What is the best way to break in a phono preamp?

zybar · « **on:** 28 Jun 2009, 01:22 am »

As the subject line says, what is the best way to break in a phono preamp?

I thought there was some type of device that allowed you to send a signal from your cd player, but I may be dreaming.

Thanks,

George

Berndt · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 01:29 am »

hagerman makes a reverse riaa box

just the thing for those new black gates

http://www.hagtech.com/iriaa.html

zybar · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 01:31 am »

Quote from: Berndt on 28 Jun 2009, 01:29 am

hagerman makes a reverse riaa box

just the thing for those new black gates

http://www.hagtech.com/iriaa.html

Thank you.

George

ecramer · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 01:34 am »

Are you asking for your self or some one else, your not thinking about going back to the dark side are you

Quote from: zybar on 28 Jun 2009, 01:22 am

As the subject line says, what is the best way to break in a phono preamp?

I thought there was some type of device that allowed you to send a signal from your cd player, but I may be dreaming.

Thanks,

George

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 01:35 am »

Quote from: ecramer on 28 Jun 2009, 01:34 am

Are you asking for your self or some one else, your not thinking about going back to the dark side are you

For a friend.

George

Listens2tubes · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 03:33 am »

Also KAB Electro Acoustics has the Precon Lp http://www.kabusa.com click on Sound Accessories and scroll down to KAB Great Sound Escorts (passive)

analognut · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 06:32 am »

Break in??
Is this something about tubes? Or does this apply to solid state as well?
Why does such a simple device get so complicated?
I know nothing about "breaking in a phono preamp"!
I would most likely plug in, turn on, and think it sounds great.
Someone please continue this discussion!

Thanks,
John

Browntrout · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 08:05 am »

I would listen to music through it, I think that is the best way. A frequency sweep on a test record would not hurt either. The Cardas test record has some interesting things on it.

pas · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 12:37 pm »

Yup - Play records. If it really does break in you learn what the difference is. Did the same for my cartridge & speakers. Rather than setup with a tape loop, test record, etc., I actually listned to them break in over 100-150 hours. Very educational. Besides, I got to listen to MUSIC, and that's the whole point to this.

Wayner · « **Reply #9 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 08:06 pm »

I don't believe in "break in" but if you must, play away.

Wayner

zybar · « **Reply #10 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 08:24 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 28 Jun 2009, 08:06 pm

I don't believe in "break in" but if you must, play away.

Wayner

So why post in a thread about break in?

Thanks again to those who made constructive posts that led to a solution.

George

Wayner · « **Reply #11 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 08:33 pm »

Because I thought your assumption was in error. I do believe that mechanical things have a break in period, like phono cartridges and speakers. I've yet to ever witness any electronics that "breaks-in".

I really think the listener's brain "breaks-in" as he/she becomes more sonically familiar with the equipment when it is new. IMHO, sonic memory is piss poor and needs constant reminders of a sonic signature of a particular system.

Sorry, George.

Wayner

toobluvr · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 09:05 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 28 Jun 2009, 08:33 pm

(snip)

I really think the listener's brain "breaks-in" as he/she becomes more sonically familiar with the equipment when it is new.

(snip)

I have heard this arguement / explanation many times. I don't buy it. Here is why.

Ever get a pair of speakers (used and fully broken in) that just don't sound "right" to you? I have. And no matter how much I listen to them.....sometimes for many months, giving them every chance to succeed...they still don't sound "right". They still bother me in the same way as they did initially.

Why did my brain not adjust and become accustomed to them?

On the other hand, I have experienced cables that sounded "off" when new, but after several hundred hours they don't sound "off" anymore. They actually sound much much better.

If my brain is adjusting with the cables, why does it not adjust in the case of the speakers? Why would cables sound better after much listening, yet speakers don't?

It makes no logical sense that the brain is selective like that.

It has happened to me many times over where a speaker that I was predisposed to like, that I really wanted to like, just never sounded right to me from the outset. And it never got better no matter how much I listened to it. Yet cables improve as they log hours of play time.

Another arguement I can present against the "brain adjustment" theory is this.
I often burn in cables quietly in a separate system. I give them a quick sneek listen when new, but nothing more till several hundred hours later. They often go from sounding pretty bad, to sounding very nice. There is no listening over a period of time, so how can the brain be adjusting?

I can't expain why it happens, but I trust what I hear. And to all the scientists and nay sayers, I don't care if the science can support it or not. Human hearing and the brain are very complicated. Maybe science has not yet figured out how to test and measure the correct thing. Isn't that possible?

After all, there was a time once when there were no scientific instruments or devices yet developed to determine that the earth was round. Does this mean that it wasn't? I don't think so. It just means that science had not yet caught up to reality.

zybar · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 09:12 pm »

I started a new thread on auditory memory here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=69351.msg644078;topicseen#new

George

PeteG · « **Reply #14 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 09:58 pm »

George,
This is one I've used for a few years work pretty good.

MM Phono
MC Phono

Browntrout · « **Reply #15 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 10:05 pm »

I have experienced electronic components breaking in. Capacitors are very obvious resistors less so. I do think that playing music is the best way to break in components.

blakep · « **Reply #16 on:** 28 Jun 2009, 11:49 pm »

Both the Cardas Sweep Record and the Granite phono preamp break-in CD mentioned by posters above are effective. I own both and have used them both. Both are also cost effective. If I had to buy just one, I'd buy the Cardas as I could not use the Granite CD when I acquired a phono pre with balanced inputs a few years ago (unless I wanted to splurge for a pair of single ended to balanced IC's too).

The Cardas also has the advantage of being useful for routine maintenance in terms of the sweeps after you've done the break in.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 Jun 2009, 12:48 am »

Quote from: zybar on 28 Jun 2009, 01:35 am

For a friend.

George

I just KNOW we're getting closer to reeling you in, George

John

zybar · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 Jun 2009, 01:01 am »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 29 Jun 2009, 12:48 am

Quote from: zybar on 28 Jun 2009, 01:35 am

For a friend.

George

I just KNOW we're getting closer to reeling you in, George

John

Not even close!!

But I don't blame you for continuing to try.

George

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Jun 2009, 01:16 am »

Quote from: zybar on 29 Jun 2009, 01:01 am

Not even close!!

But I don't blame you for continuing to try.

George

He doth protest too much, methinks

(Shakespeare, kinda

)

John