Break in period for tube amp. How long?

Can you please share your experience on break in time and initial sound of new tube amps. Mine are sounding awful out of the box (NAGRA VPA).

jjwa10-09-2005 2:55pm

musicslug Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 430 posts 10-09-2005 at 04:43pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete power tubes should be allowed about 100 hours - but "awful"? it shouldn't be THAT bad.
daverobertson Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 60 posts 10-09-2005 at 04:56pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I would recommend letting then run at least 100 hours before doing any series listening..They will probably even improve a little more after about 150 to 200 hours or more.. I would run CD player ect. on repeat at low volume levels and let run a few days straight to break in a little quicker.. Good luck, Dave
daverobertson Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 60 posts 10-09-2005 at 05:40pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Musicslug is correct, they should not sound aweful though, i would check other possiblities out that can cause this possibly.. Dave
c123666 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 871 posts 10-09-2005 at 08:47pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Breaking in the capacitors, especially if is a common capacitor coupled design (rather than interstage tranny), is very critical. Takes hundreds of hours for the caps to be broken in fully.