Love getting new equipment, hate the break-in

goldenways, I had that with some Analysis Plus interconnects.  Also, I just bought a new Aurender A1000 that took +30 hours to sound right.  

Is the hunt more rewarding than the prize.  I enjoy the journey.  I buy where I can return for no a little fee whenever I can.  Especially when I’m trying to upgrade with new equipment.  I love building different systems and then upgrading them over time.  It takes all my time and a good chunk of money but it keeps me out of trouble.  

I can attest to the fact that components and speakers require time to burn in and sound their best.  This phenomenon became apparent to me when I upgraded from Cambridge Azur separates to a Macintosh MA12000 integrated amplifier and then to Accuphase separates that consist of an A48-S Class-A amplifier,  a C2300 preamplifier,  and a DC-37 Processor. Both the McIntosh and Accuphase sounded horrible and not like the unit(s) I demo’d at the store.  Then gradually they sounded better and after 200 hours or so, both sounded incredible. My Accuphase components really open up after a good hour of listening and become more airy, micro details and subtleties more prevalent, musically engaging, sonorous and dynamic. It’s strange but during the 1st hour the gain on my Accuphase amplifier is set low but then I set it to the highest gain and this is where the magic happens that I talked about. So I’m a firm believer in both burn-in and warm-up. 

I like burn-in.  What else gets better as it is used?  Doing so with a pair of NOS NIB 1958 Western Electric JW 2C51 now.  I think it’s astonishing that such things exist 67 years after being made.  They existed before I did...shoot my parents hadn't even met yet.  Only about 12 hours in (2 evenings) but quite noticeable sonic improvement over the last 2 hours.  Look forward to what they bring to our system moving forward.

Oldest NOS NIB tubes I’ve burned-in: pair of 1949 Sylvania ladder plate 6BL7GT...that was a fun burn-in!

Break in is a myth promulgated by people who "know what they hear" despite any objective evidence. The only possible exception, is speakers, but many factories test them before they send them out so that process is already done or almost so. Even then, if the sound changes, it will be so minimal as to be basically unnoticeable. 

Ask yourself this. Why is it that when items "burn in" they always get better sounding?