Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
December 22, 2024, 09:15:34 PM
Home Help Search Login Register
News: Ceriatone Forums are up and running!!!
 
Guests please register
Note: If you want to help you can donate to keep the forums alive.



Do you want to advertise on this forum ? Send me a private message.



Amplified Parts
+  Ceriatone Forum
|-+  Ceriatone
| |-+  Overtone
| | |-+  OTS Burn in
« previous next »
Pages: [1] Go Down Print
Author Topic: OTS Burn in  (Read 6282 times)
havoc41
Newbie
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 5


View Profile
« on: July 01, 2010, 08:45:13 PM »

First post... been researching D-Style Amps, corresponding with Nik, and reading and listening to everything i can find, at least so far.

Going through older posts here i came across people talking about a burn in period for the OTS, where there is some harshness until you run the amp for 30-50 hours.

I'm wondering (as a complete noob) what folks experience with this is and what is really meant by "burn in". What component(s) are actually heating up and burning in.... 

Thanks
Rich
Logged
rane008
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 122


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2010, 10:54:24 PM »

Hi Rich,

A lot of folk wrote burn-in off as snake oil and voodoo.  I'm not one of them.

From what I've heard, caps are the main component that burn-in.  I could be wrong, but that's my understanding.  What I do know, is that the amp definitely has a different feel after it's been on for upwards of 3 full days.  I'd say it's not as stiff and the bloom is more pronounced.  That said, it may be subjective.

Stephen
Logged
JD0x0
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 298


Happy Hour Hero


View Profile
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2010, 12:39:03 AM »

Hi Rich,

A lot of folk wrote burn-in off as snake oil and voodoo.  I'm not one of them.

From what I've heard, caps are the main component that burn-in.  I could be wrong, but that's my understanding.  What I do know, is that the amp definitely has a different feel after it's been on for upwards of 3 full days.  I'd say it's not as stiff and the bloom is more pronounced.  That said, it may be subjective.

Stephen

+1 but not only are the caps burning in but the tubes, transformers, and resistors also play parts in the burning in. IMO anyone who puts burning in the same category as "snake oil" is stubborn. There IS a noticable difference in not only tone but also feel.

Speakers also require break in but that is a different story with the cones
Logged

It's true i've lost my marbles and i can't remember where i put them.
bluesfendermanblues
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 452



View Profile
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2010, 01:15:32 PM »

Hi Rich,

A lot of folk wrote burn-in off as snake oil and voodoo.  I'm not one of them.

From what I've heard, caps are the main component that burn-in.  I could be wrong, but that's my understanding.  What I do know, is that the amp definitely has a different feel after it's been on for upwards of 3 full days.  I'd say it's not as stiff and the bloom is more pronounced.  That said, it may be subjective.

Stephen

+1 but not only are the caps burning in but the tubes, transformers, and resistors also play parts in the burning in. IMO anyone who puts burning in the same category as "snake oil" is stubborn. There IS a noticable difference in not only tone but also feel.

Speakers also require break in but that is a different story with the cones

++1
My ceriatone 50w went thorugh a lot of modifacations, only to return to its original design after the burn in period. If you want a 'burned in' sound from the get go, you might consider adding a cap (1 nf) with a trimmer (try 500k) across the OD  'master' volume. This allows you to gradually reduce the top end of the OD section, which tends to be the tone sinner in a new amp.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2010, 01:17:22 PM by bluesfendermanblues » Logged

Respect for the big guy's work....we're at this part of the forum because of HAD's amps.
mr fabulous
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 111


View Profile
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2010, 02:50:47 PM »

the components which are most affected through the burn in period are the Tubes (valves) and the speaker(s). these components will change their intrinsic characteristics after being "burned in" and settle.

if old fashion cabon composite resistors are used , then these will definitely drift as well throughout the lifetime of the amp.

its definitely recommended to burn in new valves after changing them, do you dont get any nasty surprises when you want the amp to be at its best behavior during gigs or rehearsals.

capacitors will change, however this will be longer term thing with the ageing process as the electrolyte in them dries out, however have negligible drift during the burn period of a few weeks or months.

Logged
Nairbr
Full Member
***
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 142



View Profile
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2010, 12:37:23 AM »

When I got my HRM I gave it a very short burn in because I just wanted to get out and play it. It was a bit stiff sounding at high volumes but sounded good.

I decided to do the "Burn In" one day so I turned it on and left it for 2 days, what a difference it made.

A great sounding amp just got better.

The other thing I did to was adjust my Phase Inverter, I read on a post here to have 10 more volts on pin 1 than pin 6 on V3. This also made a difference to the bloom of the amp.

But I wouldn't do any PI adjustments until your amp in well and truly burnt in and all the components have settled down.
Logged

Ceriatone 50 watt HRM + C-Lator
Ceriatone Stray Cat 30
Marshall 4 x 12 cab WGS ET-65's
Fender Custom Shop Rory Gallagher Strat
Fender Custom Shop "Kosmic Music 40th Anniversary" Ash Strat
Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul R9 VOS
Gibson Les Paul Traditional Plus with WCR Darkbursts
ampkits
Administrator
Sr. Member
*****
Offline Offline

Posts: 325


View Profile
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2010, 08:41:11 PM »


  The trannies too, esp the OT.

  At end of 2008 and through 2009, the lams we received from supplier were really fresh stock. Like, stamped just yesterday.

  These require more burn in time, it seems. Sounds a bit stiff early on.

  But after a while, they sound like the older trannies.

  Now, the lams are older when we receive em. Economy is slumping again I guess. Or, more factories here have moved to china.

  Thanks!

Nik
Logged
havoc41
Newbie
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 5


View Profile
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2010, 02:38:23 AM »

Thanks everyone. You answered by second round questions before i could ask them.
Logged
Pages: [1] Go Up Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.12 | SMF © 2006-2009, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!

CeriaTone Forum is not afiliated with Ceriatone Amplifications. The CeriaTone and name, logo and related trademarks and service marks, owned by CeriaTone. , are registered and/or used in the U.S. and many foreign countries. All other trademarks, service marks, and trade names referenced in this site are the property of their respective owners.