SN2 break in?

I found it took around a month for my SN2 to properly settle down.  I found it impressive even in the first few hours of listening, but on occasions there was a little harshness, particularly straight out of the box, but that seemed to disappear to quite quickly, literally within the first few hours.  From there I detected a few ups and downs, but overall enjoyable.  Over the next few weeks the sound filled out a bit, and became richer and weightier in the mid-band.  For me personally though, it was such a massive leap in quality even in the early days, it was only once run in I realised it was a touch top and tail heavy in the early days.  2 years on, I still regard at as a brilliant piece of kit that never ceases to impress.

M37 posted:

.. So once again... is this the case or is this "perceived harshness " infact the revelaing of source, speakers or room acoustics...or is it simply a character trait?

I don't believe in months of burn in, maybe a couple of days

The SN both 1 & 2 have this character more or less

Some users insist it needs month of burn in, perhaps because they need to justify their purchase ?

Your ears will be getting used to it after some time or not

Many have reported they love that sound

Many have reported they hate that sound

Personally I think the SN2 has some advantages but in the end I sold it on

It took weeks for mine to settle in, was harsh at first, but gradually came on sing.  Can still take a few hours to warm up if switched off for a few days on holiday etc.  By and large I haven't noticed much of my kit need a burn in but the amp deffo did as did my interconnects.

I would concur with Dayjay, mine took a couple of weeks before it settled down (harshness). After that I guess it was so gradual that I didnt notice it.

The experiences of Dayjay, ChrisH and Songstream are all bang on. I felt it took a month to truly settle from brand new. 

All new black boxes need a break in period,  how long varies, but the SN2 will keep on improving for sometime.... enjoy

There isn't any harshness to SN2 at all. It benefits from good set up, Naim cables and a good source.

It does sound a bit awkward to begin with and settles down after 3-4 weeks. It's unavoidable but well worth the wait.

After the time taken for it to come on song, you really only have a limited time to enjoy it before you start worrying about sending it back for a service...  so don't rush things.  

It is normal for a human ear to need time gettin used to

M37 posted:

"500 hours" has often been referred to as a turning point.

well it took about half a year for me.

The amplifier is made of solid materials, it dose not change easily. The body is liquid, made of flash and is sensetive to physical and mental pressures.

you hear things differently in daytime then in the nighttime, when you sick or healthy.

it is you that constantly change not the amplifier.

I agree that we hear differently night vs day, and sick vs healthy.  My body is definitely not made of flash though, and I amplifiers do alter over a period of time including after power down.  Subtle by comparison to having a really bad cold for example, but there.  

The amp does change, it has capacitors in it that store power and that can be charged, saturated, or not, for example.  Likewise power supplies, etc etc heat up and have subtly different properties at different temperatures etc etc.   And yes, we change too as we become accustomed to a new sound.  Until I got my amp I was suspicious of burn in, once I got my TQ Black interconnects I was a firm believer because they were so bad at first I couldn't listen to them! 

It wasn’t the cables, it was the dodgy music you insist on listening to. 

Even my sublime Rush albums sounded bad Nigel, and that takes some doing!

SongStream posted:

I found it took around a month for my SN2 to properly settle down.  I found it impressive even in the first few hours of listening, but on occasions there was a little harshness, particularly straight out of the box, but that seemed to disappear to quite quickly, literally within the first few hours.  From there I detected a few ups and downs, but overall enjoyable.  Over the next few weeks the sound filled out a bit, and became richer and weightier in the mid-band.  For me personally though, it was such a massive leap in quality even in the early days, it was only once run in I realised it was a touch top and tail heavy in the early days.  2 years on, I still regard at as a brilliant piece of kit that never ceases to impress.

+1

There was even a point during burn-in period when I thought I made a huge mistake by upgrading from original SN to SN2. It sounded occasionally so harsh and thin. But when the amp finally settled, the sound was clearly superior in every single way. I still think SN2 is the best upgrade on my ~17 year journey with hifi. 

Thank you all,
Could it also be that the digital sources generally have to much output gain? (often 2,1-3v RMS).  Therefore, introducing harshness?
Should I consider attenuators?

M37 posted:

Thank you all,
Could it also be that the digital sources generally have to much output gain? (often 2,1-3v RMS).  Therefore, introducing harshness?
Should I consider attenuators?

Or consider another amp

No need to consider another amp. Very strange advice 

Naim amps do not really sound harsh.

Which sources, cables, and speakers are you using? 

I recall a thread recently where it was discovered the HCDR was faulty. Could be worth getting it checked by a dealer.

Adam Zielinski posted:

There isn't any harshness to SN2 at all. It benefits from good set up, Naim cables and a good source.

It does sound a bit awkward to begin with and settles down after 3-4 weeks. It's unavoidable but well worth the wait.

 

+1

analogmusic posted:

No need to consider another amp. Very strange advice 

Naim amps do not really sound harsh.

Which sources, cables, and speakers are you using? 

 

Chord 2Qute, TQ Ultra black interconnects and TQ black speaker cable. (Before that Nac A5, Chord Epic Twin and Epic Reference.)
Speakers are Audiovector and they used to be considered to have good synergy with Naim.

M37 posted:

analogmusic posted:

No need to consider another amp. Very strange advice 

Naim amps do not really sound harsh.

Which sources, cables, and speakers are you using? 

 

Chord 2Qute, TQ Ultra black interconnects and TQ black speaker cable. (Before that Nac A5, Chord Epic Twin and Epic Reference.)
Speakers are Audiovector and they used to be considered to have good synergy with Naim.

I haven’t heard 2Qute but I’ve read few comments from users that it has quite a lot energy in highs. Audiovectors I’ve heard on exhibition conditions few times and they also have a lot energy in the top end. I use TQ Black IC’s and even they let very much information through. 

But still, I’d wait for the burn-in period before making any decisions. 

M37 - What feeds the 2Qute?

John.

J.N. posted:

M37 - What feeds the 2Qute?

John.

Macbook via USB,  Wav files and CD's.

Boaz posted:

it is you that constantly change not the amplifier.

its neither you or the amplifier but rather the local and house power circuits that change in mains noise pattern as the residents and neighbours go to and return from work or holidays.