+1 I agree. Breakin is critical.
I used an Ai for this. But, it is likely to be pretty close to what you will experience. The Quad will require at least a hundred hours if you want to know what it will sound like.
McIntosh does not specify an official break-in period for the C49 preamp in its documentation. However, based on user experiences and general high-end audio break-in practices, you can expect the C49 to settle sonically over 50 to 200 hours of playback.
Break-in Characteristics
-
First 50 hours – The sound may initially feel slightly constrained, with transients not fully opening up.
-
50-100 hours – Improved dynamics, smoother treble, and more coherent bass response.
-
100-200 hours – The preamp reaches optimal performance, with fully developed tonal balance and micro-detail retrieval.
Since the C49 is a solid-state design, its break-in period is generally shorter than tube-based preamps. Running a variety of music at moderate levels continuously can help accelerate the process.