DAC break-in question

@curiousjim 

Thanks much! White I don’t have the audiophile vernacular down, I can honestly say it’s the best I’ve heard with resolution, smoothness and musicality that just seems “right”.  

I had previously auditioned the Linn Klimax DSM3 and Ideon Absolute (clock and streamer), and DCS. 

The T+A was a good choice for me because I already had their DAC 200 and liked its very much (and I had auditioned a LOT of DACs before I purchased that unit about 18 months ago). I think the DAC 200 is a bargain for the performance it offers. The SDV is more of everything that I liked. More resolution, yet more natural too, whether PCM or DSD.

Thanks to Juan @blisshifi. I purchased both units from him. One of the good guys.

I’m moving the DAC 200 to a cabin system where I’m also building a new analog front end going into a tube preamp. Yeah - I recognize how lucky and spoiled I am.

@audphile1...Sorry, but I don't think that is right?  The analog signal is available at the RCA output jacks as along as the DAC is on and processing the signal...correct? That would mean the analog section is indeed working.  Unless you can turn the analog section of the DAC on & off, the analog signal is always present at the jacks.  It doesn't sit outside the unit.

I have sent this question to a couple of experts in the field, (I was in the high-end business for many years), to get their take.  We shall see...

As many others have experienced, I have observed clear improvements as equipment has broken in. Loudspeakers, turntables & CD transports that actually move obviously can change how they sound but electronics have “movement” too, just at a much higher rate of speed. of course tube amps sound noticeably better after they’re warmed up too.

What I’m curious about is this change measurable w/ the right equipment? Will a new amp or other electronics measure differently than one that has 500 hours on it?  Of course measurements can only tell part of the story & some things that measure well don’t sound so great  as well as the inverse of this too. It seems that with the incredible detail & I guess accuracy that John Atkinson reports on the electronics he tests, there could be a noticeable difference. Does anyone have any experience w/ this??
 

@mgrif104 Wow! I’ll bet it sounds magnificent!

@mofimadness the DAC section is on and working. The analog stage is on but there will be no signal on the analog outs from the DAC if the amp the DAC is connected to is off. So that entire part of the dac takes few days to settle which is not a big deal but again the DAC output is only working if the amp/preamp it is connected to is on. Hey if I’m wrong it wouldn’t be the first time. Let me know what you hear from the experts.