Time/Process of Hooking up New Equipment

@ghdprentice +1 Never put off something you can do today!  I may not be the same day I have a long listening session - but it's getting installed as soon as convenient.

I think my dog appreciates hearing it right away as well.

When I get new bits, it's down tools and try 'em out asap. 

Yes, I usually do the same.  I recently replaced my Rogue Audio RP-1 preamp with the RP-7.  I had spent the better part of two weeks auditioning both the RP-7 and the Backert Rhumba 1.3, and I ended up preferring the RP-7 by a “smidge.”  In my hearing, a wider soundstage, and I preferred the tonal qualities of the Rogue, although I must admit that the Backert had, again—in my hearing, a “smidge” better definition.

So, I was not in a hurry to “install” the RP-7 in our system.  I am a disabled veteran, and I was tired the evening after the 60-mile round trip to return the demo units and pick up my new unit, so I waited until the next morning when I was fresh and had more energy.  I have open rack/stand system—not a closed cabinet—so it was fairly easy to hook up the XLR cables from my DAC to the preamp and the preamp to my Benchmark AHB2 power amplifier.  I did run into one glitch: I turned on the “master” power switch on the back of the RP-7 and, after a minute or so, I turned on the front power switch.  This resulted in the display showing some combination of what appeared to have been Roman, Cyrillic, and some unrecognizable text.  A call to Rogue immediately solved my problem—turn on the “master” power switch on the rear of the unit and then wait about 5-10 minutes to turn on the power to allow the unit to properly go through its start up cycle.  I did so, and it worked just fine, with the appropriate text on the display.  Had I tried to set it up the previous evening, the guys at Rogue would have left for the day, and I would have been left annoyed and frustrated.

Patience, after all, really is a virtue.  Even in relatively simple tasks.

This Friday will be that day for me. No work that day, colleagues and customers, sorry! No call phones or other distractions. An entire rack to be rebuilt. I’m frying…

@12many 

I'm with you: Wait for a time when you can work unrushed and with enough light that you don't make incorrect connections. It will also allow time for the equipment to acclimate to your room's temperature.

You can also use the opportunity to perhaps do a few things you've been putting off like cleaning and dusting, rerouting those cables and retightening connectors. And when it's all done and sounding great, you can bask in the glow of a job well done.

Happy listening!