[aln]

I'm sorry that another person's experience is not valid to you.  This site is for interested people to SHARE their experience's with audio equipment.  When individuals like you come out with inflammatory remarks just to cause a stir, it reflects poorly on those who are trying to SHARE their experiences.  If this sort of shared discourse is not something you can handle, please go elsewhere.

Regards
AL N

[avahifi]

Good thought Al.

I will try and keep that in mind myself.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[boycephoto]

I really have reservations about even posting on this thread.   Does something need break in or not?   

Every system  I have bought & put together is to fill a my personal need or wants. I put together a system that is different from anybody else's.   I am happy with what I have assembled, but it may not be what anyone else likes or whats, I simply don't care, I probably will never here your system anyway.  I bought my system for my pleasure, not anyone else!   I really don't care what anyone else thinks. I didn't buy it for them.  If I think my amp sounds better after 500 hours, good for me.  It doesn't matter, as long as I am happy, that's all that counts.  It's amazing the claims of added hours improves the sound, are there any pieces that UN-burn in 500 hours... you know the ones that sound worse after some use, those are the ones I want to know about.  Eventually everything is going to burn in by default.  If it needs a burn in well ok go for it.  Turn it on a listen.  Isn't that what you bought it for, to listen to it.   

So, enjoy your system
Dave

[Wayner]

Dave, your fine.

Let me ask you this. Who said that when things "break-in" they sound better? The truth is, when man combines any alloys of metal together, nature starts to "dis-assemble".

When I used a new shovel, it got scratches and wear, not like it was when I bought it. So, as the shovel "broke-in" it became "less".

If you spin vinyl, the stylus slowly erodes away. When did break-in occur? Just after you started playing LPs? I just can't find an answer.

Wayner 

[Minn Mark]

  , boycephoto.



Cheers,

Mark

[festuss]

  I am sharing my experiences, and the experience is.......................there is no break in.  And the only choice I have is my experiences, which are most valid. Over at least 30 years, I guess I should give the equipment a bit more time, to fully break in?  You do realize the only reason you suppose this effect is happening is because you have read too many ads in audiophooles publications about wire, connectors, and substandard poorly designed equipment, with exorbitant prices, always tell you let it break in.....nice scam.  So you get used to the poor experience, and you just ell yourself, it will break in, then it will be better.  After the 30 day return policy?  Who came up with the time line that 100 hours is where it all changes, what is changing anyway.  Legit question, in the solid state mosfets, what internally changed, or what changed in the wires, the resistors, or the sealed, thermally stable capacitors?  Maybe the ckt board material, stretched, and moved to it's new shape?  How does anything function in this world, if it all needs break in.  Computers?  Cell phones, refrigerators, washers, they must also be "breaking in" And the biggest concept being YOU HEAR THIS action!!!!!
Smart enough to buy AVA, still dopey enough to believe in mystical audio properties.

[martyo]

Tony has moved on and won't be posting here anymore. It's our loss. 

[toobwacky]

With regard to electronic components, I think the concept of break-in originated with vacuum tube gear.  Tubes do go through a break-in process which I've heard for myself.  For example, I've had new EL34s that sound completely rolled off on top that open up after an hour or so of use.  I'm pretty sure this HF roll off could have been measured if I had the appropriate test gear.


OTOH, I'm a bit skeptical of the idea that break-in occurs in SS electronics, but I'm open to having my mind changed on the subject.  Does anyone have links to tests that document a SS component under going measurable break-in?

[avahifi]

Guys, I am finally coming to understand that those who hear what their system is telling them are really hearing what their system is telling them.  I, or you, can't tell them something different in any meaningful way.

Guess what, my system, to me, on some days sounds exquisite, and on some days, turn it off.  My mood, the weather, my cat's mood, and more all influence how I reach to what I hear.

Right now I am trying seriously to differentiate between two different seriously outstanding DAC filter circuit prototypes.  To be honest, at this point I cannot figure out which, if either, is best. Personally, I don't think break in has any effect at all, except for short term break in for vacuum tubes and speaker cones.  Brand new units (I listen to every one) sound to me exactly like they are supposed to, and identical to my long term and very well broken in shop samples.  However, on a day to day basis, the two competing DAC filter designs keep changing, to my ears, slightly.  They are running neck and neck with no clear winner yet.  Both are better than our previous less expensive production models, but I can't really verbalize why.

If your system is sounding better to you after months of use, great.  Enjoy it.  Just don't keep it past the satisfaction guarantee time limit in the hopes that it will get better.     I still think Jim Winey's advice that if you can't hear it in the first three notes, it is not a useful improvement, is worth considering too.

Best regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[mark funk]

That has been going on with me for years! Some days my set sounds really good and some days it sounds like shit and in between. Here is one, I think my set sounds better on weeks days then on the week ends maybe it's that I dislike my job so much I'm moodie too.

                                                                                               

[Stercom]

Tony has moved on and won't be posting here anymore. It's our loss. 

Tony was only telling us what he heard. There was no need to "prove it" as far as I'm concerned.

[trebejo]

Speaking of opinion-drift... ever since I got a U70 I have been wondering what to do with my UV 550; it looked it was going to be a gift (I can't imagine selling it, since I wouldn't get what it's worth).

Then L.A. finally got some summer days. Me being a slow unlearner, it took a few of those days, but suddenly one afternoon I said to myself, "Oh, gee, I'm sweating buckets because the AC is too noisy to let me listen to the stereo and with all this bright sunshine, I am turning on an additional seven hot lamps in this room?" 

So if you ask me today, I'm not a tube guy. 

PS: Frank, now you know why I haven't sent the 550 for the mosfet upgrade yet. It may have to wait until after RMAF. 

[Brett Buck]

Then L.A. finally got some summer days. Me being a slow unlearner, it took a few of those days, but suddenly one afternoon I said to myself, "Oh, gee, I'm sweating buckets because the AC is too noisy to let me listen to the stereo and with all this bright sunshine, I am turning on an additional seven hot lamps in this room?"

  But it works GREAT in the winter!  I am up here in the San Jose area and test-running my dad's U70 when it's 100 degrees -indoors - is not something I want to do.

    Brett