Will there be a dramatic difference?

If you are considering a used JC5 then you should also consider a used CODA #8. It's just as good or better than the JC5 and has a transferable 5-year warranty. This amp has massive current reserves.

Well, she’s all hooked up and been running music through it for the last couple of hours. Obviously needs to break in. I’m sure it sounds great but I’m starting to think all this audio file stuff as a joke. It’s like saying one kind of marijuana is so much better than the other kind for pain. I don’t smoke anything anymore maybe I should but I could never tell the difference from one strain to the next they both just got me high. this amplifier doesn’t sound noticeably better than my Carber. And I don’t think the JC5 would sound noticeably better than the A21 not enough to justify the price difference. My whole set up has always sounded damn good and it still does. I’m not unhappy with this purchase however, I think all of this technical ultimate sound stuff is a bunch of opinions. That’s all nothing else. It is fun to try to get to that ultimate sound, however, I don’t think it should require the thousands of dollars people try to spend to make stuff so much better and so much better.

@rossgordon ....

Hold that thought.

Stay happy.

Live long, and Happy Listening. ;)

@rossgordon

You’re a few hours into the breakin. Things will sound better. Probably by the end of the day today.

There’s a difference between a pragmatic rationalist who desires to get to the end result with the minimal investment in time (and, money), and a hobbyist. Neither approach is "right" or "wrong." They’re just different.

Hope the A21 lights you up soon. Hopefully, no drugs required.

If going to make a comparison between and exchanged device, I have always found it best to let the New Device have a few weeks of usage, with regular periods of experiencing the device being used. A month is a period I would suggest is enough to allow the impression to be made, that is formed on a reasonable time spent experiencing the device in use.

For myself, it usually works for the best, when the device is not analysed, but let be and able to present music. The way the music holds the attention and the replays are conjured up as after thought, is usually an indicator something is new and forming an attraction.

If noticeable changes are becoming detected from the produced sonic, then the likelihood is that a Run In is occurring and the device is becoming more coherent in how it is presenting.

When returning to the A/B comparisons of old vs new, there will be plenty to suggest one of the devices is worthwhile being maintained in the system in place of the other. 

Being an Audiophile is to be one who has a enthusiasm to enjoy listening to music, achieving this place is easy, and for many has proved to be quite an addiction.

To extend the enthusiasm to attempting to enjoy music replays through the usage of electronically designed equipment, has the potential to leave an individual dis-heartened at times, but there is a place that can be found, that centres around the system created is enough to substitute the desire to experience music being reproduced from other means.