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New dedicated line & outlets sound worse, not better- HELP!

About 3 weeks ago I installed a new dedicated power line from my breaker box to the outlets for my stereo set-up.  I used 10 gauge Romex, a new breaker in the panel, and also installed two new Porter Port cryo'd outlets.

My system is comprised of the following:
Gallo Strada speakers
M&K MX-80 sub
Parasound A23 amp
Consonance Cyber 222 line stage pre
MHDT Stockholm 2 DAC
Audio Philleo converter & Pure Power module
Clear Day double shotgun speaker cables
Silnote Epirus USB cable
Silnote Morpheus IC from DAC
Audience PowerChord from DAC
spiked maple stands for pre and amp

So my concern is that my system sounded just about perfect prior to the installation of the dedicated line and outlets- very clean, open, and detailed, yet also a musical and relaxed sounding. I figured the new dedicated line and outlets would just bring more of all of the good things I was hearing.

Instead, following it's installation, everything sounds a bit edgy and fatiguing to my ears. Soundstage depth and separation are improved, as well as bandwidth, but I literally cannot listen for more than 30 minutes before I get irritated. The treble seems too aggressive, which I'm very sensitive to. And there seems to be a slight veil over everything- just not as open as before.
Do I need to just be patient with break-in of the line and outlets? I've heard it can take a month or more for things to settle down. What are others experience after installing a new line and/or outlets?
Any insights or possible issues I might have overlooked are much appreciated!
Lincoln
lincnabby
jea48
2,944 posts
 

Did you pre burn-in the Porter ports first before connecting them to the new dedicated branch circuit?

What you described is how a system will sound if the receptacles are new and not burned in. 

.

auxinput
1,538 posts
 
Agreed.  The initial 100 hours can be really difficult to listen to.  Expect a break-in time on any new power cord type component.  Even the 10awg romex will need to break-in.  My experience indicates true break-in requires at least 250 hours.  If you system is generally laid-back, it can become listenable after about 100 hours, but stronger systems can require longer break-in on A/C power elements.
inna
5,245 posts
 
Yeah, give it a time, it should be just fine. 
lincnabby OP
43 posts
 
Thanks to everyone who chimed in. I suspected that everything needed much more time to burn in, but I guess I just needed some reassurance. Any recommendations on how to do burn in besides running my rig 24/7?  I've heard running fans works plugged into the outlets, and also that outlets should be burned in via a refrigerator. Any other options that could work?

Thanks again!

hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,611 posts
 
Agree with the need for break in.  One thing to check and I speak here from personal experience, check that the ground is tight on that new line. When our house was built, I had the electricians run 10 gauge Romex to my listening room.  After some time had passed and things should have been sounding pretty good, I opened up the 200 amp service and found several loose, and I mean loose grounds.  Correcting that made a huge difference, especially dynamically.

I am interested to hear how things go as your line has run-in time.

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