Accuphase DAC-50: Glaring sibilance

Let it burn in for 400 - 500 hrs then see how it sounds. Relax, enjoy the burn in.

I'm sorry.  I did system evaluation of AKM D/A chips and never was able to make them sound musical.  I think it's due to the switched-capacitor filters in the design.  I used another chip for my reference DAC as a result.

It seems that I have to wait patiently as it burns in for hundreds of hours. Hopefully that will warm it up to a much more pleasant sound. Hopefully...
Thanks for your respnses

I have never heard the words Accuphase and harsh used together.  That is very surprising.  If you have a return option, I would let it burn in for just under that period and return it if it doesn't get better.  

Thanks Chayro.  I too was surprised to hear such a bright sound form my Accuphase E-550.  I'm hoping that after hundreds of hours of burn-in I will again hear my enveloping, lovely Accuphase music.
  I will post here results after burn-in is complete.  Meantime, I patiently wait.

Please let us know how it sounds after 4-500 hrs. Yes that lovely Accuphase sound. 

It has certainly warmed up and is quite intoxicating now.  Lovely.

@rubinken thanks for creating this thread. Im looking up this comparison for my up gradation as well. Currently Im using DAC-30 onboard slot along with my E-460 Amp.
Im planning to upgrate to DAC-50 onboard slot. Can you please give me a qualitative feedback and improvements that you experienced in DAC-50 over DAC-30. Does the improvements makes a big difference in synergy and listening excitements in terms of Transparency, Soundstage, Low frequency Control and Tonality. Look forward your feedback. 

Rubinken, Can you give us a long-term update/review of the DAC50? Was the brightness simply a burning in issue? I saw that you said it changed, but did it completely go away and are you completely happy?
I am interested in an Accuphase integrated amplifier. I am looking at the E-408, E-450, E-530, E-550, and E-360 as options. I am also very interested in both the DAC 50 card and the AD 50 phonostage card.
Besides wanting to hear from you about the DAC, could you also tell me a little bit about your amplifier? Which speakers are you driving? Did you compare to any other models by Accuphase before you decided on the E-550?

Thank you very much!

Hi Mark,
I had the E550. It sounded *phenomenal*- great soundstaging, transient response & emotionally involving.  I was driving some Consensus Audio Conspiracy speakers from Austria  They utilize six ceramic drivers with total smoothness. (After decades of listening, I feel that Ceramic drivers with Class A amps sounds most compelling to me. Somewhat of a generalization, but tis what it tis.) The phono board sounded excellent to me.  I never ended up enjoying the DAC50. I replaced it with a used AMR DP777SE, which with it's tubes serves me fine.
  I gave my E550 to my son. It sounds fabulous on his Sonus Faber Guarneri Momento speakers as well. It's a terrific integrated amp.
  Hope this is helpful. Enjoy your search and listening, Ken