Does a new cd transport require break-in time?

Hi,

I have had the Cambridge Transport for two months and I did hear some improved difference in the sound of the transport going into the Gumby DAC over a five day period of use. Strangely the subjective output volume of the DAC  (which is supoose to be constant) seemed to wax and wane with the break in period. In addition I too have had on and off problems with the dac accepting the signal from the Cambridge transport. Like you I previously used an OPPO 103 as a transport to the Gumby dac and for the most part did not have too many problems with signal lock. However on some occasions I would experience problems with the OPPO/DAC signal lock. I have no idea why? I purchased the Cambridge Transport thinking it would be superior to the OPPO as a Transport. To my ears it is superior in sound to the OPPO; and for the most part I have not experienced any signal lock problems. HOWEVER when I put the Cambridge transport on pause I do hear a clicking though the DAC.  It is very irritating and I have no idea what to make of it? It is my inclination given that I have experienced problems with signal lock with both the OPPO and the Cambridge that there is something amiss with the GUMBY. It's a pain in the ass to box up the dac and send it back to Schitt but I may do it? Forget about calling Schitt and asking them whats up. They have lousy phone support!!!!! (Many of my audiophile friends have also experienced customer phone support problems with Schitt). Sorry about the problems you are having. One last thing I use a very good silver coax digital interconnect (audio sensibility) between the transport and the Gumby. It seems to my hears and many of my colleagues ears to be superior to some of the other mid priced digital interconnects out there. 
Best wishes
Charlie

Charlie,

It seems we have many coincidences.
I, too, have an excellent silver coax cable.

The problem with the noise on pause, I’m sure, is a Gungy phenomenon.  I get it too.  If the unit weren’t so good, it would be a most definite deal breaker.  We’ll have to live with it if we want to keep it. 
Interestingly, I much prefer the sound of the Gungnir with the Oppo transport.
The definition is probably better with the Cambridge, but there is, on my system, a shrillness I don’t like. The Oppo just sounds better and has plenty of detail. Maybe the Cambridge will sound different after more break in.

 I love the improvement in every dimension the Gungy makes over my old Theta, which I’m using now because the Schiit stopped working!  (I guess you could say, it crapped out.) They are sending me a new one. (High marks to them for doing that after I had it for almost a month.)
I’m probably going to return the CXC when I get the Multibit back if the synergy doesn’t improve. Even though it sometimes mistracks now, I’ll keep it until I send it back.

....HOWEVER when I put the Cambridge transport on pause I do hear a clicking though the DAC. It is very irritating and I have no idea what to make of it? ....

....Forget about calling Schitt and asking them whats up. They have lousy phone support!!!!! (Many of my audiophile friends have also experienced customer phone support problems with Schitt)....

@char2

Charlie -

Heads up here. In a good way :)

First, I do not have the Gumby, I have the Yggy, but the same concept applies regarding the "clicking". This is "normal’ and correct behavior! Don’t believe me, send Schiit an email and ask (see next paragraph). In my case, the Yggy does an *outstanding* job of "recognizing" whether or not a device connected to it is turned on or off. Its almost as though their DACs are "smart devices", it's that good! What you are hearing are the relays engaging/disengaging, and the Schiit DACs *react differently depending on the device connected to it*. You should (IMO) view the pause as a good thing. So much so that if you pause your Cambridge transport and don’t hear a pause *then* you have a problem!

As to phone support, I can’t understand why people such as yourself write they have lousy support. *HELLO*, they essentially advertise they *DO NOT HAVE ANY PHONE SUPPORT*. So, in this instance, give Schiit all the credit in world in that *they disclose* this up front. Now, if you were to ask or mention that they *should* have phone support, absolutely. I too do not like the fact they do not answer a telephone like a "normal" *BUSINESS* would, however, again give them credit here in that they do clearly state customers must use email.

i don’t understand how “it’s a good thing” that you can’t pause a selection in mid stream without having to hear a shattering electrical noise.
  If the telephone rings, or you have to go to the bathroom, you have to start a CD from the beginning, even if you are three quarters of the way through a symphony you’ve been avidly listening to for 45 minutes.  It’s not a good thing if, effectively, you can’t utilize a pause control, like virtually with every other similar device.
Also, I can’t give a company “credit” for not answering their phones just because they say they won’t.

On the plus side, they are replacing my faulty Gungnir after I’ve had it for about a month.