252 harshness and burn-in

Posted by: eagle3333 on 18 April 2016

I've now spent about 50hrs listening to my 252 - which had about 20hrs on it previously as ex demo'. It's been hard, 'digital' with brash, sometimes painfully shrill leading edges all this time until Saturday night. Fed up, I disconnected the burndy and re-connected. Epiphany moment. Harshness completely gone; smoothness, warmth, delicate articulation instead of brashness and a filled-out middle making for a huge stage. I laughed out loud with relief and played through the audition tracks I've heard so many times that I can properly tell a difference in SQ. Same story, so not my imagination. Then, 25 minutes later, it all went horribly wrong and I'm back to that horrible hard edged sound without warmth, syrupy smoothness replaced by brash transitions and reduced stage. I've raised this before, but re-raise it because it came so right and I thought I'd probably found the cause as being an incorrectly fitted burndy. Apparently not.

Digi out on NDS is disabled;  I've muted tuner record on 252; brains and brawn cables are all separated. Owing to my platform I can't keep the middle 12" of burndy/snaic (which run a half inch from each other) off the wooden floor; but when I moved the 252 higher to achieve this it didn't make an audible difference, anyway.

Can anyone comment? Is there a problem or is this still symptomatic of the vaguaries of burn in? I compared my 282 with 252 and found the only real difference to be 282's wafty, vague base - compared to 252's tighter bass. But, if the 252 was still sounding like it did for those 25 minutes, the differences would be far wider and greater. 252 is still on review but I can't sit on it any longer without making  a decision. If it's eventually going to sound like it did for that moment then I have no doubts at all about buying. If it isn't, I think otherwise. (The Hugo is off the system pending sorting this out. Thus far it's just exacerbated the too-harsh leading edge issue..)  

Posted on: 19 May 2016 by eagle3333

Faff is an understatement, Nigel! If it wasn't for you guys I think I'd have given up, sold everything and bought a B&O music centre and a motorcycle I've learned such a lot. I'd never have known of, believed or understood the SQ differences made by power supplies, mains cables, IC cables, dressing etc. unless I'd experienced all of it first hand - and been guided through the jungle by forum members. But I'm, now, much relieved to not to need to worry about any of it anymore and can, as you so well sum up, just relax & listen to the music instead of the boxes. To anyone on a similar journey I'd say stick with it and keep in mind the guidance from those who have gone through it all before - noting, of course, that everyone has different ears..   

Thanks! Ian

Posted on: 19 May 2016 by nigelb
eagle3333 posted:

Faff is an understatement, Nigel! If it wasn't for you guys I think I'd have given up, sold everything and bought a B&O music centre and a motorcycle I've learned such a lot. I'd never have known of, believed or understood the SQ differences made by power supplies, mains cables, IC cables, dressing etc. unless I'd experienced all of it first hand - and been guided through the jungle by forum members. But I'm, now, much relieved to not to need to worry about any of it anymore and can, as you so well sum up, just relax & listen to the music instead of the boxes. To anyone on a similar journey I'd say stick with it and keep in mind the guidance from those who have gone through it all before - noting, of course, that everyone has different ears..   

Thanks! Ian

Ooooh yes motorcycles. I love motorcycles. I used to have a motorcycle. I wonder.....

See what you have done now!

Posted on: 19 May 2016 by eagle3333

Ah ha! There can be no such thing as 'used to have a motorcycle', Nigel! If you rode a motorcycle in the past and love them you HAVE to have one again - unless you are physically incapable of riding. I ride on road and do occasional trackdays. There is no greater sense of freedom for me. It's even more exciting than Roger Waters' 'Run Like Hell' on an SL IC at full chat! And the upgrade options are endless! The day I can't have a motorcycle will be the day they shovel earth onto my box. If I can't ride it, I'll just look at it and sniff the engine oil!  

Get a motorcycle, Nigel... You know you want to. And I'll get another SL IC  

Posted on: 19 May 2016 by dayjay
nigelb posted:
eagle3333 posted:

Faff is an understatement, Nigel! If it wasn't for you guys I think I'd have given up, sold everything and bought a B&O music centre and a motorcycle I've learned such a lot. I'd never have known of, believed or understood the SQ differences made by power supplies, mains cables, IC cables, dressing etc. unless I'd experienced all of it first hand - and been guided through the jungle by forum members. But I'm, now, much relieved to not to need to worry about any of it anymore and can, as you so well sum up, just relax & listen to the music instead of the boxes. To anyone on a similar journey I'd say stick with it and keep in mind the guidance from those who have gone through it all before - noting, of course, that everyone has different ears..   

Thanks! Ian

Ooooh yes motorcycles. I love motorcycles. I used to have a motorcycle. I wonder.....

See what you have done now!

Dangerous, I spent a couple of days early this week yearning for a rather nice 996, something I've never owned and always loved, and Mrs DayJay had to convince me I'm too old for a pure sports bike.  A rethink required I think

Posted on: 19 May 2016 by nigelb

You are a bad person preying on others' weaknesses. You are right though, it is in your blood. My last bike was an Aprilia Mille, a beautiful 1000cc Italian V twin Sportsbike. I loved that bike!

Posted on: 19 May 2016 by eagle3333

I test rode a Mille a few years ago with a view to buying. It was gorgeous; very light with huge brakes and that stonking engine, but I found the seating position resulted in my arse spending its time up around my ears! Fabulous character and looks though. I went for a Triumph T595 instead and sold that when I kept grounding the faring in corners. A Blackbird does for the road now and though I don't have so much time to get out on it, the mere fact that it's there keeps me young!

Dayjay - plenty of sport/touring models out there

Posted on: 19 May 2016 by nigelb

The Mille had huge ground clearance for a Sportsbike, never did manage to get my knee down round corners. Went like stink though especially when I put the on the smaller front sprocket!

If I did get another bike I don't think I would get a Sportsbike again - bit too extreme and on the edge. I also couldn't resist giving it the full beans a scaring the hell out of myself. I think I would get  Sports Tourer, something like the Blackbird.

See what you have done, I am now talking about my next bike!

Posted on: 19 May 2016 by dayjay
eagle3333 posted:

I test rode a Mille a few years ago with a view to buying. It was gorgeous; very light with huge brakes and that stonking engine, but I found the seating position resulted in my arse spending its time up around my ears! Fabulous character and looks though. I went for a Triumph T595 instead and sold that when I kept grounding the faring in corners. A Blackbird does for the road now and though I don't have so much time to get out on it, the mere fact that it's there keeps me young!

Dayjay - plenty of sport/touring models out there

I know, I worry that once I get one and get the bug I will want a sports bike though.  I had a couple of friends with Milles, great bikes.  My last was an R1 but I've had most of the big Jap sports bikes at one time or another.  If I was convinced I wouldn't get bored I would try one of the Harley sportsters, quite simply because I love the way they look, just like I love the way the 996 looks which, for me, is the best looking bike of all time

Posted on: 19 May 2016 by eagle3333

Excellent, excellent. Happy dreams tonight, chaps!