Isotech burn in disc

[thedudeabides]

Am purchasing a CDP that, per reviews and my dealer, needs 400 hours or so of "burn in" before it sounds near optimum. It can also be used on cables and other hardware.

I respectfully request that those who feel that "burn in" is voodo, has no scientific basis, ect. refrain from posting. We've been there, done that. No need for another food fight.

This disc was developed by Esoteric.

I would like comments from those who have used this, or other similar products, and its effect on "speeding up" the break in process.

Also, this and the "Ayre" disc have a track that supposedly addresses magnetic build up in an audio system. The claim is that it cleans up this residual effect resulting in better sound. FWIW, the Isotech disc was favorably reviewed by TAS.

Thanks in advance for any constructive comments / insights.

 

[BlueFox]

I have the CD developed by Ayre, Irrational but Effervescence, and used it a few times. I don't know about the burn-in part, but I can't honestly say if I hear any difference in the system after using it. I just ripped it yesterday to my music server, and then played it. Again, no apparent difference.

There is one track where they use a signal generator to sweep from low to high, but I don't know what the range is. However, turned up the low can shake the house, and I can hear the upper end until almost the end of the track. So that was sort of interesting to me.

 

[CKKeung]

Am purchasing a CDP that, per reviews and my dealer, needs 400 hours or so of "burn in" before it sounds near optimum. It can also be used on cables and other hardware.
I respectfully request that those who feel that "burn in" is voodo, has no scientific basis, ect. refrain from posting. We've been there, done that. No need for another food fight.
This disc was developed by Esoteric.
I would like comments from those who have used this, or other similar products, and its effect on "speeding up" the break in process.

Also, this and the "Ayre" disc have a track that supposedly addresses magnetic build up in an audio system. The claim is that it cleans up this residual effect resulting in better sound. FWIW, the Isotech disc was favorably reviewed by TAS.
Thanks in advance for any constructive comments / insights.

Both the Burn-in CDs of Esoteric and Monitor Audio employ technology from Isotek :
http://www.isoteksystems.com/cgi-bin/products.pl?id=17
http://www.elusivedisc.com/ESOTERIC...R-REJUVENATION-DISC-CD/productinfo/ESOBURNIN/
http://www.dougbradyhifi.com/p-1811-monitor-audio-detox-cd.aspx

The XLO burn-in may be the oldest, launched >10 yrs ago. I bought it and used it frequently.
Then Isotek launched its burn-in CD and the effect surpasses that of XLO.
Isotek oem the tracks to Esoteric & Monitor Audio during the recent few years.

 

[Steve Williams]

I have used the "system enhancer" by Purist Audio for well over 10 years. There have been 3 versions of this burn in disk

http://www.puristaudiodesign.com/products/syse.php

 

[thedudeabides]

Thank you all for your input. Much appreciated.

 

[garylkoh]

Am purchasing a CDP that, per reviews and my dealer, needs 400 hours or so of "burn in" before it sounds near optimum. It can also be used on cables and other hardware.

I respectfully request that those who feel that "burn in" is voodo, has no scientific basis, ect. refrain from posting. We've been there, done that. No need for another food fight.

This disc was developed by Esoteric.

I would like comments from those who have used this, or other similar products, and its effect on "speeding up" the break in process.

Also, this and the "Ayre" disc have a track that supposedly addresses magnetic build up in an audio system. The claim is that it cleans up this residual effect resulting in better sound. FWIW, the Isotech disc was favorably reviewed by TAS.

Thanks in advance for any constructive comments / insights.

Actually, the disc was not developed by Esoteric.

In CES 2008, Esoteric loaned me their "stack" comprising P05/D06 and they had their own room with the P01/D01/GR08. They were telling me that they were worried about running in their brand-new machines which need extended break-in. By the second day of set-up, they commented that the P05/D05 in my room sounded good already, whereas their own room was still green, raw and brittle. I loaned them the Isotek break-in disc and by the next day, their room was sounding good too. I introduced Isotek to them, and they licensed the burn-in disc from them.

 

[thedudeabides]

Great story Gary.

Have any idea how much, on a percentage basis, this disc will reduce "break in" time?

Use 400 hours as your baseline.

Questioning how much I need to play this disc before I install in my system. I really hate this part of the "process". Want to avoid installing too early.

Is three days sufficient to get close (listen without cringing) or do I need more?

Thanks.

 

[garylkoh]

I think that 3 days might get it close. Esoteric delivered brand new machines as they were just delivered from Japan (IIRC they launched that year) and after less than 24hrs the Japanese engineers thought that they were already sounding very good. Their recommendation was 300hrs before even listening to them. I still ran the disc every night after show hours, and after the first 48 hours, the improvement every night was slight.

 

[Frank750]

Can the Isotek disc be used to burn in a phono stage? I'm trying to speed up burn in of an ARC Ref 10 line stage and Phono stage.

 

[thedudeabides]

Hi Gary,

Thanks for your insight. One question.

When I use the Isotech, does it burn in the "red book" as well as the SACD circuitry (chips, etc) simultaneously in the Esoteric K01 CDP or do I have to use a SACD to break in a different / separate portion of the circuitry dedicated exclusively to SA playback?

 

[garylkoh]

Can the Isotek disc be used to burn in a phono stage? I'm trying to speed up burn in of an ARC Ref 10 line stage and Phono stage.

No. The output of a CDP will be way too high to plug into the input of a phono stage. You're likely to damage something. Phono stages also require a different signal with RIAA emphasis.

Hi Gary,

Thanks for your insight. One question.

When I use the Isotech, does it burn in the "red book" as well as the SACD circuitry (chips, etc) simultaneously in the Esoteric K01 CDP or do I have to use a SACD to break in a different / separate portion of the circuitry dedicated exclusively to SA playback?

I was told that the Esoteric has different circuitry for SACD and redbook - so the IsoTek burn-in disc does not burn in the SACD circuitry.

 

[thedudeabides]

Thank you Gary. That was my assumption.

 

[cpp]

So what does this disk actually burn in ?

why not just use this for free https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNf9nzvnd1k just let it repeat over and over and over