phono preamp break-in machine

I called Granite audio today. Don Hoglund who invented th burn-in cd said the break-in cd signal was mastered to mimic a vinyl record and is stepped -down between 45-60dbs so it is not overloading the phono preamp. The Granite break-in cd has been in use for ten years and Don said there has been no problems with it. The signal has been tested and verified to mimic the same output as a vinyl record. And like the cable cooker the disc can be use to "refresh" the circuts in the preamp. The signal output from the cd is full band width. Just passing on info and you guys "choose your poison". Thanks Ron

Why risk anything? Can't a preamp burn itself in properly by itself over time, or do these "burn in devices" condition the preamp in a certain way? Personally, I have to believe that any reputable designer would have tested the prototypes after they were broken in and then made adjustments so that the production models ran properly.
If I were going to invest in anything, I would invest in a variac transformer. I'd use it to gradually condition the equipment to full voltage. Things would probably last longer too.

Tfkaudio: The disc being played doesn't change the output voltage of the CD player

Of course it does. The output voltage changes continuously in proportion to the instantaneous amplitude of the music, or in this case the test tones. If the tones are very low in level, the output voltage will be also.

That said, I strongly second Elizabeth's comments.

Regards,
-- Al

I had my phono stage modded by Bill Thalmann. He used Teflon caps and hook-up wire with Teflon dielectric. Since it was recommended I put 400 hours on the caps, I bought a KAB PreCon LP, inserted it between my DAC and my phono stage and forgot about it. (www.kabusa.com) With a small business and three children, 400 hours seemed forever.

I do have to say that the sound of the modded phono stage after 400 hours of burn-in was vastly improved over the unit upon arrival.

Drubin, the disc being played doesn't change the output voltage of the CD player, so the warning remains valid. Reversed RIAA equalization on the Granite Audio disc allows the CD to be listened to after being put through a phono stage. You can actually use any disc for this break in, but you would have to turn your preamp volume to zero for a normal CD.
Having said all that... just play records. If you bought a nice phono stage (I'm assuming you didn't DOWNgrade), it should sound very good to you on the first day, and will improve more with break in.

Cheers.

>CD signal is too strong to go directly into phono amp

Not with the Granite Audio disc -- that's the whole idea.

CD signal is too strong to go directly into phono amp. You will need something like this:

http://www.hagtech.com/iriaa2.html

"This method by-passes playing hundreds and hundreds of hours of vinly on ones turntable." Why is this a problem? Isn't that why you have a turntable?

Yes, you get it. The CD puts out a very low-level signal so as not to overload the phono stage. Reversed RIAA equalization too, though I wonder why that matters.

if your electronic equipment is unlistenable right out
of the box, you have a problem

They come from Haiti, witch doctor included. Another one of the great myth's of audio.

Gee thanks! I think I get it. Just plug in my cd player interconnects into the phono preamp and play away, correct?

If you have a CD player try a Granite Audio break in CD for phono preamplifiers ($35).