Is it my imagination or .....

[Edward]

Is it my imagination or is something actually happening electrically?

I've often experienced this. When I change over major audio items, most recently for one set of speakers for another, there seems to be a settling in period over a few days. It is almost like the amp and speakers have a period of settling down together electrically whereupon the sound becomes smoother, more open, more relaxed and more cohesive. I'm not talking about the warm up time of 10-20 minutes, but something that occurs over a few days, even after multiple times the system being turned off and on.

Probably a large part is simply my hearing 'tuning' into the slightly different presentation, but I do sense something else beyond that happening.

Anyone else? I'm probably just convincing myself of something foolish and certainly I don't have any explanation of this phenomena if it is actually occurring.

[struth]

Think it's your hearing and brain getting used to a new presentation

[JohnJo]

A friend of mine is big on this. He's convinced it takes a few days to "play in" any change of equipment, even used equipment that's well and truly broken in. I don't hear it to this degree but one thing that I'M convinced of is that different people are susceptible to different audio phenomena (cables, fuses etc) and it could well be that you have an ear for this Edward. He believes it is at a molecular level, I don't know.

[Bigman80]

Anytime a piece of equipment is laying dormant for a while, I think it takes a few hours at least to get in song when ut back in rotation.

Whether that be the speaker surrounds losing a touch of elasticity from sitting in the same position or whether it's a room temp thing, I dont know.

[southall-1998_mk2]

OP, perhaps your hearing is acute.

S.

[Pharos]

It's taken me 18 months to still not accept what I'm hearing with new speakers, repeated shocks are still occurring.

[Audio Al]

This may help
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5Z9-QCmZyw

[paulf-2007]

Think it's your hearing and brain getting used to a new presentationnail head

[Primalsea]

With new speakers being mechanical items there can be a period of bedding in. The mechanical properties of the surrounds will change a little after being repeatedly flexed. With electronic components I know that temperature and current can change their performance and with continued use some do go bad, a very obvious change in performance. Continued use could therefore have some effect but I suspect it may not be much of a deal, otherwise nothing would remain in spec and there would be little consistency between the same models.

I suspect the mainly its us bedding in to the presentation of the equipment and not the other way round for the most part.

[tapid]

A friend of mine is big on this. He's convinced it takes a few days to "play in" any change of equipment, even used equipment that's well and truly broken in. I don't hear it to this degree but one thing that I'M convinced of is that different people are susceptible to different audio phenomena (cables, fuses etc) and it could well be that you have an ear for this Edward. He believes it is at a molecular level, I don't know.
Yup, I m big on this as well. Noticed quite a few times now, changed equipment always takes a few days to settle in and sound right, less edgy perhaps.
Could be the old imagination going bonkers but I think its an interesting theory.

[Edward]

Yeah probably my imagination running ahead of me. But still ....

[Macca]

Has happened to me on occasional kit swaps but not always. Also I've had the opposite experience where it starts off good and then a couple of days later it isn't sounding so good. Although this could be just because I'm listening to different music on the later occasion and it's showing up the flaws. Which does all suggest it is psychological. That and the absence of any credible explanation otherwise.

[Spectral Morn]

Warm up in my direct experiece is a thing, not with everything, but a lot of stuff.

The TDA1541 DAC chip Marantz players and the like needed at least 24 hours of being left on to sound their best. I used to leave mine on, back in the day. I don't now, after a DAC I owned caught fire, managed to get it out of the house ok, but I don't want burn't capacitor smell in my house again, or risk of a serious fire.

I don't leave anything on these days and I do own kit that does still benefit from being left on, I fire these up an hour before listening and accept that they could sound still better again.

[Macca]

Just having a listen to my system now, sounds better than when I last listened on Tuesday. Nothing has changed since then. What can you do?

[tapid]

Evening seems to sound better than morning ?. Not sure but I think most folks find that ?

[Macca]

Mostly I don't perceive any change for no reason. Just on the odd occasion like this.

[Ninanina]

I'm convinced the system sounds better some nights than others... so it's either the lecky or my ears or how I feel that night I reckon..