It looks like there are a number of topics being discussed from Triton/Typhon to complete cable looms and break in. Caelin posted about break-in on another site and perhaps he can add that here as well.
I'll start be addressing break in. Despite the reported 500hr plus break in comments, our experience has been that our products require a 1-2 week break-in period when new --much like anything else, from speakers to amps and line-level components. Yes, they may continue to change for the better after that time but their general performance should be 75%-80% evident after 150-175 hours with enough positives to earn and hold anyone's attention. If our products performed in a significantly compromised way after 150hours, they would not be as popular as they are and our support services would be stressed. I would agree that the signal cables can take some extra time but I would put that in the 200 hr. category based on feedback we receive from dealers/distributors world-wide.
Most of our dealers keep burned in samples available and we keep some limited demo inventory available at the factory for dealers that run into odd length requests in terms of signal cables. That way, customers can audition these products rather than breaking in new. Burning in the products at our factory would be impossible on anything but a small scale given all of the different IC and SP lengths and terminations that people may request. Additionally, shipping undoes a significant amount of the burn-in that would be done at the factory. Any cable that spends a few days on a UPS truck needs to be reconditioned for about 100 hours regardless of what you do with break-in beforehand.
The power cords and Hydras usually perform well in terms of a first impression. The problems come in on on days 2-5 when they go through back and forth changes. After day 6, there should be a settling-in that occurs and the performance just gets better from that point on (generally speaking). Everyone's experience can be different for a variety of system specific reasons, but that has been the average and matches our own impressions going through the burn-in process. Signal cables; most notably speaker cables and the digital cables can take a little longer, but if someone is still unhappy after two weeks of use and prefers something else, I believe that is a fair amount of time to judge any cable's relative merits.
This brings us to cable looms and performance within a system, versus assessing some of its parts. Power-distribution forms the base-line for any electronics' system performance in our view, not unlike the room/speaker interface. Shunyata has a very specific approach to power-distribution that follows fundamental precepts related to minimizing in-line resistance to peak current and maximizing the isolation/elimination of system-generated noise. For that reason, we encourage those considering our power products to assess them as a group whenever possible. Obviously, that is not always practical but it will give the clearest insight into what what performance advantages our power-systems have to offer. When I visit studios, reviewers or dealers I travel with a full system and those results have been extremely consistent. The power-distribution base-line is always going to be the power-distributor, so that should be the first product evaluated with the same company's power cord to the wall. i realize bringing home 'one power cord' is far easier, but that gives a very incomplete view of what the company's technology may have to offer.
Judging signal cable can be a far less exact science. Unlike power-systems, which from our view have to be technically correct , signal evaluations seem to bring system balance, listening preference and music tastes more into play, adding an element of 'listening art' to the equation. In part, that explains the dizzying array of metals differences and design approaches that make up the cable market. It's clear that some signal brands and even common base-metals may suit one type of system/listener more than another. Still, the best way to judge any manufacturer's signal cable is to install the system. If that is not possible with our products, I recommend trying our speaker cables because they are the best example of the benefits conferred by the zi-tron circuit. With each interconnect thereafter, the benefits become more apparent. Mixing and matching by ear in either the power or signal category can yield perceived benefits with a specific group of electronics, but you can lose that when you next change components or even a single cable. In our view, simple, uncomplicated cable and power systems that follow a specific and understandable technical path will yield more consistent, long lasting results.
Best regards,
Grant
Shunyata Research
