XXHighEnd

I had to smile yesterday evening.

The power distribution company has been doing upgrades to the mains system in my village. Yesterday our house had power cut all day so that the power company could replace the above ground mains distribution wiring to the house across our paddock and up to the house. I think the new wiring has gone back from the house as far as a pole mounted transformer further into the village.

I thought it would be fun to try my system and take a listen, had the power company met its most important objective of upgrading my system  ? ;). Well it’s made a real difference to the sound: bass it tightened up and more tuneful, the background is blacker, highs are sweeter and the tone of voices and instruments is much improved. 

Prior to the EDF (the power company) upgrade I was using W8 and 09-z9 but I was not completely happy with the bass which took a step backwards compared to W7. With the free “mains upgrade” W8 is just where I want it now.

Everythnig matters, but it’s especially nice when some things get sorted for free  :)

Nick.

Hi Nick,

You put a smile on my face ;) I imagine my power company asking me if I am interested in an audiophile power grid, with a few dollars more per month :)

I would surely answer "yes" ;)

Regards,

Alain

Is it really a coincidence, but while I'm away from home for a few days, the power company has changed cables throughout the building where I live to follow the rules of the European Community that requires a change every 10 years. Changed cables are the common ones to the entire apartment building, from the taking of the street to the entrance to each home, including grounding. Changed cables are thicker and have a better insulation than the previous ones. So I'm looking forward to coming home to see if I have as much luck as Nick.

Juan

IOW Juan, Nick scared the hell out of you.

haha

Ther's just a soupcon too much altissimo coming through in allegrissimo passages,  I think I'll have to demand that EDF they put the old cables back up, this just won't do !.... haha  :)

Hope it goes well for you also Juan.

Nick.

This upgrade has killed the itch momentarily while I wait my turn to update the NOS1  ;)

Thanks Nick.

Juan

Yes I've had the same experience when power company replaced power cables in the street that dated from 1940's.

Not only did my shaver run faster and the lights brighter, the HiFi sound was much improved.

I use an analog shaver. Low jitter.

Me too, triple blade, and SQ (Shaving Quality) is sharp and smooth  :)

Juan

Nice story Nick.

The cheapest upgrade for me arrives most winters. The SQ seems to go up whenever there is a thick layer of snow on the ground. I'm not sure exactly why this would be. It could simply be the deadening affect the snow has on background noise or maybe even some sort of damping affect it has on the HV electrical cables outside. Who knows...

It's a shame though isn't it that there are so many factors that are simply out of our control. I strongly suspect mobile phone signals, wifi routers and even DECT phones all affect SQ negatively.

Mani.

I hope your shaver is bit perfect, otherwise you could have some cuts ;)

Alain

It *is* bit perfect, but the other day my son started using it for the first time, and ... cuts.
I'm sure there must be a bug somewhere, but till now I cannot find it.

It's a two-blade though. Just saying. Can't do more than 96000 per cm. Shaving Depth is OK (24).

:wacko:

Can be because in winters here, humidity is relatively very low. At least when it is nicely freezing in a clear sky it will. Normal here is between 55-60% but in winter it can be under 30% easily.

Humidity matters the whole world for sound wave propagation. This is not as easy as thinking that water drops prevent waves to travel and is so complicated that I gave up understanding. It is in a similar realm as how the "Sugar Cubes" work. So who understands that.

Now you know.
Peter
:swoon:

I always get jitter first thing in the morning with electric or wet shavers - things improve after the first coffee though

Paul

No no no !
From coffee one starts shaking. Implies deep cuts !
This is serious; try photography.

Cold lowers resistance enabling better sound. Super conductors run at very low temps. Found this bit of trivia and what do you know the Dutch discovered this:

I just had another letter to say that the power company may feel that the first upgrade was not enough. They plan to have the power off for another day soon. I'm hoping that upgrade 2 may be coming  ;)

And Power On.

Hi an update on mains company music system upgrades...

The electic company sent another notice asking to do some work on the house meter. Well actually, as seems to be the custom in the UK these days, they threatened to obtain a court order to enter my house to do work on the mains of I did not call them to make an appointment for them to attend..... nice customer service approach !!

This time it was "just" the house electric meter that needed swopping out after 25 years. So Wednesday they turn up and do the work, and I don't even think about possible impact on music until Friday when I put some music on at the end of the week. OMG ! I think they installed a Boogytron 2000 or something ;) , sound is absolutely great ! what an upgrade.

Looked at another way it's disturbing that the old meter was so s**t for sound quality. Glad to see the back of the old meter that's for sure.

Nick.

So now that eh ?

The other day our water meter was exchanged. Didn't notice any difference.

Great stuff Nick. Not sure though whether that all should make us happy. To me it seems we can only be lucky when having it right.
On to our own generators !

Regards,
Peter

But I thought you had windmills in Netherlands ? ;)

Alain

Hahaha.
It might surprise you, but with this type of windmills (generating electricity) The Netherlands is most probably the most behind of all in Europe. "We" are always complaining that they destroy the sight. Of course for Holland this is quite easy with all being flat (no hills).

I could easily put one up in my "garden" of any size. I am also so that I would do it no matter the investment (will earn it back later). But a. I wouldn't like such a thing myself (and they are also noisy) but b. I would receive 1500 complaints of the people from the village (where 1500 people live) and never get a license for it.

Solar is the idea really, but then really not because you can NOT earn that back. Not here. So think : 40 years or so if you take all into account (and most people forget half of it).
Perpetuum Mobile. That's the sh*t.

Peter

I am sure you would design blades that do not make noise ;) And the extra is that you will make your own flour :) I imagine receiving my NOS1 converted to a NOS1a and smelling a nice muffin odor from the box ;)

Alain

Good idea Alain, but not the very best.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64842591@N06/8615889905

This one is 700 meters from here and that is where we get the flour from to bake our own bread (never seen a bakery in years).

700 meters ? hmm ... seems doable for a cable. :yes:


PS: Funny; I just walked away before pressing Post because the alarm bell went off to take such bread out of the oven ...
And I didn't even realize the same subject (OK, now I did).

Ah, I see that you don't believe me.

But seriously, if someone is able to see an improvement for me ...

haha

Here maybe ?

Wow, I envy where you are and your ability to prepare all your food, even making your own bread !

And the bread picture... Mmmmm ! I can almost smell it from here ! Wonderful :)

Alain
PS: Not that I did not believe you, but I quit a few minutes later to do some shopping  - like buying bread haha :)

LOL

Your electricity room ??? I know you are joking :) It looks like a nuclear power plant ;)

As for the PCs et al... If I send a few pictures of my house inside, I am sure you will find your management very reassuring ;)

Alain

But more seriously... When our electricity company changed our electricity meter for one that sends wirelessly the lecture of my consumption, I felt that something was better. I would not say that it is the wireless aspect, but just the counter. I mentionned it to my girlfriend, but each time I talk about my sound system or anything related, she suddenly feels the need to leave or have me talking about something else ?  :teasing:

Still it is true.

Is there something you find hard or complicated to manage ? It seems so clean, so in order... But this is a picture, so can't see the whole portrait...