Count me as another one that keeps the RA Opus 21 in the stand-by mode and it always sounds great. However, I don't ever recall it sounding bad, even when it was new and breaking-in. If it takes two hours to sound "right", then I would think something is wrong. Besides Jeff Kalt at RSA, another option would be to send the unit to Steve Huntley at the Great Northern Sound Company. They have two modifications for the RA Opus 21. The mods are great and take the unit to another level. Good luck!