Strangest Transformation in Break In.
This has to be the strangest transformation in sound quality
involving break in that I have experienced in my long history in Audio,
I installed new analog interconnects (Wireworld Platinum 8) from
my Lumin X1 Dac/Streamer to my Ayre Twenty preamp. These cables are made from
pure 7N silver wire and are quite expensive. From the moment connected I was not
impressed with the cables. The music was dull. I mean really dull and lifeless.
The seller claimed these were new cables and needed a few days to break in.
Tweek Geek: Michael, whom I have a lot of respect for said these cables take
more like 300 hours for breakin. (I wish I had bought them from him). So, I started
with non-stop music playing to accelerate breakin.
And, to complicate things further, 3 days after getting the
interconnects I received 8 of the Critical Mass 1.0 footers. They were placed
under my Lumin X1 and my Ayre Twenty Preamp. At this time things sounded a
little bit better but I was still not impressed for all the money I just spent
and all the on-line glowing reviews of these products. There was something
dulling the music, especially in the treble region and also severely limiting dynamics. Could
these interconnects be such a mis-match with my equipment? I actually started
looking for replacements.
I then read a couple of on-line reviews by Positive Feedback
in which they claimed that the Critical Mass Footers go through some horrendous
sonic changes. I contacted the company that I bought them from and they said
they only take a couple of days to settle. It’s a mechanical thing, ok. Mmmm.
So, what the heck is going on?
Well today, after 12 days since installing the footers, you
know what? It was not the interconnects; it was the footers! Now, I’m sure the
interconnects needed some time to break in, and I had the double whammy going on. But the footers created a wide
variance from day one to today. I encourage anyone contemplating these footers investigate
the reviews. Today, after 12 days the dulling went away and the sound blossomed
and sounds great!
Could it be that I purchased the CM 1.0 version and used
them with some light weight equipment and that prolonged the break in process?
I dunno know. But I am truly amazed at the fact that footers can change the
sound so much.
BTW, The Critical Mass footers replaced Stillpoints Ultra
SS.
ozzy
