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DAC break-in...

I am ready to make the move from a cdp to a transport plus DAC. One of the DAC's I am interested in is notorious for a lengthy break-in. Taken into consideration my families listening habits, the shear amount of hours I am reading for expected settling is slightly disconcerting.

So is the break-in hours I am reading about synonymous with all brands...is it expected across the board regardless of price? Is there a price threshold where this is mitigated or performed by the manufacturer?

Hoping to learn here...TIA


 
 

mlo97
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,307 posts
 
Regardless of expert opinion to the contrary, I consider "break in", "burn in", and "settling in" effects to be real based on experience with various pieces of electronic gear (as well as cable). Having said that, it doesn’t mean those pieces were unlistenable out of the box...more that the sound improved over time. I wouldn’t sweat the whole break in thing if I were you. Get what you like and use it. Worst case, if the experts are right, it will sound no different over time. On the other hand, you might find the sound gets better with time. Good luck with your purchase.
mlo97 OP
31 posts
 

Thank you to everyone for the informing and thought provoking replies.

My better half has extremely sensitive ears and will only listen to most stereo music at very moderate levels. Our daughter plays the piano, and son the guitar, so naturally that is a powerful gauge for comparing tonality. Fast forward, she shocked me with a new amp she knew I had been researching and reading reviews about on this site, as I have been interested in trying to find an amp speaker combination that had more musical weight at low to moderate volumes. I used a pair of Harbeth's just to try the amp out and change things up, still using our old Arcam CD23. She was absolutely delighted with the change and it's increased low volume control/performance.

Now considering stepping up in cd playback quality, I was really hoping to not go through a period of break-in before things were comfortably listenable. Seems I may be making a big deal out of nothing and should just use the manufacturer trial periods as intended for our decision. Thanks again for every ones time offering a reply.

gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
Worst case, if the experts are right, it will sound no different over time. On the other hand, you might find the sound gets better with time.
+1
This is my philosophy with regard to leaving my Yggdrasil on 24/7 (which I do not) and its break in period (I left it on continuous for the first week).

.....Seems I may be making a big deal out of nothing and should just use the manufacturer trial periods as intended for our decision....
Sounds/reads like a very good plan. Just be mindful in cases where a manufacturer (or owner/user) recommends leaving a component on 24/7 to draw a distinction between "break-in" and "breaking".
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Some of the break-in is electronic, and some of it is your ears breaking in to the sound of the new component.  Still, I have experienced myself a system sounding noticeably better after a new component had been in it and running for 100-200 hours.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Regardless of other opinions here, break-in is a real phenomena.  Those that deny this effect have either never been to a trade-show or don't have much experience with new components IMO.

In new electronics, it is caused primarily by the "forming" of dielectrics in capacitors, wiring insulation and the board FR4 glass-epoxy itself. This forming is actually a molecular change that takes place when voltage is applied. Secondarily, it is caused by excess charge that becomes stored in dielectrics due to temp and humidity changes during shipping and handling. Thirdly, because conductors get moved and formed in cables, they need to "settle" again. This has to do with the molecular crystal lattice of the conductors and their interfaces with other conductors, like connectors.

The second and third effects are well-known to show exhibitors. All systems sound best in a 3-day show on Sunday, the last day, because all of the stored charge is bled-off by then and the cables have "rested".

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

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