Silent Burning-In for amps?

[DandyCobalt]

Quick question (2 actually):

I've just received two new Cyrus Mono X300s, but I don't want to hear them till they've "burnt-in", so that I can do a real A/B test against my existing X Powers.

Can I connect them to my DAC XP+ via the second pair of dac xp+ preouts, and just let them run (without being connected to speakers) ? They will receive same signal as the Xpowers but will they be outputting?

How long should the run-in period be before they are close to "good"?

Cheers!

 

[altruistic.lemon]

My mates who know their electronics reckon about 10-20 minutes and you'll be right.

 

[seasiders rock]

:rofl:

 

[Big Chris]

But if they're not connected to any speakers, will they pass any current? Can't you hook up a couple of bulbs instead to provide a load?

Play some Death Metal and the kick drums would probably create a strobe effect.

 

[SonofSun]

Quick question (2 actually):

I've just received two new Cyrus Mono X300s, but I don't want to hear them till they've "burnt-in", so that I can do a real A/B test against my existing X Powers.

Can I connect them to my DAC XP+ via the second pair of dac xp+ preouts, and just let them run (without being connected to speakers) ? They will receive same signal as the Xpowers but will they be outputting?

How long should the run-in period be before they are close to "good"?

Cheers!

What exactly are you expecting to burn?

 

[Anonymous]

I do believe that the learned gentlemen that frequent this forum are unsubtly questioning why a 'solid state' as they were once called, electronic device would require a burn in to its componentry, unlike a device using tubes, which would benefit from such an action.

However, I have been wrong before.....

 

[floyd droid]

I do believe that the learned gentlemen that frequent this forum are unsubtly questioning why a 'solid state' as they were once called, electronic device would require a burn in to its componentry, unlike a device using tubes, which would benefit from such an action.

However, I have been wrong before.....

Indeed and in fact you are in this instance too.

Cos I still call em solid state *, therefore they are still called as such and not 'once called'.

* Amongst other names which would be edited big time, lol

 

[DandyCobalt]

Ok, so my Graham Slee Novo headphone amp is oft quoted as needing about 300 hours of playing before it starts to sing, (I think even WHFSV said same) but the X300s don't?

I'm confused...either they sound better after a while of playing, or they don't. But who remembers what they sounded like 300 hours ago ? I can't even Remember the date.

 

[Singslinger]

Looks like there are a few skeptics here, at least as far as running-in a s/s amp is concerned. Me, I have no idea if such a thing has any appreciable impact on the sound, other than letting the amp warm up for 30 mins or so. Mind you, some manufacturers take it seriously. The makers of the darTZeel CTH-8550 integrated, which I think costs £16,000, recommend 170 hours before it sounds its best. It's in the manual. Just saying.

 

[Overdose]

Looks like there are a few skeptics here, at least as far as running-in a s/s amp is concerned. Me, I have no idea if such a thing has any appreciable impact on the sound, other than letting the amp warm up for 30 mins or so. Mind you, some manufacturers take it seriously. The makers of the darTZeel CTH-8550 integrated, which I think costs £16,000, recommend 170 hours before it sounds its best. It's in the manual. Just saying.

Unless one listens extensively every day for at least six hours, those 170 hours would probably take well over a month to accumulate. Do you think that the retailer would happily offer a no quibble money back policy after this time if the sound quality was not as expected?

I'm not sure how a manufacturer comes to the magic figures for 'optimum' performance, but it smacks of an emporers new clothes type tactic to stop punters from returning their gear.

 

[BronC]

I replaced my twin x-powers with the x300 a few months ago. I did not wait and just compared them. No contest - the x300s were sooo much better. Much better base control and the musical seperation was stunning. A much larger sound stage as well.

As for burning in - I did that as well but I did not re-compare against the x-powers as they had been sold. I think that the x300s do sound better now then when I first used them.

 

[Singslinger]

Looks like there are a few skeptics here, at least as far as running-in a s/s amp is concerned. Me, I have no idea if such a thing has any appreciable impact on the sound, other than letting the amp warm up for 30 mins or so. Mind you, some manufacturers take it seriously. The makers of the darTZeel CTH-8550 integrated, which I think costs £16,000, recommend 170 hours before it sounds its best. It's in the manual. Just saying.

Unless one listens extensively every day for at least six hours, those 170 hours would probably take well over a month to accumulate. Do you think that the retailer would happily offer a no quibble money back policy after this time if the sound quality was not as expected?

I'm not sure how a manufacturer comes to the magic figures for 'optimum' performance, but it smacks of an emporers new clothes type tactic to stop punters from returning their gear.

