How to break-in a new GC

[TheDriver41]

Can some tell me the proper technique of burning in a GC?

Thanks,
Matt

[chipco3434]

Play it like you stole it.

[TheDriver41]

Play it loud? How long will it take to fully mature?

[Sherman]

Originally posted by TheDriver41
Play it loud? How long will it take to fully mature?

With mine I noticed the heat sinks got pretty warm (not really hot) during the first few hours of playing, even at moderate levels. After about 6 or 8 hours of operation the heat sinks were barely warm and never again approached the temps of those first few hours.

I think the sound mellowed a bit over that same time period but I couldn't swear to it. Overall the "break-in" period was much shorter and less noticeable than for say a new tube amp which might take 40-80 hours (or more).

[chipco3434]

I have only built two GC's, but I would agree that the initial operation is warm to hot. But only briefly... That being said, I think they may be nearly impossible to "burn up" by loud playing as they have the SPIKE thing built in. Please understand that is an opinion, but a review of the forum will reveal very few problems associated with cooking the packages. I drive my GC's real hard. I think they are amazing devices, perfectly suitable to electronic dolts like me.

[TheDriver41]

I'm not asking about burning up the GC, but the time it takes for the sound to mature to it best.

[chipco3434]

I understand that. It's just my opinion that "how" it "burns in" has little bearing on the overall result. Few will argue that the sound in the first 15 minutes is like the sound after 40 hours. My mastery of this subject is based on a sample size of n=2.

For a full discussion of "burn in", stop by the Audio Asylum site. Keep your head down and avoid any scientific method/A-B testing.

[carlosfm]

Originally posted by TheDriver41
I'm not asking about burning up the GC, but the time it takes for the sound to mature to it best.

That depends on the components you use and there's not a definitive formula, anyone is going give you a definitive answer to your question.
When I make a new amp I let it play for some days, usually a week, connected to a tuner and a pair of test speakers.
Sometimes, after a couple of days, I take it back from the bench and connect it on my main system (always the ultimate test), let it -in for some more days, and listen to some music as I always do.
If I feel the need to grab a magazine and read after 5 minutes the amp ist not good.
If I sit and listen and can't stop listening, the amp is fine.

[Nuuk]

That depends on the components you use and there's not a definitive formula, anyone is going give you a definitive answer to your question.

That's a good point Carlos. Black gate caps take much longer to burn in and sound their best than other makes.

And I am another GC builder who has found some of them play a lot warmer for the first few hours and then go cooler for some reason that I don't think we have yet found a logical answer for.

[metalman]

I'm surprised no has suggested this yet, but I drive each amplifier channel into a 25W 10ohm resistors so that I don't have to leave speakers playing during the break-in period. Keeps the wife happier!