Nuforce

Looking at the bank of capacitors on the SE's the sonics are going to flucuate until they fully break-in.
I would give them a solid 300 hours or more without turning them off and play them hard at times. It would not hurt to run a burn-in disc while breaking them in. The 9.02's progressively got better up to the 150 hour mark then really leveled off. The SE's will have step changes and when you get there it will be like someone flipped a switch and added another level. Just read the review and saw the capacitors up close. They are bigger than I thought. There is absolutely no way you can tell how good these are going to sound at the 80 hour mark. I would never turn these off and let those capacitors drain. Short periods yes, long periods no way! Only review that I am going to consider is from someone who has done there homework on these. It is believe it or not a complete makeover from the 9.02's and I think the results between the two are going to be staggering which will put the SE's very near the top. Vibration control with these will be more critical than ever. Especially where all those caps are located. I could be wrong here but $1500 for an upgrade from the 9.02's to the SE's could be an absolute steal if indeed nuforce makes the 9.02's exactly the same as the SE's. I am going to find out if they do.

Jp1208, you bring up some good points about burn-in. I wouldn't worry too much about it though. I just installed my second pair of SEs this afternoon and again right out of the box they are easily superior to the Ref 9.02 Premiums.

Considering how good the Ref 9.02 Premiums are, then any further improvements from burn-in over the ensuing weeks is simply icing on an already scrumptious cake. (did I just say that?)

Besides, in my book the SEs are already are at the top. In fact, as positive as the brand new 6moons review is I think the review more accurately depicts the Rev. 9.02's performance than the SEs. But he wrote a good review anyway.

-IMO

I've had the Nuforce 8's, 8.01's, and 8.02's(all b's with a single-ended 80's preaamp{RGR). If you are going used, and you have a preamp, you need to investigate the 8.02's. Even though I heard the 9.02's, I can't imagine anything exceeding the 8.02's. You now know my capabilities. I will be getting, at least the 8.05's. For those not in the know, it means I have the capability to upgrade to the 9's. I am broke, broke! You would not believe the 8.02's. Let's quit kidding. These amps are phenomenal! I am a scientific janitor(a graduate of Nuclear Power School, who spent 7 years in Chiropractic College). Excuse me, there are some guys in white coats knocking on my front door.

Mmakshak, I am a bargain audiophilist and Nuforce for amps has got to be the most ridiculously best low priced reference amp ever! 8.05's? Now that is a smart shopper. Eventually you will have the SE's and can say you are done with amps. If the SE's are way better than the 9.02's then I would have to say they could possibly sound as good as amps ranging in the 15k category. Dartzeel comes to mind.

Let me just say that I've heard $100,000 amps, and the 8.02's aren't disgraced in this company. Why am I changing? Good question. First, I use the the 8.02's with Cardas adaptors, which adds another connector to the situation. Second, I was told that the Nuforce 8's were actually a single-ended amp by two audio manufacturers(Ori of Oritek Audio, and Alex of APL Hi-Fi), and I have 8.02b's. Third, getting the 8.05's(or maybe the 9.02's) allows me to talk about things without getting dismissed. Let me just say, that the used 8.02's(insist upon this) represent an incredible value, although I don't know the cost. I use them with the cheap Volex power cords and have them on 4-inch teak, while leaving them on all the time. E-mail me if you've gotten them, if you don't think they are absolutely incredible. Here is your chance to own as good as the best!