Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

What is it about the design or part selection of the Aeris that requires an enormous 800 hour burn in? Just curious,Seems a bit over the top.
Charles,

I think if you listen to a component long enough like 800 hours you get use to the sound. Its not until another person hears the system and points out that the sound is thin or the bass is boomy or the midrange is dark.

Lol. I don't even listen until it's ready. Especially a DAC.
DAC's on, getting source from computer on-line radio station, running into my powered on pre-amp, amps off.

That's why it helps to have people who know how long break in will be. I just let 'er run. And listen when she's done cooking.

You don't keep tasting your thanksgiving turkey before it's done cooking, do you? ;)

Excellent question Charles. I freely admit of being pathologically picky when it comes to break-in process. I deem a device to be broken in only when I no longer perceive any further change in sound over the span of about one week of 24/7 operation, regardless of what the manufacturer has told me, or has published.

during the last 10 years or so, I have broken in a number of components, including 4 digital front end devices.. Esoteric X-01, GamuT CD3, Esoteric K-01, and recently Rowland Aeris DAC. Aeris is the very first front end that in my experience may have stabilized before crossing the 1000 hours mark.

Admittedly, Aeris does contain a lot of technology that is well known to take time to stabilize, like input transformer an 6-layer ceramic boards, yet break-in seems to have been a little faster than other front-end devices I have had in system. If you are interested, there are 27 mostly technical entries on Aeris hardware and firmware in the Rowland Knowledge base at:

http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/categories.php?categoryid=205

Salluti, Guido

Hi Matt,
I get your turkey analogy, but is it done baking in 8 hours or 8 days?
Guido, thanks for your reply. Good thread.
Charles,