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Cable Burn In Problem

I'm trying out some interconnects, XLR. Problem is, I don't want to put 100+ hours on my CD laser, or my preamp tubes, or my hot-running, electric-consuming power amp.

The only solution I se is this. It is possible for me to find some old tubes to put in the preamp (which has balanced and rca inputs and outputs), and have that running into the turned off power amp. Supposedly just the connection is enough, but, of course, the preamp has to be on and have signal going through it.

I don't have any source to hook to the preamp except my digital player, which again, I don't want to put this mechanical and laser life on.

I do have an old receiver, but it has only rca's, so it is useless.

Any possible suggestions?
saxo
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Shadorne, you cheeky monkey, you.

Yes. I am being cynical again.....I know and accept that many will disagree but concerns about cable break in are,IMHO, bordering on paranoia...just play the music and enjoy it for goodness sake...

Frankly if a systems sound is making you so unhappy that you have to worry/fret about burn-in of cables then something is not right. A great system should make you ecstatic even with an unburned-in coat hanger for a speaker cable....
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drubin
3,265 posts
 
Well, sure, but everyone knows that coat hangers don't need break in.
saxo OP
98 posts
 
Thanks, guys. The problem is the XLR's. No old receivers or tuners have XLR connections. I've heard of adaptors to make XLR connectors accept RCA, but not the other way around.

Sorry, Drubin, I don't agree with you on burning lasers for 100 hours. I just won't do it.
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cerrot
1,700 posts
 
As much as a 100 hours is a portion of the tubes life, they would benefit from putting a 100 hours on them, as well as the cd player. If they are already broken in, I can see your concern. (Life of a cartridge can be 800 hours, the 100 hours I needed to break it in were a piece of its life, but I do want to enjoy its best sound it as much as I can, so resolved myself to the fact that it's life was now 700 hours). You can get a cable cooker to burn in the xlr interconnect or just connect it between a preamp and amp and have an FM signal go through it for 100 hours. If no other balanced gear, maybe your dealer has a cable cooker he can use (or some of his other gear) to burn it in for you.
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