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How Soon Do You Realize You Don't Like a Piece of Gear?

I've been running all Allnic H3000 for a bit and love it. I decided to try a solid state transimpedance phono, The Grail by Van Den Hul and am coming out unconvinced of the change. The VDH has only been powered on for 24 hours and not fully broken in yet, which is estimated to be around 50-100 "listening hours". 

I don't hate the VDH, but am curious if it's going to grow on me or not. It has the detail, silence and linearity in spades, but my Allnic has the gravity, lushness, depth and ethereal timber I've grown to absolutely love. How soon until I should cut my losses and move back the Allnic and what are your thoughts on break-in time and waiting it out? 

128x128j-wall
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,863 posts
 

Answer: When I get the credit card bill.

whart's avatar
whart
2,981 posts
 

I'd give the VdH a little time even if the character of these different units is "baked in" to the design. I've had an Allnic H-3000 for quite a while and recall that it took some time to come on song. As @wrm57 mentions, rolling the rectifier makes a significant difference in the unit ---I've tried several and for the voicing of my system, like the old GEC u-52. 

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,865 posts
 

at least run in the Vdh. Normally, i agree with @ghdprentice but i’m not certain you would like the Ref phono 3… it’s holographic but not romantic / lush colored…. and if you go ARC always seek out the SE versions, if available 

Disclaimer i have a ref phono 2 se

theflattire
134 posts
 

I would also keep in mind that the synergy with the cart matters also.

I prefer a tube stage but I have had instances when one cart sounded better with a different stage.

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,279 posts
 

Twice, as I was taking a new piece of equipment out of its box, I had already decided I wouldn’t like it. It may be the way it was packed or its appearance. That situation usually makes me find reasons not to like it. If I get past thst stage, sometimes it is the sound thst is a big turn off.

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