Sigma-X Cable Burn-In

[Dizzie]

I just installed a Sigma-X AES/EBU cable and one XLR cable. How long will I have to suffer the pain of burn-in? Do digital cables need burn-in like analog cables?

 

[Michaels HiFi]

I just installed a Sigma-X AES/EBU cable and one XLR cable. How long will I have to suffer the pain of burn-in? Do digital cables need burn-in like analog cables?

I've tried 15 different digital cables. They all needed burn in. I've found with all the gear and cables that come and go through here things sound their best between 300-400 hours. I would just put music on play while you're not listening to it and let it do its thing.

 

[Ritmo]

Enjoy the ride. Some cables (and some people! LOL) deal with break in better than others but I don’t worry too much about it; it’s par for the course.

I would expect at least a couple hundred hours.

 

[Dizzie]

Thanks for the discouraging information. I am not going to run my tube equipment that many hours just for burn-in. Will the AES/EBU burn in if I leave just the server and DAC on with the server sending signals? That seems like it would work. My other DAC does not accept a balanced input so when I swap it in that would slow the AES/EBU burn in many more months. Both DACs have balanced outputs so each would burn in the XLR cable.

 

[Michaels HiFi]

Thanks for the discouraging information. I am not going to run my tube equipment that many hours just for burn-in. Will the AES/EBU burn in if I leave just the server and DAC on with the server sending signals? That seems like it would work. My other DAC does not accept a balanced input so when I swap it in that would slow the AES/EBU burn in many more months. Both DACs have balanced outputs so each would burn in the XLR cable.

You can just leave your Server and DAC on so long as signal is going though the new cable. You'll be totally fine that way.

And I agree with about saving the tube gear!

 

[Coppy]

I just installed a Sigma-X AES/EBU cable and one XLR cable. How long will I have to suffer the pain of burn-in? Do digital cables need burn-in like analog cables?

Suffering pain? They should be pretty good to begin with. If not, something else is probably wrong.

 

[brodricj]

The cables undergo KPIPv2 processing at the factory. Burn-in should not be an issue. And if it is, just enjoy the ride.

 

[u-sound]

they also have to settle in the system, ground loops saturating etc.

Also, nobody talks about: yourself have to burn in to the new sound. Hearing is brainwork and changes have to be integrated.

 

[justubes]

Thanks for the discouraging information. I am not going to run my tube equipment that many hours just for burn-in. Will the AES/EBU burn in if I leave just the server and DAC on with the server sending signals? That seems like it would work. My other DAC does not accept a balanced input so when I swap it in that would slow the AES/EBU burn in many more months. Both DACs have balanced outputs so each would burn in the XLR cable.

How has the X digitalbcables turned out after break in. Is it too clean sounding in any way and not warmed out a bit soundwise?

 

[Dizzie]

How has the X digitalbcables turned out after break in. Is it too clean sounding in any way and not warmed out a bit soundwise?

Sorry, I can't report on either cable. I installed a DAC that does not accept AES/EBU so that cable is not burned in. I put the XLR pair into my HT system for burn in. I have not moved the pair back to my dedicated audio system yet.

I can report I like the Sigma-X USB cable. Very quiet which allows nuances to be heard. I do not consider it "too clean".

 

[justubes]

I read most good things about the X series usb, not much about their digital cables.

You have the better description, very quiet.

In that, not too clean but more so quiet and akin to a more laidback back row kind of presentation?

 

[Dizzie]

I read most good things about the X series usb, not much about their digital cables.

You have the better description, very quiet.

In that, not too clean but more so quiet and akin to a more laidback back row kind of presentation?

More of a detailed and extended harmonic decay making instruments and vocals seem more realistic. That without sounding thin or lean. I am not sure what "row" you would call that.