2. analog
  3. 148399-8670

TX-103 break in.

I recently purchased a pair of Mu MC Step Up transformers by Bent Audio. Does anyone here know the break in process for these. I was able to find this by Thorsten Loesch but I don't understand it, doesn't quite make sense to me. Maybe a more simple explanation would be helpful. 

From diyAudio; Break-In Instructions from Thorsten Loesch

This worked very well for me, so I recommend it highly. This is what Loesch wrote, with a little editing:

"(The TX-103)... will require a substantial period of "forced burn in" to give it's best, simply because the magnetic core is huge and will not see much magnetisation with normal MC signals. Please consider connecting a CD-Player to the secondary (Output) of the TX-103 and then terminate the input with a low resistance resistor (quality uncritical), I'd say 27 Ohm when connected for 14db gain, 6.8 Ohm when connected for 20db gain and 2.2 Ohm when connected for 26db gain. Leave with a highly dynamic, wide bandwidth signal CD to play for a week or two. I would use music, but I'd expect pink noise to work well too."
128x128charliee
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I also have ZYX CPP-1 headamp and it's a nice device. Have you seen it inside ? Last year i opened it up to replace the batteries. It was a first time when i saw input resistors like that! Those resistors looks like an MC cartridge coil and made by winding the wire to a coil that has no inductance in a special process. Those resistors made by ZYX to transfer the output signals with no noise and no inductance at all. They are made of pure coil wire of MC cartridges, cryogenically purified. Signal from LOMC cartridge should go into ZYX CPP-1 Headamp’s resistor wihtout any influences from resistor noise and inductance. Nakatsuka-San decided to use his own resistors made of pure copper wire, same material as a copper wire of MC carts. In order to playback the sound info of LOMC carts in 100% fidelity, CPP-1 headamp has special circuit in the simplest amplification circuit. Great device to avoid Step-Up Transformers for LOMC

As for the SUT's burn-in the best option, in this case, is to buy a classic SUTs (used) made 40 years ago. There are some killer SUTs. My personal favorite is Luxman toroidal silver sut. With the set like on those pics any MC cartridge can be used with it.  

I don't believe in burn-in process of the SUT, people overestimated the importance of it, you'd better just connect it to play music from your vinyl. 
charliee's avatar
charliee OP
185 posts
 
chakster, I think its an excellent device, it's as good or even a little better than the TX-103 SUT's. To answer your question, no I have not opened it up. But I have considered having SoraSound send it back to Japan as there is an upgrade for it. I am not familiar with the Luxman SUT.

lewm
13,183 posts
 
Chakster, With all due respect and meaning no offense, first you describe the input shunt resistors of the CPP-1, which is not a SUT but a pre-preamplifier designed to amplify the voltage of the signal generated from a cartridge, without adding RIAA correction.  That is not anywhere near to what the OP needs to know.  Then, you go on to recommend that he should buy a vintage SUT, but the point is that he is the new owner of a new SUT and only wants to know how or whether to break it in.  Whether you or I or anyone else "believes" in the value of burn-in is irrelevant.  The only question is whether such a break-in regimen enhances SQ, and that ultimately is a subjective judgement.  So, if it pleases the OP to break in his new SUT, he only needs guidance in how to go about doing it. After all, it cannot hurt to try.

By the way, totally noise-free and zero inductance (or zero capacitance) resistors only exist in advertising brochures.
More to discover