Hi guys - I bought the Granite Audio CD-101.1 burn-in disc to burn in my iPhono 3 phono pre-amp. My Sony dvd player doesn't have phono outputs - is it ok to play the CD through the Sony's digital coaxial output to my Denafrips ARES 2 DAC and via RCA from the DAC to the phono preamp?

Cheers

Steve

No. The output from your DVD player through your DAC would be about 2 volts and would overload your pre/phono stage - the output from a cartridge is measured in mini volts. The main task of a phono stage is to correct the frequency response off a record to assume the conventional RIAA curve. So as well as too high a voltage you would also be getting about a 30db bass boost. So don't do it. The burn-in disk I suggest is to burn in a preamp stage, not a phono stage. No CD or DVD player has a phono output, just a 2v analogue line out or a digital out.

Normally no as above but in this case it should be OK as the signals on this disc are specifically for phono burn-in so are at much lower level than a regular CD.

Expressly Designed to Burn-In New Phono Preamplifiers and Improve the Performance of Older Models: Granite Audio Phono Burn-In & RIAA Test CD Saves Time and Wear

Commissioned by Music Direct, the Granite Audio Phono Burn-In & RIAA Test CD helps you burn-in new phono preamplifiers and enhance the model you've had for years. The tracks were recorded with the RIAA frequency curve at 4mV for MM and .7mV for MC stages. Just plug your CD player's interconnect into your phono preamplifier, set the MM or MC break-in/enhancement tracks on repeat, and save yourself many hours of tedious burn-in time. The CD greatly improves the sound of older phonostages as well.

Using the Granite CD to burn-in your phono section will also save needless wear on your record stylus and turntable. Standard CDs cannot be used because their signal level at 240mv (to as much as 4 volts) would overload your phono inputs, which are designed to handle only about 4mv of input signal. Also, conventional CDs would have their low frequencies boosted by 20dB more than a phonograph record encoded with the RIAA bass rolloff. Playing a standard music CD through your phono input could also damage your speakers with excessive bass tones.

Please note: Do not turn up the volume when you use this CD.

Thanks for the replies guys - Don Hoglund from Granite Audio has also confirmed that it will be ok
Cheers
Steve

I've never used a burn in disc.

Does it really work, over just turning it on to warm up?

never used a burn-in disc for burn-in but mine also have tracks for demagnetisation which i find works.

That should be fine. Make sure you don’t play any other discs than the CD 101.1 though!

AMR-iFi R&D

I would just play music & enjoy the satisfaction of hearing the gradual improvement in sound.

Additionally, if you are not planning to leave it powered-on 24/7, then there will be 'warm-up' each time.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Sorry chaps I was wrong. Who would of thought about breaking in an analogue phono amp with a digital (attenuated and inverse RIAA equalisation) source. Heresy! A stiff letter to the authorities will follow.

Thanks for the input guys - Owen Y...my Troika cartridge is with Soundsmith in the US for appraisal/rebuild so I figured I might as well apply a little snakeoil while I wait for it's return. I sent it via NZPost about 3 weeks ago, and their tracking tool says it's still at Auckland airport..I don't think this is necessarily correct, but Soundsmith haven't received it yet. It's a bit of a worry ;-(

Oct 19, 2020 9:17:40 GMT 12 steviewunda said:

Thanks for the input guys - Owen Y...my Troika cartridge is with Soundsmith in the US for appraisal/rebuild so I figured I might as well apply a little snakeoil while I wait for it's return. I sent it via NZPost about 3 weeks ago, and their tracking tool says it's still at Auckland airport..I don't think this is necessarily correct, but Soundsmith haven't received it yet. It's a bit of a worry ;-(

We're still sending our DIY Ultrasonic Record Cleaning Kit packages to AU, but recently they've been taking a month (instead of 4-10 days). Aside from lack of cargo space, there seems to backlog and/or limited staff hours at postal services.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com