Pass Labs INT-25 or equivalent in another brand

I wouldn’t worry about that too much. You can listen to it and hear it improve. It will be great from the moment you plug it in though…I’m pretty certain of that. 

@audphile1

Good advice. But I have a real hard time not drawing conclusions from listening to a new piece of equipment… and can be disappointed… I know I shouldn’t draw conclusions… but I do. So, it can be safer to wait… but you have to put a signal through it while breaking in.

More than once I have been so anxious to hear my new piece of equipment and thought, “it sounds OK”… not what I was hopping for… depressing. Then after 150 hours, hearing it greatly improve… and really being upset with myself… I know better than this… once again forgetting how important breakin is.

@ghdprentice know exactly what you mean. 
I hate the break in but curiosity takes over and I just got to know what it sounds like before it settles. In case of Pass I do believe it will be fine. but I’ll defer the decision to the new lucky owner of the Int25!