Power Conditioner Changes Sound?

AQ says the conditioner should need no burn-in.

🤣😂Stop! You're killing me!🤣😂😂

In future when thinking of asking a manufacturer anything about their product first refer to this handy FAQ:

Q: Does it need _________? A: No, it is already perfect.

Q: Will it be better if I _______? A: No, we already use the highest quality _____.

Q: Should I ______? A: No! This will void the warranty. There are no user serviceable parts inside, only horrible disfiguring death. 

Please note above FAQ to be used only in case you bought reasonably decent whatever. In case of more usual component:

Q: How many hours of burn-in? A: Many users report continued improvement for a thousand hours beyond our generous 7 day return policy.

Some hear a slight difference and others something more. With my Niagara 1200 things got calmer but bolder. Gone was the slight edge to notes along with some slight hash that I never noticed until it was gone. That allowed for greater contrast with notes being heard earlier than usual along with greater decay. 

A darker background gave better separation and layering and all I use is a Cullen Cable mid level power cord. I've always wondered what stepping up to something like the AQ Blizzard would result in but I liked the improvements so much that I never bothered to try.

Sounds like you're hearing your gear the way it was intended to sound with the music and that without the conditioner, it was being somewhat homogenized with the veiling from the noise on the line. I could be wrong but from what you say you're hearing, I'd focus on the power cords you have, swapping until you like what you hear.

That, and I'd also try plugging your amp into one of the two high current outlets on the Niagara and see how that fares. I tried both the wall and the Niagara with my integrated and prefer having everything plugged into the Niagara.

All the best,
Nonoise

I'm interested in this topic, too. Of course one variable we cannot control for is what your power is compared to anyone else's. Your "plugging into your wall" could be very different from my "plugging into my wall." Comparing within your own environment seems the only possible avenue of experimentation.

I always assume burn in, never assess sound quality until sufficient burn in. Burn in has become moot point for me, simply along for ride until minimum burn in accomplished. As for how many hours, much variability here, I know its burned in sufficiently when sound quality becomes consistent over may listening sessions.

MC, ROFL, a classic.

Nonoise, makes perfect sense now that I think about it. Will approach the project with guidance from your experience, and thanks for sharing.

Everything requires break in, or improves over time to a point, and yes they have a dramatic impact on sound. They can be either negative or positive.