I can't help you with the Calypso, but my Rhea took about 100 hours or so before it really started to sound it's best. I've heard the Io in a system I'm familiar with and I'd have to say that the Rhea gives me nearly identical performance. If you don't buy it now I'm pretty sure you'll return to it later. It is an amazing phono stage once you've given it time to break in.
Brake in for the Aesthetix Calypso and Rhea
If you could take a minute to help me with a question, it would be appreciated. I am borrowing a new just out of the box Aesthetix Rhea phono preamp and Calypso line stage from a dealer with intention to buy depending on how it sounds in my system. He just sold his demio units. How long does it take to break in the two units? I have approximately 20 hours on the Calypso and 3 hours on the Rhea.
The Calypso is starting to sound wonderful espcially in the midrange except for a slight upper midrange hardness that I think may be slowly going away, a slight loss dynamics and a drop dark. The Rhea nedds alot of time and is still very tight and very hard in the upper midrange but I've only played about 9 album sides. The unit is set for 250 ohms and 62db of gain. Easiest settings ever.
I need to make up my mind this week so any help and insight is appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Al
Sota, SME V, Benz 2 (.6mv)
AR CD3
Coherence I Series I (Original)(Trying to replace)
Rowland 8ti
Mirage M-1
Transparent Ultra xl cable
The Calypso is starting to sound wonderful espcially in the midrange except for a slight upper midrange hardness that I think may be slowly going away, a slight loss dynamics and a drop dark. The Rhea nedds alot of time and is still very tight and very hard in the upper midrange but I've only played about 9 album sides. The unit is set for 250 ohms and 62db of gain. Easiest settings ever.
I need to make up my mind this week so any help and insight is appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Al
Sota, SME V, Benz 2 (.6mv)
AR CD3
Coherence I Series I (Original)(Trying to replace)
Rowland 8ti
Mirage M-1
Transparent Ultra xl cable