My 500 hours was indeed a rollercoaster ride! At the time of my question above I had a strange screech/pop from my amp at shut-down. So I waited a few mins and powered back up to insure everything was fine and the sound was flat, brittle, no bass. The amp is fine now and it was unrelated to the AMR but confused my perception through the break-in for a good few days...
I have passed 500 hours but the unit is not quite to the magic of my demo experience. if memory serves, my dealer has had his unit since last Nov. or so. And Audiofun pointed to his 800 hour mark. So I must assume that FULL break-in happens around the 800+ (1000?) hour point.
Fine by me! It is very good at this 500 hour point and since I know I heard it even better, there must be more glory to come!
Here are a few of my thoughts during my demo that sent to a few friends. Nothing that really has not already been said though...
This DAC is exquisite! I find it silky and smooth yet robust at the same time. It is punchy when needed and delicate when needed -- it seems to embrace the intended nuances of the recording. It is very natural and organic sounding by nature. Not overly detailed, but all the right detail in all the right places. It just sounds 'real'... Furthermore its soundstage is what I have always wanted! It is larger than I have ever had . It is taller than ever, with great dimensionality. Sounds seem to radiate from all sides of the Ulysses, with music stretching and growing from even the far back corners of the speakers. Sounds will place themselves in space and then bloom and grow in any direction --but all in a very natural and real way.
Tone, timber, natural detail, sound-staging to die for is all there in this unit. At least for me.
It is hard to put this into words, since the unit just sounds so right and natural. Nothing out of place, nothing to little or to much. Just right.
If I was to try to pick it apart... A detail hound may want more. A hound for dynamics and immediacy, may want a more 'PA system/concert like' presentation. Basically, if someone is looking for something in-particular to be slightly exaggerated, they wont find it here.
I have passed 500 hours but the unit is not quite to the magic of my demo experience. if memory serves, my dealer has had his unit since last Nov. or so. And Audiofun pointed to his 800 hour mark. So I must assume that FULL break-in happens around the 800+ (1000?) hour point.
Fine by me! It is very good at this 500 hour point and since I know I heard it even better, there must be more glory to come!
Here are a few of my thoughts during my demo that sent to a few friends. Nothing that really has not already been said though...
This DAC is exquisite! I find it silky and smooth yet robust at the same time. It is punchy when needed and delicate when needed -- it seems to embrace the intended nuances of the recording. It is very natural and organic sounding by nature. Not overly detailed, but all the right detail in all the right places. It just sounds 'real'... Furthermore its soundstage is what I have always wanted! It is larger than I have ever had . It is taller than ever, with great dimensionality. Sounds seem to radiate from all sides of the Ulysses, with music stretching and growing from even the far back corners of the speakers. Sounds will place themselves in space and then bloom and grow in any direction --but all in a very natural and real way.
Tone, timber, natural detail, sound-staging to die for is all there in this unit. At least for me.
It is hard to put this into words, since the unit just sounds so right and natural. Nothing out of place, nothing to little or to much. Just right.
If I was to try to pick it apart... A detail hound may want more. A hound for dynamics and immediacy, may want a more 'PA system/concert like' presentation. Basically, if someone is looking for something in-particular to be slightly exaggerated, they wont find it here.