Do MIT cables need to break-in when new gear is rotated in?

GlennDog
GlennDog Posts: 3,120
edited July 2014 in 2 Channel Audio
Splane Lucy!

I recently replaced an Adcom 5802 amp with mono tube amps (maybe temporarily, as I'm eyeing a Pass X250.5)

Initially the sound was veiled, very veiled. But around 50 hours later, the sound changed completely. Vail lifted and the sound is wonderful . . .

What would cause the change? The MITs were in the initial set-up & re-used but had to be twisted/turned/repositioned to make the necessary connections

TY

G
AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
Pre Cary SLP-05
Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Rythmik F12
Post edited by GlennDog on
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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    Also, with the new amps & re-positioned cables, the gain was diminished (I had to raise the volume higher than normal) and now it has stabilized . . .???
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited July 2014
    More than likely, it was the caps in the tube amps reforming.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    This is my first tub amp, can you elaborate a little?? Code for I dont understand . . .

    What is caps in the tube amps reforming?

    TY
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    Apparently, I cant spell either . . . it's been a long day!

    Why do caps (capacitors) need to reform?

    ty, Jesse
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited July 2014
    When high voltage electrolytic capacitors used in tube amps aren't used for a while the internal materials tend to deform/degrade and with that, their performance. Ideally, the amp should be brought up on a Variac (think slow trickle charge) as to not shock the caps back to life, which can cause bad juju the worst being exploding caps. Anyway, as the caps go through the charge/discharge cycle again the internal materials reform.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited July 2014
    I should add.....I was assuming the tube amps were used and not powered up for a while. If they are new amps, the caps have to form, otherwise known as burn in, like any new piece of gear.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    OK, thanks for the info!!
    The amps are used, about 3 yrs old, I confirmed this with the manufacturer

    Not sure how long they were sitting prior to me taking delivery. I don't think very long. Tubes are KT120s and I know almost nothing about them except its a new design and tube rolling options are very minimal
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited July 2014
    You should be able to run KT88's, but the amps won't put out as much power.

    If the tubes were new, they need to burn in as well. I've had power tubes that took 300 hours to settle down.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    Input appreciated, Jesse . . .
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,557
    edited July 2014
    You did check/set the bias and recheck later....right? That is if they aren't self biasing. So, what amps are they?
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    yep, checked bias after fully warmed-up. It's been about 2 weeks, I'll recheck bias tonight to see if it changed.
    Each amp has 4 KT120s and each tube is biased individually. I'm still playing with the set-up and was going to post a thread when it's settled-in . . .

    I've gone Rogue

    M-180s

    Thanks for the input!
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,120
    edited July 2014
    Skip,
    There's a triode & ultralinear switch that can be changed back/forth on the fly. Something I'm not comfortable with, just old-school,
    I feel like it should be shut down before I make changes....

    The owners manual sez " for loudspeakers that demand high levels of power ultralinear should provide excellent sound and plenty of power" . . . IT SURE DOES!!

    I can't find any published output wattage for when it is run in triode mode. I'm gonna call Rogue to enquire

    So far, I'm a very happy camper!!

    G
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
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