Running in a Nirvana Plus

Seano · « **on:** 14 Nov 2004, 10:17 pm »

I'm in the process of running in a Nirvana Plus and I have a really basic question...

Does the run-in process occur simply when the amp is idleing or can it only occur when the amp is playing music?

As for the run-in progress, after 12 hours of music, the detail is astounding but the mid range punch and bass seems a little off. At the moment, it's a bit like going to a concert and finding the performance is mimed. Not sure how else to describe it!

AKSA · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Nov 2004, 10:24 pm »

Sean,

You need to play music. Just leave the CD player on repeat, turn it to moderate volume, and leave the house.

On return it will sound different, and this will continue for a week. Then it stabilizes.

Cheers,

Hugh

Occam · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Nov 2004, 10:41 pm »

It also helps with neighbors and loved ones to put the speakers face to face and reverse the leads of ONE of the speakers and put a disc on repeat. The bass will be largely 180degrees out of phase and will cancel. (actually, it would be ideal if the disc was mono, or if your pre has a mono switch).

If your N+ is an upgrade from an existing AKSA, I know your initial reaction will be OMG! what have I done! But honestly, given time, you'll be extremely happy with the upgrade.

Seano · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Nov 2004, 01:26 am »

Quote from: Occam

It also helps with neighbors and loved ones......

Fortunately, my nearest neighbours are about 16 kilometres away so I don't think that over abundant bass performance will be an issue!!

Oh and the upgrade was from a Nirvana......and believe me I have noticed. But it is certainly not bad enough to be of real concern.

Lost81 · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Nov 2004, 02:50 am »

Anyone have any thoughts getting those 4 ohm or 8 ohm 200W resistors and then using them to run the AKSA Nirvana Plus in?

I am assuming that these resistors are more linear across the frequencies than speakers would.

-Lost81

Seano · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Nov 2004, 09:37 pm »

.....the run-in goes slowly on. In truth I don't mind that the thing apparently sounds off. It sounds pretty good to me!

I've had to give up on the leaving the CD player on repeat during the day. I got home yesterday evening on a day where we hit 38 degrees celcius (100 degrees F) and after a full ten hours of operation the entire AKSA case was surprisingly hot - considerably hotter than ambient. I suspect that leaving it going without the air conditioning on during such warm temps. is just tempting fate. No more.

The CD player was also on the warm side. In fact, it refused to play when I decided to change discs (after ten hours of Chris Rea I thought it might like something different - silly me). I've actually been having dramas with the old NAD for a while - the drawer only opens if there is a CD in there and the display wouldn't work. In frustration with its initial refusal to play I gave it a frustrated tap......lo and behold, display comes right and it proved to be quite eager to perform as requested. Every time I successfully 'tap' it now I'll be saving $450!!

Lost81 · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Nov 2004, 10:20 pm »

If you have a FM tuner, it might save wear and tear on your CD player.
Failing at that, an MP3 player might work too.

When I was breaking in my AKSAs for the 1st time, I hooked it up to my iPod and set it to repeat for a week.

The sustained playing for 1 week (with lots of ventilation) apparently heated up the iPod so much that the scroll wheel seized.

It's a 1st Generation iPod though. Apple probably fixed it by now.

-Lost81

Rod · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Nov 2004, 11:26 pm »

Ok I'm in a more reflective mood at the moment - without prejudice I'm not sure why you would risk damage to your system.

I believe it was Ghandi whom first used the phrase 'life is not a race'. I have had much enjoyment listening to my other DIY projects break in (namely a Tempest sub that requires on average about 100 hours). There's something nice about experiencing the evolvement of a particular item you have spent time on. Why rush it? Why not just let it break in as you listen? Wouldn't it just provide that many more hours of enjoyment as you look forward to the next improvement?

Seano · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Nov 2004, 04:55 am »

To be honest, I never thought I would have been risking anything when I fired it up in the morning.

The process had nothing to do with patience or the lack thereof. More a reckless sense of experimentation that has been satisfied. Which has been sated without causing any form of demolition. A rare thing in my world.

kyrill · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 Nov 2004, 09:42 am »

Quote from: Rod

... Why not just let it break in as you listen? Wouldn't it just provide that many more hours of enjoyment as you look forward to the next improvement?

You know what happens to a frog in an open bucket of cold water that you gradually heat up? Finally it boils to death. It doesn't jump out of the water

Its perception of temperature changes proportionally together with the temperature. This is a proven fact.

Of course we are not frogs, are we not?

Jens · « **Reply #10 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 10:30 pm »

Just having finished installing the 55 N+ upgrade today, I must say that there is a marked difference already from the start. Tonal balance might be a bit off initially, but there is definitely more detail, and the treble has become more tangible or bodily.

I can't wait for the thing to break in, but I think I'll do this by leaving the amp on 24 hours a day, playing music whenever I'm home.

There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is a serious upgrade from the Nirvana, which was already very good. It certainly moves this little beauty up to another league!

Good work, Hugh - and everyone who contributed to this upgrade

Cheers,

Jens

kyrill · « **Reply #11 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 10:44 pm »

Quote from: Jens

J... but I think I'll do this by leaving the amp on 24 hours a day, playing music whenever I'm home.
..

Hmm?
or when you are at home or 24 hrs a day?

Jens · « **Reply #12 on:** 7 Dec 2004, 10:54 pm »

Quote from: kyrill

Quote from: Jens
J... but I think I'll do this by leaving the amp on 24 hours a day, playing music whenever I'm home.
..

Hmm?
or when you are at home or 24 hrs a day?

Didn't think that statement needed any clarification - but what I meant was that I'll leave the amp on for 24 hours a day. When I'm not home it'll just sit there with the power on, no music - and when I'm home it'll play. I think this alternating scheme might be good.

Cheers,

Jens

kyrill · « **Reply #13 on:** 8 Dec 2004, 01:36 pm »

Hi Jens
If I took yr sentence literally, it is as you explained. But it did not make sense to me., so I thought maybe you meant something else.
Keeping it on without music playing does not really burn in the amp.
So especially when you are not at home, you could burn in the amp without waiting for it, as you are not at home.

Maybe you have neighbours?

Carlman · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 Dec 2004, 03:49 pm »

I have found loud playing of music to be the best way to run it in. I tried just leaving it on... with light sounds... and that just wasn't 'getting it' for me... however, leaving it on for a weekend playing louder than I normally listen proved quite successful.

I turned the amp on and off on occasion too... (I was comparing amps and speakers for a while) Overall, the latest 100wN+ took about 300 hours+ to burn in. The first 100 were all low volume or with nothing playing... 2nd 150 hours were a mix... last 50 hours were mostly loud.

This was all over a span of a month or 2. It takes a while to really break-in. But one day it just sounds better than it ever has... and you're like... ahhhhhh.... that's the magic.

Hantra · « **Reply #15 on:** 8 Dec 2004, 04:09 pm »

Quote from: Carlman

But one day it just sounds better than it ever has... and you're like... ahhhhhh.... that's the magic.

You mean there's MORE magic now than what I heard? Or was I hearing the magic. . .?

Carlman · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 Dec 2004, 04:34 pm »

Quote from: Hantra

Quote from: Carlman
But one day it just sounds better than it ever has... and you're like... ahhhhhh.... that's the magic.

You mean there's MORE magic now than what I heard? Or was I hearing the magic. . .?

You heard my older AKSA... totally burned-in... that was indeed the magic but there's another 2% in there I'm going to wring out fairly soon due to some tweaking.

But you heard 'the magic' for sure.