Warm - up Operation
The following and it's related pages are intended as a general reference to the proper setup and
operation of audio equipment. Every single audio and video system, Odyssey or other brands,
benefit from these simple steps, some of which are actually free and very effective. A little attention
and work can go a very long way as far as your system's performance is concerned
Even though most high-end audio equipment such as Odyssey products have been burned-in at
the factory for a minimum of 48 hours, there is still considerable operational time needed for your
unit to perform at its best. For enhanced sonic performance, we highly recommend you leave your
unit on at all times until break-in is complete. The length of the break-in period is highly variable
and dependent upon the specific product. There are specially-designed CDs, such as Reference
Recording's Test and Burn-In CD (RX1000) or the Sheffield and Purist Audio Designs PAD burn-in
CD's that contain special tracks that help with break-in. As a general rule, most equipment requires
several hundred hours of playing to fully break-in. There are several factors that determine the
extensive length of "break-in", such as charging of capacitors, establishing the electron flow on the
PC board, cables, soldering joints, etc. External conditions, such as the power quality and stability
of your power in your listening room, the kind of music you are listening to (more or less dynamics),
and many more factors will contribute to the break-in process. It is important to note, that the more
a given electronic unit has been played, the smaller the audible differences get.
Even though we generalize improvements across the board, the typical phases of break-in below
are more valid for solid state equipment, such as the Odyssey..
Within the break-in process, we distinguish four distinct phases of performance:
First Period:
After turning on your amplifier or preamplifier for the first time, the units will require a
few minutes to stabilize. The sound will be rather harsh on the higher frequencies, and the dynamic
range is rather restricted with a flat overall presentation. This sonic signature will always be
apparent when you turn on "cold" components.
Second Period:
This stage will be reached after approximately 1-2 hours of playing time and lasts
about 3-4 days. This stage is all about the charging of the power supply, and during this time, the
dynamics, soundstaging, focus, and transients will improve noticeably. Essentially, your unit will
start "opening up and relaxing." However, please also note that the amplifiers do a "Jeckyl and
Hyde" during this time to some degree. Meaning that one day you might not have any bass
whatsoever while the next day you might have too much of it, for example. Overall, the
presentation might be very unstable.
Third Period:
After approximately 10-14 days of playing and being charged, the upper midrange
and highs will "smoothen out". The bass will improve in speed and articulation with less overhang.
The result is more even and natural tone balance.
Fourth Period:
After about 6 weeks + of operation when left on continuously, your unit should be
very close to being fully broken in. The sound and performance has progressively improved and
your unit will perform to it's full sonic potential.
Even after the initial break-in period, the internal components lose their charge each time the unit is
turned off. The full re-charging can take hours (and sometimes days!). Therefore, the best sonic
performance is achieved when the components are kept fully charged at all times. This essentially
means leaving your equipment on at all times--if you are comfortable with that arrangement. If not,
at least be aware that it will take some time for your unit to warm up and fully charge each time you
power up. These charged-based performance issues are applicable to most electronic equipment,
and are especially critical in high-end solid-state gear such as Odyssey amplifiers and
preamplifiers.
