Interconnects Roller Coaster Ride

Well, maybe it could be the wires. I am going through a similar thing right now. My case is a bit different though. I installed a new interconnect from which I had no idea what to expect. Right out of the box, no break-in and the sound was delightful. Who ever heard of this happening?Open, clear as a bell, realistic timbres, powerful, but controlled bass, tons of ambiance, etc. Even while in the shower I heard a musical rightness coming from the other room. Now a few days later and it is dullsville. Not a bad cable, but nothing like that first impression. I am chalking it up to the "rollercoaster ride" of break-in. What puzzles me though is that you have already put many hours on your cables and they still don't seem to stabilize. Time will tell in my case whether this cable comes back to life, or did my system just crave a leaner, brighter perspective. Please, I would like to request a cable that sounds like this un broken-in one!

Kisawyer 04-06-13
I purchased a pair of Morrow MA-1 interconnects, burned them in 24/7 for 500 hours.

Kisawyer 04-08-13
I suspected the Morrows because once I installed them and heard how well they sounded I immediately knew what to listen for during my sessions. When the sound degraded, I suspected the cables. The cables have never been moved during this entire process.

If I understand correctly, you therefore burned them in 24/7 for 500 hours using one or more of the components in the system.

In addition to AC line conditions, tubes, and several of the other possible explanations that have been suggested, that seems to me to cast suspicion on whichever component or components were being operated for those 500 hours. Especially if the component(s) that were operated for those 500 hours are of comparable age to those that are listed in your system description.

Personally, I see no reason to suspect the cables, and lots of reasons to suspect many other things.

Regards,
-- Al

KiSAWYER.....are you near an airport/military base??.... I had a similar problem that I traced to radar interference....... I moved, you probably can't.

Thanks to all for your responses.

As I mentioned, the output tubes in the power amp have about 200 hours on them. I am able to check the bias often, and keep them within specifications. The other smaller tubes in both the power amp and preamp have more hours on them but according to ARC, need only to be changed after two cycle changes of the output tubes. That is, about 4,000 hours.

I'll look into the line voltage issue and see if I can check that out with the volt meter as suggested.

The same components were used during both the burn in and listening sessions. The burn in was through my CD player to the preamp (which was turned off), as recommended by Morrow. I simply reconnected the CD player into the system for the actual listening sessions.

I do live near an Air Force Base. Not K.I. Sawyer in Michigan, but Luke AFB in Arizona.

Thanks to all for the great suggestions. I'll keep everyone informed on further listening and what I ultimately find out.

Has anyone experienced this continued roller coster ride in good-to-poor sound from the Morrows?

FWIW, I have used both MA-1's and MA-3's from Morrow and I have not noticed the effect you are describing. Anything is possible, but I think variations in line voltage is a much better hypothesis, and easily tested.

Bryon