Burn in cycle of our demonstration models
We have always come with our services in an usual way. Its always geared to protect, first our integrity and yes, our clients.
We have historically had a burn in cycle for our demo models since we began this business of ours. No model will be demonstrated officially till we are satisfied that it is ready. There is no measure by which we are pressured into making quick sales. We never submit to this, as all our clients can attest. We have jobs to do, and yes , we do these jobs. This keeps us busy.
This is an explanation of a process that has never been elaborated before in such a way.
Burn in is a process best known as Bedding in. Its no different than a long distant runner warming up before a long run , or a spaghetti sauce needing to simmer or a new car needing at least 2000 km before being settled in . Audio is no different. All gear and cables we sell, is always sold to you as new. We rarely sell our floor models because some bed in requires significant bed in time .Even our most inexpensive gear goes through this process. Its also a process where we discover information on certain parameters that once compiled, we will provide you as a standard service. Most gear has an initial bed in time of 200-300 hours, some may be 4 times this. Some components sound good out of the box , some less .Once we have stated our burn in cycles, we compile in some ways what is very factual information , that we do not take for granted even from manufacturers themselves. Below is a pictorial process detailing what actually happens before any component or cable is demonstrated.
1) 95% of the gear starts our its life away from our commercial floor. All are unpacked, plugged in and evaluated from its 5th hour onward on several parameters. Less expensive gear is evaluated on 4 points while our more expensive gear is evaluated on up to 15 points. Once initial bed in is on its way, we may push certain other tests. Test related to cable compatibility, power cords, swing burn factor, introduction time assessment, middle line ground location etc. All cable that are burned in for 48 hours on several burn in cable devices, then they are listened too carefully. The below picture are cables that have begun this process.
2) The below pictures are components going through this process from Nov 25th to Dec 12th 2011, the cables are virtually ready to be placed and moved as ready for demonstration. Once deemed ready, they are finally listened to and sonically assessed . Further testing occurs on our shop floor.
3) Below is a massive burn in of over approximately 10 pieces, from cables to cd players, speakers, amplifier. The process starts again.
4) This massive Usher 8571 speaker took the better part of over 1,200 hours before it was approved as demo safe. No demonstration ever took place of this product. Now this permits us to provide valuable information to our clients, as part of our full service moto.
5) The cable sitting on those Tannoys’ Turnberry SE is now fully ready to be sold (One of our award winning products, the Neotech Formosa interconnect) . The Turnberry has only begun its bed in cycles, in about 3 days since its initial assessments, more than 5 parameters have been assessed). The Nordost speaker cables have just been approved for commercial demonstration. Some bigger products are burn in in our shop during week ends and evenings when no one can hear these. Assessments are also done in house and privately.
6) Yet again, further burn in needed on our new replacements of Audio Notes 3.1X II cd player. Note the Nordost interconnect, not ready (protracted burn cycles, heading towards 800 hours, this cable will see our cable burning devise shortly).
7) All expensive cable are tested on our Benz Lucachek phono stage, both for analogue compatibility and yes digital as well ( being tested again , Audio Notes AN-VX super interconnects; already approved and sold ) Sometimes we revisit components performance s we introduce newer product lines.
The Pathos Logos as well as another amplifier are often used to finally ok and release components commercially for demonstration.
8 ) Next up, and pencilled in about a few weeks time after our X-mas holidays, several Prima Luna Mystere pre-amplifiers and amplifiers, more cables and yes, still more speakers. In the last year alone, we estimate that at least over 100 components have been tested. We take breaks from burning in gear every 3-4 months or so, sometimes simply not get stuck in “analyse mode “. Time and labor intensive yes, but well worth it. Our clients would not have us do it any other way.
