Why does it take so many hours to brea in arc preamps and amps?

Most of my experience with break-in (as opposed to warm-up) is with speaker crossovers, and caps. Replacing a cap takes at least 24-72 hours for them to settle in and give you a "final" version of the sound.

I wish I understood the physics. :) I understand one hypothesis that is often stated as likely is placebo. I understand why it’s such a possible and easy answer but to me it’s not enough.

Like other things in Audio, it remains an area not fully explored. I hope someday there will be results that better explain what we perceive.

Best,

E

I’ll add transformers to my above post...

tho I have seen reviewers say the teflon caps.

The real question is what ARC says...

Anyway just leave the system on with a CD on repeat or something while you run errands, etc.

BTW, having a "long" break-in time isn't necessarily indicative of Teflon caps. I've had ARC gear that claimed a 500 hour break in with nothing fancier than Wima polypropylene caps.

I’ve had ARC gear that claimed a 500 hour break in with nothing fancier than Wima polypropylene caps.

ARC claimed this themselves in writing? Or are they saying owners report this.
I’d love to see where that’s written if they claim this.
If they did, they maybe playing on the "expectation bias" of customers so aptly named by Ralph (Atmasphere).

Cheers George

200 hrs will be a starting point for improved sound. By 400-500 hrs of listening time, one will hear where the time went in regards to continued sound improvement.  Teflon takes at least 600 hrs, more like upwards of 1000 hrs, to acheive optimum sound.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.
Oh yeah, enjoy the Music as well.