Nordost break in expectations

It will take a long time to reach the burn in level of a Nordost Vidar. See below from the Nordost website:

Why is the VIDAR better for breaking in cables?

The VIDAR is designed to put a very wide band signal of varying amplitude through the cables connected to it. In the normal course of use, cables such as tone arm and analog interconnects never get a high level of signal. This means it can take a long time for them to break in fully. The VIDAR speeds up this process by the combination of frequencies it puts through the cable. The results from the VIDAR will always be better than any other break- in method used.

Cables such as tonearms and analog interconnects are normally never exposed to high signal levels, so it takes an extra long time for them to break in. When a cable is connected to the VIDAR it is subjected to a wide band signal of varying amplitude. The combination of frequencies put through the cable speed up the break in process. Results from the VIDAR will always be better than any other break in method used.

You may want to look at the Nordost web site for additional information.

I have the entire FREY array (shotgunned speaker cables, matched shotgunned jumpers, and XLR ICs)

I did not get them cooked by the dealer but rather let them open up within my system.

good news:

(1) as highlighted above, the improvements open up BUT in stages... it was not a constant steady flow. It was more series of higher steps in an ad hoc timeframe.
(2) vocal sibilance and harsh edginess (if any) in the CD and digital reproduction was slowly tamed.

bad news:

(3) it took in excess of 350+ hours (lost count) before that get-to-the-pinnacle curve started to flatten out.

(4) As the cables finally settled in, their superior resolution capabilities also now graphically highlighted all the weaknesses and warts in the listening room arena itself. To keep up with the cables performance satisfaction, a series of sequential audio improvement via room treatment exercises were commenced in a Series of tweaks.

(5) During the speaker cable baking process, my buddy and I did a lengthy multi events myriad of alternate IC swap-in / swap-out of alternate brand ICs. Our experience was that the FREY speaker cables (and overall audio performance) performed better as all-FREY array .... there was a special synergy there.

My experience: the road to audio excellence in the Emerald City in OZ was not a straight-line falling-off-a-log exercise, BUT well worth it in the end. Your patience may be tested in the break-in marathon. At their pricepoint --in my system -- they have bested all contenders and pretenders.

FWIW....

thanks for the input. weird I guess but my Frey sounds very good 'fresh' so I have more to look forward to. the bright and edgy nordost tale not applicable to my set. 

Keep us posted- 4425.

will do. very much liking what i hear already.