Zitrons - a warning on the way of the burn

[Vhiner]

Grant,

You know how much I like all things Shunyata. I couldn't possibly be happier with my Python Zitron digital IC but I know at least four other people who experienced its break in as I did: we heard several weeks of "substantially" variable sound quality. I guess the real question is what the meaning of "substantial" is (apologies to Bill Clinton) ;-)

Since my last posting, the Anaconda Zitron's leading edge has mellowed and some of the bloom is back. I certainly have had several days of hearing the cord's promise, just as i did with the digital. That's why i'm holding on to it. I guess I experience the last 5% as Graham does. My Thiel 3.7's have served me well when evaluating past equipment and I've broken in my share of speaker cables, too, but have no recollection of similar break in phenomena with other lines. I kind of feel like a UFO sighter.....I saw it...i really did.....you gotta believe me! LOL.

[microstrip]

Grant,

You arrive just in the proper moment!

Looking at the Power System Comparison Chart we see that your top recommendation for preamplifiers in Reference systems is the Ztron Python. Does this imply that there will be no improvement when using a Ztron Anaconda with preamplfiers and the Python is the top performer for low power applications?

Thanks!

[Masterlu]

Grant... Welcome!

[MyPal]

Welcome Grant.... as you can see by my signature, I'm a fan ....but this extended break-in time is being reported by end-users all over the net & it raises further points of reconsideration in relation to the overall customer value proposition...

There is also a matter of supply...The dealer(s) need more demo stock in Australia or perhaps Shunyata need another non-exclusive dealer that can be trusted with consignment in order to get product to the retailers & finally into the customer's home. Getting our hands on your product is near impossible without $cash$ upfront & then the wholesale import is strictly to order with a lengthy wait time until product finally gets to the retailer. That's not on & the dealer commitment relationship level needs to change in order for potential customers like me to remain interested. Perhaps that could mean Shunyata revising their dealer policies or dropping the expensive wholesale middleman altogether if product distribution expectations are not being met...

As for marketing & consumer education....When's the website going to be updated? "Specs online coming soon" has been a long time coming. There is no manufacturer's warranty, guarantee/return statement online either. When a product/company website is incomplete, it just doesn't look very credible, despite the personable YouTube angle.

As you would appreciate, the customer value proposition goes beyond the consumer simply just buying 1 power cable. What is a customer to do if they are considering pumping a considerable investment of say $20-$30k or even much more for a complete Shunyata "system" if the selling, logistics & customer support infrastructure is just not there...Take a leap of faith? Parallel import at a lower price point?

How about a guaranteed factory burn-in period? Other manufacturer's are doing it to remain competitive & they don't ship in fancy jewelry boxes either...

I hope you understand where I am coming from & that is from a discerning customer's perspective.

Make it right please.

[Puma Cat]

Welcome, Grant. good to see you here.

Regards,
Stephen aka Puma Cat.

[Vhiner]

Mileage varies a great deal when it comes to the finer points of audio. A Stereophile columnist once wrote about "levelers" and "sharpeners" in our hobby. The idea was that some of us focus on differences, while others focus on similarities. I tend to fall in the sharpener camp, which would explain how I perceive the phenomenon of break in. Others barely notice it at all. I am not "right" and others are not "wrong." It's just a matter of perspective.

At no point has my Anaconda Zitron PC ever sounded remotely bad when compared to a whole host of expensive power cords.

I want to be sure that anyone who reads my posts about this understands that I don't object to break in at all. I accept it as unavoidable when dealing with the finest equipment. I never expected Conrad-Johnson to help me through the process of warming up those stubborn Teflon capacitors. My point is that break in should not prevent anyone from enjoying the joys of this amazing technology. If anyone wants my Triton and Zitron IC's and SC's, you'll have to pry them from my cold dead hands now that they've settled. :-)

They were worth every minute of break in.

[audiot servant]

Originally Posted by Vhiner

Grant,

You know how much I like all things Shunyata. I couldn't possibly be happier with my Python Zitron digital IC but I know at least four other people who experienced its break in as I did: we heard several weeks of "substantially" variable sound quality. I guess the real question is what the meaning of "substantial" is (apologies to Bill Clinton) ;-)

Since my last posting, the Anaconda Zitron's leading edge has mellowed and some of the bloom is back. I certainly have had several days of hearing the cord's promise, just as i did with the digital. That's why i'm holding on to it. I guess I experience the last 5% as Graham does. My Thiel 3.7's have served me well when evaluating past equipment and I've broken in my share of speaker cables, too, but have no recollection of similar break in phenomena with other lines. I kind of feel like a UFO sighter.....I saw it...i really did.....you gotta believe me! LOL.

Vance,

Even since week 5 (900hrs) has been getting sweeter by the session... can only guess how good that Anaconda of yours will get

\\
PS I know... I saw it too

[Ritmo]

Really appreciate your thoughts and contributions on this topic Grant! This is from another very happy customer.

Mike

[chessman]

GrantS, welcome aboard and thans for the explanation!

[Vhiner]

Thought I'd pop back again with an update on the Zitron Anaconda I am using from my Classe' 2220 amp to a dedicated 20 amp line. I just reached the 500 hour summit yesterday and I see plenty of daylight. (tip of the hat to Mypal for the good analogy).

Graham's descriptions of his break in experience have been extremely helpful and, in my opinion, accurate. The most challenging part of this period for me was what I experienced as over accentuation of the upper registers and somewhat harsh transient edges and attacks. Soundstage was pretty restricted between 300 and 400 hours. Thankfully, all that began to disappear at just over 400 hours. Now it's completely gone and has been for several days. The balance and bloom I remember from the first day is back and even better. I now believe the new Anaconda beats the King Cobra and Anconda CX's in every category.

This is the fastest cable I've ever heard. It will spoil you with amazingly deep, tuneful bass and utter transparency. This is what I've upgraded entire amplifiers and preamplifiers in search of. If there's a caution it would be that this cable is very, very truthful. It will allow you to appreciate many recordings all over again. It may revive some that you thought weren't so interesting. However, it will also remind you that some recordings are even more flawed than you remember. I find that this is true of all great equipment....and the Anaconda Zitron power cord is one fantastic piece of kit.