Does a new cd transport require break-in time?

rvpiano OP
261 posts 11-17-2017 2:26pm

Well, here’s the latest chapter in the saga of Schiit service.

They sent me a label which I was supposed to place on the package of the Gungnir Multibit I was returning because it didn’t work. Very graciously, they offered me a new replacement, even though it was beyond the 15 day return period. So, I carefully placed the label on the package and brought it to a FedEx office. Schiit said as soon as they received the tracking information from FedEx they would send me a new unit. I waited a week. No indication of them sending me anything. I called and they said there was no evidence I had sent it, even though I followed their instructions implicitly,
By this time they had received my unit. And, they tell me there’s nothing wrong with it!! And,what’s more, they couldn’t possibly send me a replacement because of “scratches and gouges” on the old one. Hardly!! I had just gotten iit.
So, it must have been my imagination that the many times I tried to run it, it was silent.
Thiis could go back and forth for a long time.

"Schiit said as soon as they received the tracking information from FedEx they would send me a new unit."

I hope you have kept all, any, emails between Schiit and yourself. Problem with phone calls there is usually not any record of the conversation.
Are you sure Schiit said specifically when they received the tracking number from FedEx? Or did they just say when they receive the FedEx tracking number. When ever I buy anything that is shipped by a seller, the seller sends me an email stating the item has been shipped with the tracking number and a link for the shipper to track the item.
It’s water over the Dam now, but, maybe I am wrong, I think you were suppose to contact Schiit telling them the item was shipped giving them the tracking number.

By this time they had received my unit. And, they tell me there’s nothing wrong with it!!

So Schiit finally admitted there is/was something wrong with the DAC? Did they give you an explanation why they told you in an earlier phone call there was nothing wrong with the DAC?

And,what’s more, they couldn’t possibly send me a replacement because of “scratches and gouges” on the old one. Hardly!! I had just gotten iit.

That one still puzzles me. If the DAC they received was yours and had “scratches and gouges” , brand new, for the DAC to have “scratches and gouges” the shipping box should have shown damage caused by FedEx.

So, I carefully placed the label on the package and brought it to a FedEx office.

I do not doubt for a second that you did not securely place the shipping label on the box.
I also do not think FedEx covered your label with one of their own. Surely your item was not the first one FedEx had ever seen with a return shipping label on the box.
“scratches and gouges” ?? Schiit shipping label not on the box? Whose DAC will you be getting back from Schiit?

.

That’s a good question.
I’ll find out tomorrow when delivery is expected.

If you don’t like continuing sad stories, read no further.
I got the Gungnir back today, and the Oppo should be coming later today.
Great news, right?  I should be able to experiment to my heart’s content on the merits of the combinations of components.  Fun!
.... Just a few minutes prior to the Gungnir delivery, one of my monoblocks crapped out— probably a power supply problem caused by the heat of a fire I had earlier this year. (But that’s a different sad story which some of you might have heard about.)
Sent the amps immediately for repair. But will have to wait a little longer to see or hear what’s up.

SNAKEBIT!

P.S.  And Schiit failed to include the power cord I sent them with the Gungnir with the thought I was getting a complete new unit. No power cord!

I have heard broken-in demo Focal 806v speakers many times and on one trip to the store identified a pair of fresh out of the box demo speakers that sounded a bit harsh in comparison. Break-in for speakers is real in my experience.

I have a tube amplifier and it did improve with a break-in period and does require a little warm up to sound its best.

I believe that some burn-in is most likely beneficial to analog components, but struggle wrapping my mind around a scenario where burn-in could have an audible impact on a purely digital component.

The amount of perceived varience that I hear in my system is beyond anything that I could accept as a change from burn-in making it virtually impossible to identify any tiny change from burn-in.

I have Nordost Sort Kones under my SACD player and “think” they may have improved things a bit, but could never identify if someone were to remove them without my knowledge.

There are so many factors that impact the way we perceive a given listening session that I don’t think that burn-in on a purely digital component would ever be audible, especially with all of the engineering specifically aimed at perfecting the digital signal when one can build a fairly solid case that it’s just ones and zeros.

The fact that manufacturers recommend a break-in procedure can be based on objective fact in some instances and for others it’s just part of the “audiophile” culture where having a component that doesn’t require a break-in could automatically inferior. Plus, an extended listening period will most likely give the listener/customer time to adjust to any new sound (or perceived change in sound) with placebo to go with a new purchase likely to lead towards a happy customer.