I feel compelled to start by saying that I was really, really impressed with my C-5XE right out of the box. I did initially notice a little bit of an asymmetrical frequency response -- certain mids and lows popped out just a little bit too much at times but not too big of a deal.
Well here I sit, about 100 hours into breakin. Never turned it off, and left a variety of CD and SACD running continuously. I have to say that this thing transformed over the last 100 hours. It is hard to put my finger on it but it is smoother than before and the music is just more credible and believable. Frequency response issues are no more, and even my junky poorly-mastered CDs sound good. And SACD - holy %$#&. I have never heard a greater seperation in fidelity between redbook and SACD before.
Bottom line - you will not be displeased out of the box, but about 100 hours into it you will be thrilled.
Well here I sit, about 100 hours into breakin. Never turned it off, and left a variety of CD and SACD running continuously. I have to say that this thing transformed over the last 100 hours. It is hard to put my finger on it but it is smoother than before and the music is just more credible and believable. Frequency response issues are no more, and even my junky poorly-mastered CDs sound good. And SACD - holy %$#&. I have never heard a greater seperation in fidelity between redbook and SACD before.
Bottom line - you will not be displeased out of the box, but about 100 hours into it you will be thrilled.