why is my system sounding better

[diviy]

Due to ill health two spinal ops small heart attack my system has been unused for the last couple of years,after setting it back up over the last month everyday I play it the sound just seems to be getting better !
could it be that oxidation on the phono leads and speaker cables has been disturbed? I have been told I should remove them every now and then stops oxidation and by refitting them makes a better conection even the speakers seem to be sounding even better now!

Confused .com

[Yomanze]

Maybe you're just in a good place at the moment & enjoying the tunes?

[Marco]

Hi Gerald,

Neil is right. It could also be, if your system has been powered down for an extended period of time, that as you've been using it regularly since, it's slowly gotten 'up to speed', as it were. Hi-fi systems are a bit like cars: they need to be used regularly in order to function optimally!

Btw, I'm glad you're on the mend, health wise. Long may that continue, my friend, and also you enjoying your tunes

Marco.

[walpurgis]

Hope your health is on the up Gerald.

I reckon you're just getting used to how good your system had sounded. The mind dims memories of the sound in my experience. I occasionally go through phases of not using the Hi-Fi for a while and being amazed how good it is the next time I try it.

[MikeMusic]

Unplugging and warming sound like the culprits

Scientifically proven that music makes you feel good and live longer
Keep playing !

[Jimbo]

I know of someone who powered his amp down for a few weeks but when he eventually did listen to it again it was noticeably better. There was some hypothesis about capacitors powering up and down? There may well be a technical reason why equipment can sound better after a period of none use?

[Naughty Nigel]

I'm pleased to hear that your health is improving.

However, if you haven't changed anything in your system then I would suspect the 'improvements' you are hearing are entirely psychological, possibly helped by your improving health and lack of concerns about the same.

Most systems do seem to sound better when they've been switched on for an hour or two, but I cannot see any reason why they should sound better if not used for a year or two. Indeed, electrolytic capacitors could be expect to be a bit 'leaky' after a long period of inactivity - which is why we have to be careful when powering up old valve gear after a long period in hibernation.

I recently spent a week working abroad during which time I was using a smallish hire car. I felt rather the same way when I got back into my own car at the airport!

Nigel.

[RichB]

Because you've missed it.

I used to work away through the week and was always impressed when I powered mine up on Saturday.