Burn-in time for valves

[Andrei]

I have bought a pair of NOS Telefunken 6922s (aka E88CC). These are small signal valves for my phonostage. Does anyone know for how long I should run them in? :scratch:

Incidentally the seller - Kevin Deal from Upscale Audio says "These are shockingly good, so neutral and beautiful sounding you will name your next child after me." :eyebrows:

[Firebottle]

Kevin? :lolsign:

[Jimbo]

I have bought a pair of NOS Telefunken 6922s (aka E88CC). These are small signal valves for my phonostage. Does anyone know for how long I should run them in? :scratch:

Incidentally the seller - Kevin Deal from Upscale Audio says "These are shockingly good, so neutral and beautiful sounding you will name your next child after me." :eyebrows:

Hi Andrei,those Telefunkens should sound great after 50 hours although some would say 200 hours burn in!

[Andrei]

Hi Andrei,those Telefunkens should sound great after 50 hours although some would say 200 hours burn in!
Thanks James. My issue is that I have a $2,000 Benz Wood, so if it is good for 2000 hours then; simple arithmetic really, I don't want to be using that for running-in. I have put my Denon DL110 ($200) on my TT and running that constantly. Much of the time I forget about it and it runs on the end groove of the LP. Still, after a day or two ... nirvana or disappointment :confused:

[Andrei]

Kevin? :lolsign:
My breeding program is finished so I wont be faced that dilemma. :rolleyes:

[SquireC]

In my experience, the small valves take 50 - 100 hours to settle down, larger valves like EL34's take about 100 hours. I don't think you'll notice much change after 50. They'll open up and start to sing then.

[worrasf]

I have bought a pair of NOS Telefunken 6922s (aka E88CC). These are small signal valves for my phonostage. Does anyone know for how long I should run them in? :scratch:

Incidentally the seller - Kevin Deal from Upscale Audio says "These are shockingly good, so neutral and beautiful sounding you will name your next child after me." :eyebrows:

I really wouldn't worry as straight from the box with zero hours on them you will have a silly grin on your face when they are in your phono stage. I have a pair of Siemens & Halske CCa's which are similar to your tubes (if I wasn't firing blanks my next child would by rights be called overdraft [emoji15]) in my Croft MC headamp they are truly stunning. They now have about 50 hours and have changed a little sounding a bit "bigger" but at the same time more precise and delicate but still retain phenomenal bass control top end clarity and openness.

[Reffc]

Valves burn out, not burn in. There's no such thing as valve burn in. It's an audio myth. The most likely cause of changes to perceived tone is that older valves may already have drifted far enough to roll off performance, gain and output and the resultant deterioration of sound quality. Also, whilst valves of a similar type may be rated electrically in a similar way, their construction might be different and this can affect sound (sometimes). The brain takes a while to acclimatise to differences, but from the moment you fire up a valve, it starts a slow process of wearing itself out (in laymans terms). Never a popular thing to say on any audio forums where people seem obsessed with burn-in of valves, but its the truth.

[NRG]

There you go talking in absolutes again ;) Valves from new without prior running show changes in their operating parameters over a period of time before they settle into a steady state. I've observed and measured this many times on my amp builds. Some valves can settle within a few mins others can be seen to change over longer periods of up to an hour although that is quite rare IME. The majority are good after 20 mins or so.

[Reffc]

There you go talking in absolutes again ;) Valves from new without prior running show changes in their operating parameters over a period of time before they settle into a steady state. I've observed and measured this many times on my amp builds. Some valves can settle within a few mins others can be seen to change over longer periods of up to an hour although that is quite rare IME. The majority are good after 20 mins or so.


I accept that. I have no argument with that. I am referring to run-in times quoted of 50 hours or more. If it helps, I can re-phrase "except for possibly the first 20 minutes....." ;)

[walpurgis]

I agree with both of you.

(and as for cable 'burn in' :rolleyes:)

[Reffc]

I agree with both of you.

(and as for cable 'burn in' :rolleyes:)

:lol:

Quite agree Geoff.

[Jimbo]

Paul I agree with you totally with 'burn out' regarding valves however in general terms I think the OP was looking for the optimal time when valves sound at their best. In my experience they certainly do change and sound better after they have run in for a time. I agree this is not absolute as every valve is different And even the same two valves manufactured at the same time can differ in their life from the moment they are first used.

[Reffc]

Paul I agree with you totally with 'burn out' regarding valves however in general terms I think the OP was looking for the optimal time when valves sound at their best. In my experience they certainly do change and sound better after they have run in for a time. I agree this is not absolute as every valve is different And even the same two valves manufactured at the same time can differ in their life from the moment they are first used.

I can see that Jim and think it's one of those things where one has to separate the valve issue from the subjective assessment which may well vary with differing circuit and amp implementations. So on one amp, as NRG says, the initial stabilisation may require minutes and you may not then notice an improvement or change as it happens so gradually with time; in other circuits with other valves, there may well be a "sweet spot" sonically where with that combination, what one person may perceive as their ideal sonic behaviour from the amp/valve may occur further down the line, independently from any stabilisation period. That's different I think to using the burn-in terminology to label say one particular valve's behaviour or settling time or indeed to infer that the sonic preferences would be the same no-matter what amp it was used with. I guess that's my problem with what in my opinion is the mis-use of the "term "burn-in" when applied to valves.

[Si74]

Valves- I've always thought small valves straight from the box either knock you out or p--s you off.
Power valves, different kettle of fish, the Sovtek KT 88s in my Audiopax sounded, not great to start with
but once they came on song:lol:
Cables- I made a living selling these before it became, shall we say 'fashionable' and came to the conclusion
that straight from the box you can hazard a good guess, then it will go to ratsh-t for a while before it comes good:scratch:

Cartridges - really annoys me how long Koetsus'? take to come on song. Bought my second one years ago and had
I not known how they transform I'd have sent it back. Still waiting on it sweetening up.