2. digital
  3. 1243557256

Cambridge 840c burn in

So, I got a new 840C a few weeks ago and I’m kind of surprised by how dramatically the sound has changed. When I was demoing it in the store it was a box fresh unit and very bright sounding, but compared to the other players I was comparing it to it had much better bass and general clarity. I’d read here on A-gon that the burn-in would yield significant results so I took a chance and bought it. My initial thought at home was that I’d made a huge mistake – it was almost unlistenable bright. But I ran it 24/7 for almost two weeks and every day it got a bit better. Then, just yesterday, now at about 350 hours or so, all the residual high-end glare disappeared. It sounds great.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what is actually happening within the machine that is ‘breaking in’? It seems counterintuitive with a bunch of wires and caps, but it is a real phenomenon in this machine. I guess any other player too for that matter. I’m just curious.

I’m enjoying the player immensely by the way. It’s a huge improvement over my Jolida JD100, which is now doing duty in the upstairs system.
grimace
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Mine now has 48 hours on it so I am also looking forward to the break in process you describe. If the player ends up sounding better than it does now, wow!

Also just got a Squeezebox and am running the coax digitial out into the DAC of the 840c. Amazing how much better it is compared to the DAC in the Squeezbox with its analog outputs into my amp.
lamcam
76 posts
 
I did not notice bright sounding when I first played it at home. After 2 months with about 60 hours, I still don't see any improvement compare when it was brand new. Maybe I don't notice, although it sounds great.
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
What's breaking in?

Everything. Caps, wires, tranformers, drive motor, laser, chips, etc.

Seems a shame one has to put a years worth of playback time on a CDP to get it to sound as best it can.

Merely replacing the sled/drive, both lasers RB & SACD, on my Sony xa 777 es, it took over 200 hours for it sound good. That part amazed me. Nothing else was replaced. Still it took a good long while, though I didn't run mine 24/7... but in spurts. Varying the length of duty each day, up and down. Hardly ran the SACD at all.

Then I went all pc HDD and sold it.

Glad you like your 840.
grimace OP
624 posts
 
The 840 is great, but then I throw on a vinyl record and it sounds so nice.... It's enough to make you looney!
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
I switch over/back to mynyl and I'll have 12 inch black coasters laying all over soon there after.
More to discover