Amp burn in time..just being on or music played?

Audiogon forums are filled with good testimony on the break in process for wire, capacitors and resistors.

Why would it be any different for a new amp with thousands of fresh parts to require some burn in time? Break in does vary a lot, depending on design and parts, but all amps get at least a little better and some A LOT better with time.

Actually Goliverjr may have thought his comment funny, but I my first pair of VTL 750 took a good while to settle and my second pair (very used) was up to 100% after a couple of days.

How about the designers of parts and equipment that agree with those of us that experience break in?

Aside from those of us that listen, do you distrust the designer of Cardas caps, Aria Caps, V Cap, Infini Cap and Dynamicaps as well as Steve McCormack, Mike Elliott, Richard Vandersteen, Paul Weitzel, Ralph Karsten, Andy Payor and countless others?

Or, perhaps ALL OF THEM are in a great conspiracy to fool you poor audiophiles and these experts have no real knowledge? Just a bitter scam to get your money before the trial period expires.

That is perhaps the most ridiculous conspiracy theory I've read at Audiogon.

OK, I'll go along with that. Sorry if I mistook your intentions.

I get defensive about high end designers and manufacturers as I get almost all my information from them, as opposed to reviews and popular trends.

I would never say that break in is a big issue on ALL components on ALL systems. Some equipment changes big time and some only a little. Add in the variations in quality of set up and system and you have a lot of doubt and confusion on the issue.

In my own system, it's always a big deal, unless it's something I've acquired used, in which case I get reasonably close to instant gratification.

Cerrot, for reviewers as important as Robert Harley it's not uncommon for manufacturers to "pre burn" components. I know this for a fact.

It's unfortunate that all components are not run in to perfection but everyone is already suffering from sticker shock on high end pieces and this would add to the cost.

As for your Esoteric, I have no experience with that piece but would not doubt for as minute your experience.

My new custom tube crossover changed drastically at several places LATE in the burn cycle compared to nearly identical previous design. Substantial changes (approximately) 50 hours, 435 hours, 941 hours and 1260 hours. The reason for such a difference between this and previous? All hand made Teflon film and foil caps in the new one.

At all these various break in periods, there was a room full of people making comments about the changes and it was the same as I was hearing.

Fortunately, after break in there is a nice long level path of dependable performance, marred only by maintenance (in my case) due to all the tubes which eventually needs replacement.

Several guys in my group have experienced long break in on speakers too, my Dali's were very long in coming around, as were Dynaudio Temptations, Kharma Exquisite 1De and Wilson Alexandria.

But c'mon Albert.........941 hours!!!????
The 1 hour made a difference??!

Notice my text read (approximate), numbers are taken at the end of the session and written on a pad to keep track of burn in time. Most of this was accumulated with the system silent, driving the crossover directly with my CD player.

There were lots of sessions where changes were apparent, the reason for calling out the ones I did was because those were substantial improvements.

No, the one hour did not make a difference, that was just the number that came up at the end of that session when everything was totaled.