CLASS - will it affect sound quality?

[matthewpiano]

Had a leaflet through the door today from Electricity North West. They are going to be trialling a new system called CLASS - Customer Load Active System Services - which 'will adjust the voltage at the substation serving your home so we can manage peak demand for electricity'. The leaflet claims customers will see no affects from this, but is there potential for it to have any impact on sound quality? I'd be interested in the thoughts of anyone who knows a bit more about electricity supply.

 

[MakkaPakka]

If it affected sound quality then presumably it would affect video quality too and everyone would complain about it pretty sharpish. Your stereo uses far less power than a hairdryer or a microwave or a kettle all of which people will expect to work at all times so I cannot see how there could be negative affects to a stereo with its relatively small power draw. Voltage fluctuates anyway so the kit will have been built with that in mind.

 

[matthewpiano]

Thanks Makka. Makes sense. They give an example of a 2% reduction in voltage causing a kettle to take 8 seconds longer to boil.