Hello @DaveyF, you are correct, I would not want ever to evaluate a strict monoblock amp by breaking-in each chassis on split timelines... Evaluating mono operation chassis by chassis is a pointless exercise.
The Rowland M535 I was talking about is instead a bridgeable pair... In that a single M535 chassis can be deployed as a stereo amp, or two of them can be advantageously used in bridged mode as a mono pair.
When I received the M535 pair I deployed them as a bridged/m mono pair from the get go, and crossed sonic/musical stabilization around the 800 hours mark
What I should have done instead is:
Break-in the bridged pair for the first 24 or 48 hours.
* Split the pair; put chassis 1 aside; reconfigure chassis 1 and 2 for stereo operation and continue break-in of chassis 2.
At some fixed checkpoints, e.g. 100 hours mark, 200 hours, 350 hours, 500 hours, 650 hours, and 800 hours mark, compare the stereo performance of chassis 2 with chassis 1 which would have been still a juvenile. Any differences? Document each checkpoint with copious notes.
At the end, set aside chassis 2, and complete break-in of chassis 1 in stereo mode to 800 hours.
Reconfigure the two units for bridged operation. Reconnect the whole and play for a few days. Take notes and document tonal/resolution/etc... differences of bridged pair from single chassis in stereo mode.
You still with me after all this time? No worries, the fun is not over...
Power down and disconnect from the wall outlet. Disconnect speaker wires from the bridged output terminal of each chassis. Slip the optional external networks onto the mono terminals of each unit. Reconnect speaker wires. Plug the units into the AC, and play music.... You might notice a further positive delta, which to my experience continued to open up further, plateauing after about 100 hours.
BTW, the slip-on networks are free for the asking from the factory... Yes, I know, it would be nice if they were inside the machines... No, not possible, because the designer thought of enhancement about one year after release... No he could not retrofit the design, would have required a semimajor chassis machining / board / wiring change.
PS, Do not slip the networks on a M535 unit in stereo mode, nor try them on any device that is not an M535... You would slag the device with a nice Pop! Possible sparkles, pretty curls of blue smoke, and cute scent of singed electronics... And you'd void any warranty to boot. Yes, Rowland includes a card warning against improper networks use with these add-ons.
Saluti, G.
