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DAC break-in question

I'm not wanting to debate if break-in is real or not. 

Can I just stream to a DAC and keep the amplifier off (the Dac is running and showing the sample rates, etc)? Or does a signal need to be getting to the actual amplifier?

My amp is Class A and I do not want to leave it running. However, I don't want to dig into my house ceiling speaker system (a real pain).

Thanks in advance

 

Thanks in advance

aberyclark
jl35
4,083 posts
 

The DAC won't know that the amp is off...

aberyclark OP
1,370 posts
 

Thanks so much. I have not done any serious listening to my new Topping e70 Velvet. I hope to start this weekend. So I will leave it on and stream from roon.

 

Again thanks

buellrider97's avatar
buellrider97
426 posts
 

Yes you can. And for me , I have a Schiit Yiggy which needs to be warmed up and I leave it on continuously unless I’m gone on vacation. 

v-fi
145 posts
 

As @jl35 mentioned above, the DAC has no way of knowing what is connected to its outputs. It will try to spit out a signal even if nothing is powered up or even connected to its outputs. So you can definitely warm it up or break it in that way.

roadcykler
171 posts
 

It seems to me that if you just let the music flow into the DAC, it could build up and when you eventually turn on the amp, the sudden surge of music to the speakers could overheat something or possibly even blow out the speakers (that makes as much sense as an electrical component needing break-in). frown

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