Sounds like they fixed a problem with a hyped top end to me. In any case I have never heard any component go from rolled off to extended during burn-in. Always the other way around as the high frequency grain and etch that masquerades as detail becomes more liquid natural with time.
Break-in of a Class D amp?
I'll spare everyone the "brand tribe" debate, and keep my question/details generic.
I recently had to have my 2ch ClassD amp "serviced" by the manufacturer. Yes, it's an ICEPower derived unit. I'd been SUPER happy with it for well over 18 months, until one morning when I heard a buzzing coming from inside the amp itself. I took a video, poked the manufacturer, and they voluntarily opted to fix it for me.
Fast forward a week, and the amp is back in my stack. But something is amiss.
I can tell they wholesale replaced the entire ICE module, as the "power up" delay from standby is "different" than before, and it seems to exhibit less overall "gain" than prior to repair.
But the most disturbing thing, and one that literally smacked me in the face... was the lack of high frequency authority. While there is a soundstage, and lows are not an issue... it's missing all the "presence" and "life" in the top end. I have tracks that I can play that elicit EMOTION when I queue them. All the detail and fidelity is like, muted.
The previous board had hundreds of hours of time to burn in, and boy I exercised it. Is this what I'm now encountering? Or has anyone out there experienced this situation?
I would normally just knuckle down and "grind out" hours of "work" for the amp... and not come here asking for advice... but the fidelity difference is so striking... that I can't get over it.
Thoughts?
I recently had to have my 2ch ClassD amp "serviced" by the manufacturer. Yes, it's an ICEPower derived unit. I'd been SUPER happy with it for well over 18 months, until one morning when I heard a buzzing coming from inside the amp itself. I took a video, poked the manufacturer, and they voluntarily opted to fix it for me.
Fast forward a week, and the amp is back in my stack. But something is amiss.
I can tell they wholesale replaced the entire ICE module, as the "power up" delay from standby is "different" than before, and it seems to exhibit less overall "gain" than prior to repair.
But the most disturbing thing, and one that literally smacked me in the face... was the lack of high frequency authority. While there is a soundstage, and lows are not an issue... it's missing all the "presence" and "life" in the top end. I have tracks that I can play that elicit EMOTION when I queue them. All the detail and fidelity is like, muted.
The previous board had hundreds of hours of time to burn in, and boy I exercised it. Is this what I'm now encountering? Or has anyone out there experienced this situation?
I would normally just knuckle down and "grind out" hours of "work" for the amp... and not come here asking for advice... but the fidelity difference is so striking... that I can't get over it.
Thoughts?
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- 21 posts total
- 21 posts total