This thread gave me such new insight that I tried a quick experiment. Elsewhere there has been discussion of the sound of different forms of breakers. Eureka - what would be the sound of no breaker at all.
Feverishly I removed the ceramic breakers I had previously thought to be supreme, getting a mild jolt in the process, then rushed sizzling to the listening chair to listen to this new passive revelation. Apart from an apparent increase in background noise from the cicadas outside (no, the real thing, not Rodney), I was immediately blown away by the blackness of the background and the lack of grain.
Remarkably, trying CD after CD, (admittedly needing a spoon to open the draw now) the results were utterly consistent with everything in my vast collection. Even my wife commented favourably, and wondered whether placing the speakers further back - like in the garage - might now be possible.
I even tried removing the batteries from my remote, but I didn't notice a difference.
But here's the kicker! Late night listening is goose-bump city. Talk about black background! And for some reason I can crank the volume pot way up without complaints from members of the family or neighbours. In a word - effortless!
One strange thing about this though - ever since trying this I seem to be listening to music less and less and haven't bought a new disc for days.
Feverishly I removed the ceramic breakers I had previously thought to be supreme, getting a mild jolt in the process, then rushed sizzling to the listening chair to listen to this new passive revelation. Apart from an apparent increase in background noise from the cicadas outside (no, the real thing, not Rodney), I was immediately blown away by the blackness of the background and the lack of grain.
Remarkably, trying CD after CD, (admittedly needing a spoon to open the draw now) the results were utterly consistent with everything in my vast collection. Even my wife commented favourably, and wondered whether placing the speakers further back - like in the garage - might now be possible.
I even tried removing the batteries from my remote, but I didn't notice a difference.
But here's the kicker! Late night listening is goose-bump city. Talk about black background! And for some reason I can crank the volume pot way up without complaints from members of the family or neighbours. In a word - effortless!
One strange thing about this though - ever since trying this I seem to be listening to music less and less and haven't bought a new disc for days.