Arcam irDAC break in time and sound changes?

Wow, glad I asked. When I first fired it up, it definitely sounded a bit lean and muffled. At about 8 hours in, started to open up a tad, maybe even a tad harsh. At 10-15 hours, it was strange, sort of a roller coaster of opening up and closing off, and me thinking there was something wrong with it. Powered it off and back on later in the day and it was open again, not as lean. Had no idea a new DAC would have this much change in the first 15 hours but I realize some of this may be due to another component in my system breaking in at the same time in parallel. So, It's not just 0s and 1s, eh? hahaha.

This feedback helps to give me an idea that I have a good ways to go before making any real judgements on sound. Thanks.

Akg...ca,
I typically give it at least an hour before starting to listen. Often times I will check back at 1.5 and 2.0 hour and start listening with more intent then. This past time were I mentioned the "roller coaster" comment was at about 2.0 hours, so it was unexpected after being warm for a while. One day I did leave it running for about 8 solid hours and it sounded different for sure, having an even warmer sound. Not seeing a real rhyme or reason to it, I decided to get ideas here to see what others have experienced. Longer warmups definitely help.

Hello Samac,
Thanks. I just started leaving the irDAC on all the time just recently. Unfortunately I cannot leave my amps on all the time as they get pretty hot, but I'm definitely running one of my new tube amplifiers as much as I can to help speed up break in time along side the irDAC. I realize I have two variables going at once, breaking in both at once, but I can tell that things are getting better with time on both, and I have an older amp I use for reference to switch back and forth to see who much is related to the irDAC break in time vs. the new amp.

Just today after 40+ hours on the irDAC I'm starting to notice subtle changes along the way. It's opening up more, sounds smooth, and I'm really liking that it is not to harsh, and not too dark. It just sounds right. If it gets any better than it is now at 40hours in, this will be great. irDAC is on all the time now.

I hope to learn about the adjustable filters next in the irDAC to see what this is all about once it's broken in more.

I've read in several places now folks reporting 100-200 hours break in time which I find hard to believe on this type unit, but if it's true, I guess we'll see what we get once I get there.

Really glad I decided to wait and get this DAC versus a cheaper one. I have been a bit of a holdout with streaming music as a "primary" source over CD on my main audio system, but not now. With this new DAC I'm hearing things in a new way and glad I did not wait any longer. My CD player and high end FM tuner is sitting idle now more than ever even though I still enjoy all three formats. This irDAC is pretty cool. Thanks to all for your replies.

Update: I've left the irDAC on for the past week solid. Yep, definitely open, clean, detailed, sounds nice. I definitely have more than 100 hours of break in time on it and it sounds even better than when it had 10 hours on it.

0s/1s or not, for anyone who is wondering like I was about a new irDAC, it's true, there definitely is an initial break in period on this device and for whatever reasons, it sounds better as it gets more time or heat to it, whatever the case may be. Sounds nice, smooth, clean, controlled, they way it's suppose to be. Even with AppleTV, it sounds pretty good for compressed audio content by simply running it through the irDAC. I run the irDAC into my integrated Tube amplifier and overall I'm pleased with the results. Is it as good as a quality mastered CD, no, but for regular listening it's definitely "good enough" for me. Glad I purchased the irDAC.