@douglas_schroeder I actually agree with part of what you’re saying, maybe even most. I agree to the extent I believe it’s quite difficult to keep track of the sound of one’s system over an extended time if one is trying to keep track of the progress and conclusion of the break in of a particular thing, whether it’s a fuse, a capacitor, a cable, whatever. I say that because there are too many variables at work, even if the audiophile doesn’t do anything at all, just sits there like a bump on a log, and doesn’t touch anything at all during that entire time. Now, I don’t know about anyone else but I don’t think I ever met an audiophile who was not (rpt not) constantly fiddling around and or replacing something. So it doesn’t make sense anyone can keep track of how something breaks in. It seems like something is ALWAYS breaking in. Hel-loo! And it doesn’t make sense someone comes to the conclusion that a capacitor takes 500 hours to break in. Give me a break!
Warm up is a horse of a different color. I suggest listening either very late at night or very early Sunday morning when the weather is nice and dry and sunny with high pressure. Then you will hear what your system really sounds like, without all the usual distortion. It’s no wonder folks can hear anything, there’s too much distortion during normal business hours to hear much of anything. Cut me some slack, Jack!