mains i might add.
Sherwood
03-03-2018, 16:21
not if you're implying that the supply is reduced by the demand. I've not come across mains voltage below 240v and mostly around 245v. All the talk around power supplies is tosh
"You're not from Chicago!":)
.... or from the North or Midlands. My power supply varies a lot. When I commissioned a power amp for my Maggies I was asked to check the mains voltage so that the bias could be set. I checked several times and it never fell below 247v. However, a while back I noticed some deterioration in the sound from my hifi and it was 233v.
Geoff
Primalsea
03-03-2018, 16:30
My speakers and TT definitely need to warm up before they work at their best. After about 10 the heating goes off as we cannot sleep in a warm room. Their is a very obvious difference to many rubber components such as speaker sorrounds at differing temperatures.
Can't say I've noticed any issue but then it is rarely warm in my living room even in the summer so I've no comparison.
Can't say I've noticed any issue but then it is rarely warm in my living room even in the summer so I've no comparison.
Imagine how much bass you would get if you warmed your room up a bit.:lol:
Imagine how much bass you would get if you warmed your room up a bit.:lol:
I know, I was thinking that myself :lol:
paulf-2007
03-03-2018, 20:07
"You're not from Chicago!":)
.... or from the North or Midlands. My power supply varies a lot. When I commissioned a power amp for my Maggies I was asked to check the mains voltage so that the bias could be set. I checked several times and it never fell below 247v. However, a while back I noticed some deterioration in the sound from my hifi and it was 233v.
Geoff
No Geoff, quality mains here mate:)
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