Think they quit using so much forboding music.
That's one thing that once I began to notice always bothered me a lot, how the show would drop in this music to help deliver tension. It got to be a crutch and a distraction, too predictable, and I think they finally stopped doing it (likely quite a few seasons ago, since I watch a lot of reruns).
So now when I hear that music kick in, I roll my eyes and it takes me out of the drama, but I think it was a big improvement to limit it's use.
I think that's one reason I like the post Stabler episodes, that they actually tried to re-work the formula. The show feels fresher to me after Meloni left.