DAC break-in question

@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. 

 

jasonbourne71

1,261 posts

02-20-2025 at 09:46am 

The power of confirmation bias!
 

Try taking off those shades man. You might see the world in a different light