Anyone using the Transistor Research LabsM 225's

Dave,

My experience in general when breaking in any component, except for speakers, is that volume does not to be turned up for break in to occur. I do know some people who have told me running different levels of signals is helpful, but not from my experience. Just running a signal through is good enough. Of course power to the components being broken in must be turned on. Speakers on the other hand need some volume to work out the drivers. Here running different signal levels is helpful.

Now there are those who suggest running equipment 24 x 7 is not the way to do it but rather run the equipment in a cycle. For example, 12 hours on, 3 hours off. I never tried it that way so can't say one way or another if that is more effective.

As for break in CDs, the test tones that cover the entire frequency range are a good primer for the system. Sort of like giving it a work out. Some of the tracks are referred to as "torture tracks" and you can see why if you look at your woofer during the playback. A lot of the music we play does not cover the breadth of the frequency range like a break in CD does. You're basically giving your system a huge dose in a short period of time when you use a break in CD.

The break in CDs are good for components and cables. In fact Dale Pitcher who manufacturers your speakers uses one (I thing the Purist Audio CD). However, he warns against using it on repeat for extended periods as it imparts a sonic flavor of its own on the system, especially cabling.

I know what I heard but I will make one correction to my statement. Instead of "flavor" Dale used the term "sonic signature." Same thing IMO although some may disagree. The advice was imparted to me by Dale as I was breaking in a set of his Mosaic Chimera cables, of which I own 2 pairs of interconnects and a set of speaker cables (so I speak from experience). He recommended the PAD CD but not to use it on repeat to break in his cables. I opted for the Granite Audio CD but I still used it in the manner Dale suggested.

For the benefit of all, Dale Pitcher is the owner of Intuitive Audio Design and formerly affiliated with Essence Audio. His speaker and equipment designs are legendary and even his older Essence gear is still sought out by audiophiles.

Dale's designs enjoy a cult status among audiophiles for good reason. Sort of like Paul Weitzel at TRL. It's refreshing to hear about the synergy that Interlochen describes between his Intuitive Audio speakers and TRL amps. I've been in contact with 2 other Intuitive Design speaker owners who are also very interested in the Samson's. You just can't keep good news from traveling fast, no matter how hard you try.

The Intuitive design Gamma Summit is the final and most advanced of the Summit series which consists of a 2 unit, granite clad system. The top is the 2-way speaker using a custom Israeli Morel 7" midbass, T-line loaded. The soft-dome tweeter's identity is a secret, but is also modded and TL loaded.

1st order Xover with inductor and capacitor made by ID.

The base or stand is sand filled. 6 Stillpoints are used per side: 3 between speaker and stand, and 3 between stand and a 3" thick, 12"x18" Granite slab. Total weight per side is almost 300 lbs.

The speakers must be laser leveled for max performance and are excruciatingly sensitive to placement. 8' between speakers, 10 to my ears. Typically no toe-in, but sometimes I do a few degrees for a different perspective.

Both Paul and Dale use master tapes for voicing. I don't know if this is a factor in what turns out to be seductive synergy between amp and speaker. Impossible to know, of course, if this synergy is optimum without other speaker comparisons.