Actually I think most people might be able to spend at most 2-3 hours a day properly listening to their audio (at least that's my experience, what with work, family, etc). So it'd probably take 2-3 months to rack up the 170 hours. So yes, your point is well-taken! :cheers:

 

[andyjm]

If anyone could link to any real analysis of 'burning in' improving sound quality I would be very interested. It is my opinion that it is complete claptrap.

Mechanical systems (speakers for instance) may well improve with usage, but exactly what electronic compoments are improving through usage? Have a look at any electronic component datasheet - do any of them say that the published spec is only achieved after some usage? - not in my experience.

'Burning in' - a technique of running electronic equipment at elevated temperatures is all about weeding out equipment that would fail early in its life and nothing about improving the performance.

An amplifier isn't a Ford Escort.

 

[Diamond Joe]

If you still want to get your amps run in before you use them dc, I'll (selflessly) offer to take them off your hands and run them in for you - free of charge, of course - might take me 6 months or so, that ok with you?

 

[chebby]

I would need to set fire to my system to burn it in. It's class D and never gets warm even after sustained use.

I have some sympathy with the opinion, voiced above, that 'burn in' periods are a means by which (some) dealers can avoid equipment being returned by making the user doubt his/her own hearing.

 

[MajorFubar]

Wait til you meet someone who says his cables need burning in. That takes wacky to a whole new level.

Anyway the whole process would be more correctly termed 'running in', as 'burning in' is a completely different process where electrical components are deliberately exposed to voltages beyond their tolerances to weed-out the ones that are likely to fail early.

 

[ReValveiT]

While I am a firm believer of running in, I do not believe that the sound gets 'better' as such, just settles in.

I've bought equiptment that I didn't particularly like the sound of out of the box, and not once has running in 'improved' the sound of that equiptment to the point that I liked it. On every occasion I ended up selling it on.

So rig up your amps and enjoy them. If you don't like them within the first hour, chances are you're never going to like them.

 

[DandyCobalt]

Impatience conquers all....connected the X300s properly to the speakers, and enjoying them! (Life's too short).

Sound great - definitely a step up from the X powers already. So, happy.

 

[Johnno2]

Running in solid state electronics to make them sound better after many days is a load of......(fill in as appropriate)

I am sceptical speakers change much either, but can accept they do

The only burn with amps IMO is they 'may' sound subtley better after they have warmed up from cold, I do think I have noticed this at times, more so at night

 

[Covenanter]

I recommend leaving equipment in the box for at least six months so that it can mature properly.

Chris

 

[eggontoast]

What I find amusing is that everything always sounds better after 'burn in' (it's not burn in, this is incorrect terminology) never just different or worse, always better. Utter bo****ks !

 

[CnoEvil]

I recommend leaving equipment in the box for at least six months so that it can mature properly.

Chris

I'm not sure this logic holds up....Mrs. Cno regularly puts me in my box, and I've barely matured at all! :twisted:

 

[SteveR750]

Cyrus advise that their SS electronic equipemnt also "runs in". I've never noticed any change over time of any CDP or amp or DAC or anything that I've ownded. Speakers are a completely different experience however.

 

[drummerman]

I used to be a sceptic, to an extend still am, but unless you are a metallurgical engineer/expert or have designed every component in your hifi from the ground up can you say for certain that certain changes do not occur when 'running-in' electronics components or even cables?

These may be very small, perhaps not detectable in blind test but again, who can proof or dismiss that these possible small changes, accumulated over time with the addition and complexities of other equipment will not make some audible difference?

There are so many variables when it comes to this sort of thing, perhaps having an open mind is better than jumping on to either gravy train.

Happy Sunday everybody

regards

 

[Singslinger]

I used to be a sceptic, to an extend still am, but unless you are a metallurgical engineer/expert or have designed every component in your hifi from the ground up can you say for certain that certain changes do not occur when 'running-in' electronics components or even cables?

These may be very small, perhaps not detectable in blind test but again, who can proof or dismiss that these possible small changes, accumulated over time with the addition and complexities of other equipment will not make some audible difference?

There are so many variables when it comes to this sort of thing, perhaps having an open mind is better than jumping on to either gravy train.

Happy Sunday everybody

regards

Actually Drummerman, I'm with you on this. I'm a bit sceptical about extensive running-in for electronic gear but I have to admit that there could be something in it.

As some before have said, speakers are a different proposition altogether, although I've found large differences in time needed. For example, I found that the Spendor SA 1 took maybe 2 weeks to sound its best while the Spendor SP 1/2R I currently use sounded great from day one.