To what extent does room temperature affect system performance?

[doodoos]

The question reflects my ears telling me that my little ol' hi fi sounds more dynamic, detailed and with more accessible low level information when the sun is shining ie at average room temps. around 20-25c. Could this be the drivers wobbling more freely when warmer?. Or is it the feelgood factor?

[Prince of Darkness]

Could be a bit of both, also the quality of the electric mains supply varies with the time of day.

[BajaGringo]

As it gets warmer, water expands. That includes inside your body so I think it is the additional pressure asserted against the inside of our skulls. Which in turn makes this old Gringo's tainted hearing even worse as well.

As I recall from physics studies in the prior mid-century, sound waves travel faster in warmer air, correct?

[The Grand Wazoo]

From The Grave

[The Grand Wazoo]

Starter for ten:

Maybe there's more to consider here than brain waves and electricity supply. For example, how about the conflicting needs of cartridges and speakers for optimum temperature? Or what working in a hot room might do to an amplifier having to work extra hard to keep cool.....stuff like that?

[bogle111]

Starter for ten:

Maybe there's more to consider here than brain waves and electricity supply. For example, how about the conflicting needs of cartridges and speakers for optimum temperature? Or what working in a hot room might do to an amplifier having to work extra hard to keep cool.....stuff like that?

Yes, agree. You can leave your system on for hours, but if the room is colder than normal, it will sound "brighter" and unbalanced compared to a warm atmosphere.

Someone once tried to convince me that "air pressure" had something to do with it

[Haselsh1]

This definitely affects vinyl replay as the elasticity of the stylus mount varies with temperature as do most elastic substances. So it follows that the mount is more pliable in warmer conditions and that the sound should therefore be a lot smoother. I know this is the case from my own experiences.

[DSJR]

Some elastomers aren't affected by temperature and humidity, but I can think of many cartridges that are hugely temperature dependant.

Rubber SPEAKER SURROUNDS also are hugely dependant on temp changes, their whole characteristic changing hugely in sonics AND measurement over say, a 10 degree change.

...And this is long before we consider how we feel, the humidity around and about and mains quality differences...

After a few beers, or summat stronger, all the above doesn't matter a toss because everything sounds better

[Wakefield Turntables]

this is an interesting topic, my system seems to improve when I have the heating on in my listening room, why, I have no idea, but I would like to find out

[The Grand Wazoo]

So what about things like electrostatics which have a stretched membrane? - presumably this will vary in tension at different temperatures. Which is better - hot or cold?