Does a new cd transport require break-in time?

That’s a good question.
I’ll find out tomorrow when delivery is expected.

If you don’t like continuing sad stories, read no further.
I got the Gungnir back today, and the Oppo should be coming later today.
Great news, right?  I should be able to experiment to my heart’s content on the merits of the combinations of components.  Fun!
.... Just a few minutes prior to the Gungnir delivery, one of my monoblocks crapped out— probably a power supply problem caused by the heat of a fire I had earlier this year. (But that’s a different sad story which some of you might have heard about.)
Sent the amps immediately for repair. But will have to wait a little longer to see or hear what’s up.

SNAKEBIT!

P.S.  And Schiit failed to include the power cord I sent them with the Gungnir with the thought I was getting a complete new unit. No power cord!

I have heard broken-in demo Focal 806v speakers many times and on one trip to the store identified a pair of fresh out of the box demo speakers that sounded a bit harsh in comparison. Break-in for speakers is real in my experience.

I have a tube amplifier and it did improve with a break-in period and does require a little warm up to sound its best.

I believe that some burn-in is most likely beneficial to analog components, but struggle wrapping my mind around a scenario where burn-in could have an audible impact on a purely digital component.

The amount of perceived varience that I hear in my system is beyond anything that I could accept as a change from burn-in making it virtually impossible to identify any tiny change from burn-in.

I have Nordost Sort Kones under my SACD player and “think” they may have improved things a bit, but could never identify if someone were to remove them without my knowledge.

There are so many factors that impact the way we perceive a given listening session that I don’t think that burn-in on a purely digital component would ever be audible, especially with all of the engineering specifically aimed at perfecting the digital signal when one can build a fairly solid case that it’s just ones and zeros.

The fact that manufacturers recommend a break-in procedure can be based on objective fact in some instances and for others it’s just part of the “audiophile” culture where having a component that doesn’t require a break-in could automatically inferior. Plus, an extended listening period will most likely give the listener/customer time to adjust to any new sound (or perceived change in sound) with placebo to go with a new purchase likely to lead towards a happy customer. 

What you gentlemen do not seem to understand is that all material systems ARE mechanical. When it comes to Electronics, this means that all components do indeed respond to regular electron flow .. dielectrics take time to fully “seat” ... even wire shows change under extended load conditions as confirmed by electron microscope .  For proof simply search for white papers readily available on the web from respected universities .