How long to give new stuff?

Rayymondo

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This is a tricky one as personally I think brand new components do benefit from a "running in" period and do improve with time as it beds in, I have certainly noticed this with amplifiers. That said if you have a return window this does indeed pose extra pressure. Have you tried leaving them running on low volume for a few days - 24/7 so to speak. This also gets mentioned a lot by reviewers who often claim new items are uninspiring straight out of the box but sound great a week later when they return to it. I also appreciate audio memory isn't always that accurate though.
 
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newlash09

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If something is not noticeably better in the first 30 mins of listening, and you have to listen intently to make out subtle improvements. Then it's definitely a side ways move.
 

Sotosound

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This is feeling like a backward step unfortunately.
i emailed the company with my feelings a few days ago, looks like I’m going to have to follow up on that and return them. Which is a shame. But I think if I leave it any longer then that won’t be an option.
Having done a quick search, you might be hearing poor synergy, i.e. speakers and amp that both have a forward-sounding presentation giving you excessive and shouty mid-range.

Perhaps a pointer for the future...?
 
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lostwin

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Possibly also worth trying mixing and matching with you existing Arcam gear to see if either the CD player or amp are worth investing in individually.

Ears (well brain actually) adapts to a new presentation over time , so switching back to the all Arcam set up would also be a good test.

Edit - Marantz, not Arcam!
 
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Sotosound

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First pick 5 or 6 of your favourite songs across the genres you like.

Second make some time say 1 to 1:1/2 hours with no distractions and play the tracks in a random order at least once but maybe twice.

If you don't get that nice feeling/buzz you normally do for at least of 75% of the time or a good few of those wow moments then maybe it's not what your looking for and the doubts you have won't go away.

Return & try something else👍
Excellent advice.

This approach makes auditioning more fun than work.

If you also find yourself also wanting to listen to other tracks just for the fun of it then you're auditioning something that really works for you.

If, instead, you just end up assessing dynamic range, bass response, levels of detail, imaging etc. then the passion is probably not there, and there's no fun.

If there's no fun, then listen to something else.
 

bigfish786

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Excellent advice.

This approach makes auditioning more fun than work.

If you also find yourself also wanting to listen to other tracks just for the fun of it then you're auditioning something that really works for you.

If, instead, you just end up assessing dynamic range, bass response, levels of detail, imaging etc. then the passion is probably not there, and there's no fun.

If there's no fun, then listen to something else.
This is probably why I’m watching telly, even though I’ve got the place to myself . 🤷‍♂️
 
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MVJ

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Excellent advice.

This approach makes auditioning more fun than work.

If you also find yourself also wanting to listen to other tracks just for the fun of it then you're auditioning something that really works for you.

If, instead, you just end up assessing dynamic range, bass response, levels of detail, imaging etc. then the passion is probably not there, and there's no fun.

If there's no fun, then listen to something else.
That advice could be tagged on to mine for a comprehensive list of good auditioning practice👌🏻
 
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Sotosound

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That advice could be tagged on to mine for a comprehensive list of good auditioning practice👌🏻
I was first given similar advice to what you shared by Peter at Deco Audio five or six years ago.

It was while following this advice as I listened to some Proac SM100 speakers in Deco's listening room that I first stopped auditioning entirely and, instead, played the theme from "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" just for fun. And it was so much fun. Then a couple of other "unscheduled" tracks also got played.

In short, I went "off-piste" and loved it. Unfortunately, however, the Proacs didn't sound as good at home. So they went back, but lesson number two had been learned.

If you don't find yourself going off-piste then you might eventually end up feeling piste off.
 

toms wait

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and the sound is really different from the Marantz stuff I had. I just don’t seem to be getting on with it’s forward presentation. It just sounds too shouty and in your face, not very enjoyable or relaxing.
This would be enough for me to send it back, especially the last 5 words!
I have heard MF and Marantz and what you describe (IME/IMHO) is the presentational difference between the two makes.
 

toms wait

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Find something you know is on the verge of unlistenable, tonally not musically!
Play it and see which side it falls.
 

audio_PHIL_e

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several years ago I tried a variety of amplifiers with a selection of LPs that represented the kinds of music I listened to most. One amplifier made me grin, listening to one LP, so I listened to all the other LPs with that amplifier. I ended up buying that one.
 
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rabski

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I have to add that even with cartridges, speakers and valves, straight out of the box and stone cold they either sound 'promising but not perfect' or 'broken'. The former may turn into perfect or nearly so, the latter won't. You can't fix broken through burn-in.
 
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bigfish786

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You said it don't sound like your Marantz gear, as if Marantz is your standard. So, get something that sounds more Marantz-ish, maybe some more Marantz. If you want it to sound like that, that's what you should be buying.
maybe Another Marantz setup would be the answer, I don’t know.
the Triangle Speakers I have will probably have to be sold on too. If I can’t find an amp that can get the best out of them.
 

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