ARC tube CD players - Burn in

Yashu -

give your player at least 500 hours. Then, start to critically listen. After 600 hours you are DONE!

About 3 months ago, I purchased an ARC CD8, which ought to be similar to the CD9. The paperwork that came with the CD8 mentioned that break-in should take up to 600 hours. So far, I have about 180-200 hours of music played on it. I haven't experienced fatiguing or harsh sounding music, however it took (still taking?) a while for the sound to open up, and the bass to be more present. I just listen to the music and try not to worry about the break-in.

Be patient, bear with it, and it ought to slowly sound better. One tweak I can recommend is that if the CD9 came with a 6550WE tube, replace the 6550WE with a Winged C 6550C. My CD8 came with a 6550WE. After changing the 6550WE to a Winged C 6550C, the CD8 is more musical, and the change is an audible improvement.

Don't worry about tube life, the 6550 tube is inexpensive. I would run it from sunrise to sunset.

Great points, Brf and Riparian.

Any of you other guys tube roll an ARC cd player?

Riparian mine did come with 6550 WE.

Been searching for your suggestion and I see (SED) or the same number without the SED notation. Both are the winged version. Does it matter which one I order?

Thanks