Instant On

John Willmott posted:

Last month I took delivery of my 250DR, replacing the 200 I had had for a good number of years.  I had the 200 serviced in the fall of 2015 so had an opportunity to hear it in all the stages of its existence from primo through decline to service and subsequent break in and full on song.

A habit I had gotten into with the 200, when I sat down to listen to a specific track/album, was to play something else prior to the track I was really interested in .. the first tracks played through the system (left on continuously) tended to be a tad "thin", lacking bass or oomph.  After that track was out of the way then everything was fine.  I rationalized it by telling myself the system was clearing its throat prior to the main event.

Not so with the 250DR .. this puppy is in Instant On Mode all the time .. the first notes are rich, deep and textured .. has anyone else experienced this phenomena ?

I did not have the same habit of playing something else prior to the "main course" as I would go straight to the music that I intend to hear. Hence, I can't offer any insight to your findings. Nevertheless, music sounds perfectly fine in the first few notes. I think it is useful that the amps are left on 24/7 as it surely helps. Do you happen to have your amps left permanently on 24/7?

Assuming you did the same with both 200 and 250 DR, did the 250 DR bring some improvements to the system?

It takes an hour with vinyl as the main bearing warms up so less if I set it spinning beforehand. With CD I notice improvement over the first 10 minutes. I hadn't considered the amp might be involved too but the output devices will warm up with a bit of signal going through them.

There has been an electronic enema yoga cleansing and burn-in CD mentioned on this forum. There ought to be a similar electronics warm-up CD, otherwise someone is missing out on a marketing opportunity.

So I guess now besides leaving the gear powered up 24/7 it's probably also a good idea to leave music playing through it 24/7, at least for those without DR amps.

I have read and heard several times that some Van Den Hul cables need a signal for 10 or so minutes before they sound as they should after being at rest.  My present speakers have VDH cables inside them and did notice this phenomena with the Naim XS.  Moving to the amp I have now that has more current seems to give the system no room to acquiesce.

Ryder:  Yes the system is left on 24 X 7 

[the first tracks played through the system (left on continuously) tended to be a tad "thin", lacking bass or oomph.]

and yes, the 250DR did bring some (a lot) of improvement to the system.  

John Willmott posted:

Last month I took delivery of my 250DR, replacing the 200 I had had for a good number of years.  I had the 200 serviced in the fall of 2015 so had an opportunity to hear it in all the stages of its existence from primo through decline to service and subsequent break in and full on song.

A habit I had gotten into with the 200, when I sat down to listen to a specific track/album, was to play something else prior to the track I was really interested in .. the first tracks played through the system (left on continuously) tended to be a tad "thin", lacking bass or oomph.  After that track was out of the way then everything was fine.  I rationalized it by telling myself the system was clearing its throat prior to the main event.

Not so with the 250DR .. this puppy is in Instant On Mode all the time .. the first notes are rich, deep and textured .. has anyone else experienced this phenomena ?

I too had a 200 and used to play a couple of tracks, not only to warm the system up, but to warm me up too. I had convinced myself that the system sounded better after about 20 mins or so but I was never sure which bit of the system had improved nor indeed if this was a little in the mind.

I too now have a 250DR and still am in the habit of putting a couple of tracks on 'upfront' but there doesn't seem to be (such) a need as the 250DR (and indeed the entire system) sounds great from the first note. Still need to warm myself up though. 

John Willmott posted:

Ryder:  Yes the system is left on 24 X 7 

[the first tracks played through the system (left on continuously) tended to be a tad "thin", lacking bass or oomph.]

and yes, the 250DR did bring some (a lot) of improvement to the system.  

Thanks. It appears that most who have upgraded from the 200 to the 250 DR have reported encouraging results. I notice you have the Totem Hawks. Being a 4 ohm speaker, the Totems would certainly benefit with the additional power and control the 250 DR is able to provide.

nigelb posted:

John Willmott posted:

Last month I took delivery of my 250DR, replacing the 200 I had had for a good number of years.  I had the 200 serviced in the fall of 2015 so had an opportunity to hear it in all the stages of its existence from primo through decline to service and subsequent break in and full on song.

A habit I had gotten into with the 200, when I sat down to listen to a specific track/album, was to play something else prior to the track I was really interested in .. the first tracks played through the system (left on continuously) tended to be a tad "thin", lacking bass or oomph.  After that track was out of the way then everything was fine.  I rationalized it by telling myself the system was clearing its throat prior to the main event.

Not so with the 250DR .. this puppy is in Instant On Mode all the time .. the first notes are rich, deep and textured .. has anyone else experienced this phenomena ?

I too had a 200 and used to play a couple of tracks, not only to warm the system up, but to warm me up too. I had convinced myself that the system sounded better after about 20 mins or so but I was never sure which bit of the system had improved nor indeed if this was a little in the mind.

I too now have a 250DR and still am in the habit of putting a couple of tracks on 'upfront' but there doesn't seem to be (such) a need as the 250DR (and indeed the entire system) sounds great from the first note. Still need to warm myself up though. 

Nigel:  It had never occurred to me I was the one who needed warming up .. slaps forehead .. what a perceptive fellow you are. 

Your description of the 200/250DR exactly mirrors mine .. from the first note the 250DR sounds sublime regardless of what is being played.  I have noticed it particularly when listening to Male Voice choirs .. 

Hm, not sure if it is the it or me but I always feel that 20 minutes or so of playing gets it to its best

yeti42 posted:

It takes an hour with vinyl as the main bearing warms up so less if I set it spinning beforehand. With CD I notice improvement over the first 10 minutes. I hadn't considered the amp might be involved too but the output devices will warm up with a bit of signal going through them.

My experiences are similar to Yeti's. I let my T.T. platter run for a few minutes. Also the cartridge cantilever needs exercising before it comes on song.  The CD player (CDX2.2) needs a couple of tracks to "warm up" the laser mech. 

I think ambient temperature may have a part to play in all of  this. My system is on 24/7, in which case I never thought  the electronics would have a significant impact on initial playing.

p.s. In a multi-component system not sure if you can pin point it to the amp. Interesting that you don't experience it with the DR amp though. People with systems that have a T.T. or CD may not notice this phenomenon.

Of course the HDX or the NS01 both act as very good heaters when placed on the shelf underneath other equipment...  not only is the room warmed nicely, but source components above them are kept pretty close to regular operating temperature (especially on Fraim Lite where you don't have that layer of insulating glass getting in the way).

,,,just thought I'd mention it.

My SN2 is left on 24/7, except for last night when South Norfolk's weather dictated a hasty shut down was needed, but even when left permanently on, I do find a few minutes of playing in the back ground seems to bring things on song.  Typically I fire up internet radio, Linn Jazz usually, and leave that for 10-15 minutes at easy listening volume, before sitting back for a real session.  It does seem to make a difference to my enjoyment of the first few tracks, pretty much the difference is whether I think about how good the system sounds, or whether it sounds so involving that in the moment I just don't care.  As I've said before, if you sit down to listen to an album and you're thinking about hifi while you're listening to it, the damn thing ain't workin'.