My Zrock3 with level 2 mods, and tube regulation is on the bench now, and should be shipping soon. (perhaps next week)

Here is my question:

During initial burn in period which most likely will be in excess of two hundred hours (about 20 days + for me), is there a way to BYPASS the output where it does not affect the sound of my system during the burn in process?

My system is at a level right now where I just passed the burn in period for my new tube DAC, and it is now sounding absolutely superb to say the least. I do not want to endure another dull burn in period as I use my system now just to get a new piece of equipment up to full standard.


In other words, can I hook this unit up to be on when I listen, but set the output to zero and still get the benefit of normal burn in?

If not, then I will have to set up another system using a SS amp and a source to burn this unit in at another location in the house. I will just leave the system in constant loop on low level for a few weeks until it is ready to be placed into my audio room in "ready" status.  That would certainly expedite the burn in process.


I read another owner's comments stating that this unit sounded so horrible during the burn in process that he almost sold it with only 50 hours on it.  Then around the 200 hour mark, the unit bloomed as if it was a butterfly undergoing metamorphosis from the cocoon stage. Now it was as if a magic wand was waved and the unit came alive.

That sounds great, and I will wait patiently for that to happen.  But in the meantime, I don't want this to ruin the perfect level of sound quality that I currently enjoy using premium quality recordings.

Perhaps Steve would be best to answer this one, but any response is welcome if it actually comes from experience using the ZROCK3.


I shall be experiencing this unit very soon. Just not in a bad way.





Thank you.

You could try using a Y-splitter to split the output from the ZROCK3 to a secondary amp (or dummy load) while keeping the main system muted. This would still allow burn-in without affecting the current sound quality. block blast