WOW SACD machines really do need time to break in.

Yes, it does seem to take some time, perhaps becasue of the higer resolution, there is a more perceptible level of change "before and after" the burn in.

Then again, your neighbor could have just been running a hair dryer at the time the Police album sounded crappy.

That's the fun of Audio!!!
it makes you crazy.

Maybe your Police SACD needed to be broken-in. I find most CDs sound better after several playings... or was that glasses of wine???

I bought the first Police disc on SACD. Even if i played it or the machine 300,000 times, i don't think that it would ever sound "good". Save your money on that one folks. Sean
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every gear needs time to run-in.......even used gear but turned off for long time.

As the dependable Bringer Of SACD Doom here's my experience-I tried an experiment on my Sony 900NVS where I only listened at set intervals over a two week period (whilst on constantly) and found that I heard little or no difference.
Sony's are notorious for their long break in periods but despite taking notes I did not find the results many others have.
I have the Police Sychronicity hybrid and doning my cowl yet again report I hear little between that and the CD layer-did you check to see if the CD layer had improved?
Recently in my system I found the same of my Ayre CD player/amp-no detectable change over a few weeks however I put both a new power cord and interconnect in and a few days later I thought I heard a noticeable difference in my system.
What caused it?
I have no firm idea but suspect the Cardas cable.
So I have mixed feelings about break-in and remain sceptical but open minded and think it's really not worth worrying about.
The worst that can happen is that your system will sound as good as the first day you bought it and alternatively it will get better.
I don't even trust my own ears so I'm not sure I should worry about anybody elses!