What Is The Darndest Thing That Made An Improvement Tweak Wise?

[sandyk]

21 hours ago, Digi&Analog Fan said:

After doubting it too much to even try it, after having read claims by many people, I finally tried unplugging my fridge and playing some very familiar music. A very noticeable improvement. I tried this fairly recently and now always unplug my fridge before a listening session. Now with summer near, I wonder if I will still do this if I have ice cream sitting in the freezer section. Maybe a good time to shed a few pounds.

 The running Fridge is most likely causing an increase in the ambient sound level with some even emitting a low level "whine" Sometimes, better positioning in the room may help to reduce this.

Even Air Conditioning running in Quiet Mode can do the same .

[sandyk]

5 hours ago, Digi&Analog Fan said:

My CD player, which I am using as my source right now is sitting atop a multi layered arrangement which includes a heavy duty coffee table with glass removed, multiple layers of wood between springs and a long discontinued  VPI Isolation base,

 

I get an improved performance from my Oppo 103,  which is inside a wooden entertainment cabinet with Perspex doors, by sitting it on a piece of thick butyl loaded car noise isolation material.

[sandyk]

12 minutes ago, fas42 said:

 

Might be for some people, Alex, but certainly in my current setup our fridge is adding to electrical noise - easily noted by pulling the cord to the unit.

 Frank

 Also given your recent post about mains cables, this shows just how badly designed the PSU area of some of your equipment is.

Some gear may be sensitive to the spike as a fridge cuts in and out, but that can usually be eradicated by fitting a 275V VDR  (230VAC Mains countries) in a double adaptor where the fridge is plugged in.

 

Alex

[sandyk]

15 minutes ago, fas42 said:

 

Alex, that's exactly the sort of trick I've been using for years to check sensitivity to noise - I juggle the type of devices that are plugged in, and monitor the impact. I have yet to come across a rig that doesn't react - the greater the potential SQ, the more one has to worry about it.

 

It's enlightening to read what the people behind the Living Voice speaker demos do - they go to fanatical lengths to condition the power; because they lose too much if they don't …

 Surely the Fridge is on a different electrical circuit to your audio gear ?

 There should be very little interaction other than the occasional switch on spike from the Fridge cutting in and out in that case .

 Another solution is to use a couple of mains filters. A DIY person can make a very effective filter using inexpensive ebay modules.

 e.g.  https://www.ebay.com/itm/3900W-EMI-18A-High-Frequency-Power-Filter-Power-supply-Assembled-Board-/283269375554

 

I  use a slightly different version in a Jiffy box with a top mounted double power point for my PC audio.

Abnormal electrical interference can also be caused by a poor or corroded Mains Earth in older houses.

I had this problem years ago at a previous address.