I've always wanted to know what actually happens electrically inside a device that causes it to "improve" the longer it's powered up? Do electrons get more used to their circuit routes, or is it something to do with electromagnetic effects? I know it's not a thermal effect, so what is "warming up" due to and why does Naim stuff take days when other manufacturer's kit does all it's going to after an hour or so?

Any thoughts? Just the mysteries of electrical equilibrium?

Hi Earwicker,

Good question!

Now, this is very second hand info but I've heard that when the junction between a conductor such as a bit of copper or steel and a semiconductor, such as a slice of silicon, is first manufactured, the electrical join is not so good. As the device is used for a period of a few weeks or so, each material slowly bleeds into the other and the join is much better, due to the action of a current flowing through the junction.

Apparently this happens across a great many junctions in a complete component, and is responsible for the change in sound.

Naim kit is engineered to sound better than most others, and so is more sensitive to this kind of difference. Plus the Naim users are more concerned with sound quality and so are on the look out for changes whereas the users of low-end kit maybe aren't actually listening to it 'properly' but more as background music?

Like I said, this is 2nd hand info and could be total b*****ks. But it almost sounds reasonable?

Cheers!

Rich.

Hiya Rich,

Yeah, makes sense, I hadn't thought of that. Mind you, I suppose that only explains why new kit "burns in", it wouldn't explain why "burnt in" kit has a warm up period after it's been used for a while. Puzzling but interesting.

The warm-up effect seems to me to be characterised by an increase in power, smoothness, and finesse... I get the impression that there's more power and certainly more bass and precision, but how does a circuit know how long the electrons have been flowing through it??

Contemplate it over a pint!

Alex

I am sure this business is more complex than any of us imagine, but I think it has a lot to do with capacitors charging and also literally warming up.

It applies to all gear, but is not reached by equipment that is switched off after use.

Naim That Tune's point about low-end users not listening to the equipment properly is partly correct. Low-end users dont listen to the equipment at all, thay are too busy enjoying the music!

Cheers Robert

Touche Goldstar!

I didn't mean it like that! (says I, trying to hurriedly hide my geekness)

Sadly almost all the folks I know and a lot of others I've witnessed just *have* to start nattering as soon as some music comes on.

In a pub that's fine, but in my house it gets them a cold-hard stare!

But yes - all components must have their own ways of literally warming up during which time their electrical properties change. And I'm sure our own mood/level of tiredness/stress etc affects things - Mmm, my system sounds so good today - is that because its warm or because I'm chilled out, been listening for the last four hours and nicely wrapped around a bottle of wine??

Cheers!

Rich.

*the above example is hypothetical - in reality I don't finish my first bottle of wine until at least 10am, most days...