2. amps-preamps
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Do new tubes undergo break-in like other devices?

I just put a new pair of Mullard Ecc34 (should be 6sn7s) tubes in the r/l inputs on my BAT VK60. These are the 2 most importants positions for BAT amps.

Part of it sounds wonderful...back of the soundstage, instrument separation, dynamics, articulation in the bass. Oh, and much queiter.

However, I don't think they have as much gain, I have to turn up the volume some on the preamp, and the bass is much lower vs the other parts. Kind of like a new power cord...needs time to open up. I can deal with the gain, not sure about the bass. This may just be a system matching thing, works great for some, not for me.

Is it break-in related?
jfrech
bday0000
266 posts
 
Man!!!! I asked the same question and got different answers!!!!

I recommend that you listen like crazy for the rest of your life. You lose your hearing by the day, anyway. Worry about there not being enough broken-in musicians.

Brad Day
Atlanta, GA
jfrech's avatar
jfrech OP
1,816 posts
 
I was using some early russian 6sn7's bought from upscale audio. The positively smoked the stock sovteks from the start. I do have about 1.5 years on the russians...

Sounds like a little patience is in order here. Thanks for the info!
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
I've found tubes need break-in but not to the extent of components such as amps, cables and speakers. Tubes go through the same sonic character changes during break-in as other components, but I've found they do so much faster.
dozer
15 posts
 
A new power cord needs time to open up?????!!

What does this mean? How does it open up? I didn't know powercords "opened up"...

I'm not going to a DBT zone or saying wires don't matter. I just want to know what to listen for if I buy a superpowercord...how long I should wait for it to open up before I decide that it didn't matter.

Do wall outlets need time to "open up" too?
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
everything "opens up" and breaks-in. this crazyness goes onto the tip-toes and other tweaks. man, your stand should also break-in...

listen more more more more to realize he...he...!!!
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