The following and it's related pages are intended as a general referance to the proper setup and operation of audio equipment. Every single audio and video system, Odyssey or other brands, benefit from these simple steps, some of which are actually free and very effective. A little attention and work can go a very long way as far as your system's performance is concerned

Even though most high-end audio equipment such as Odyssey products have been burned-in at the factory for a minimum of 48 hours, there is still considerable operational time needed for your unit to perform at its best. For enhanced sonic performance, we highly recommend you leave your unit on at all times until break-in is complete. The length of the break-in period is highly variable and dependent upon the specific product. There are specially-designed CDs, such as Reference Recording's Test and Burn-In CD (RX1000) or the Sheffield and Purist Audio Designs PAD burn-in CD's that contain special tracks that help with break-in. As a general rule, most equipment requires several hundred hours of playing to fully break-in. There are several factors that determine the extensive length of "break-in", such as charging of capacitors, establishing the electron flow on the PC board, cables, soldering joints, etc. External conditions, such as the power quality and stability of your power in your listening room, the kind of music you are listening to (more or less dynamics), and many more factors will contribute to the break-in process. It is important to note, that the more a given electronic unit has been played, the smaller the audible differences get.

Even though we generalize improvements across the board, the typical phases of break-in below are more valid for solid state equipment, such as the Odyssey.. 

Within the break-in process, we distinguish four distinct phases of performance:

First Period: After turning on your amplifier or preamplifier for the first time, the units will require a few minutes to stabilize. The sound will be rather harsh on the higher frequencies, and the dynamic range is rather restricted with a flat overall presentation. This sonic signature will always be apparent when you turn on "cold" components. 

Second Period: This stage will be reached after approximately 1-2 hours of playing time and lasts about 3-4 days. This stage is all about the charging of the power supply, and during this time, the dynamics, soundstaging, focus, and transients will improve noticeably. Essentially, your unit will start "opening up and relaxing."  However, please also note that the amplifiers do a "Jeckyl and Hyde" during this time to some degree. Meaning that one day you might not have any bass whatsoever while the next day you might have too much of it, for example. Overall, the presentation might be very unstabile.

Third Period: After approximately 10-14 days of playing and being charged, the upper midrange and highs will "smoothen out". The bass will improve in speed and articulation with less overhang. The result is more even and natural tone balance.

Fourth Period: After about 6 weeks + of operation when left on continuously, your unit should be very close to being fully broken in. The sound and performance has progressively improved and your unit will perform to it's full sonic potential.

Even after the initial break-in period, the internal components lose their charge each time the unit is turned off. The full re-charging can take hours (and sometimes days!). Therefore, the best sonic performance is achieved when the components are kept fully charged at all times. This essentially means leaving your equipment on at all times--if you are comfortable with that arrangement. If not, at least be aware that it will take some time for your unit to warm up and fully charge each time you power up. These charged-based performance issues are applicable to most electronic equipment, and are especially critical in high-end solid-state gear such as Odyssey amplifiers and preamplifiers. 

To realize ultimate performance of your audio system, fine-tuned adjustments or "tweaking" should be considered. This can involve everything from simply setting up the equipment properly to using expensive system-enhancing products and acoustical room treatments. We will attempt to categorize by cost the various options and provide some basic advice on optimizing system performance. 

In reviewing the following sections, it is important to understand that the suggested techniques and products are system-specific. Therefore, we strongly advise you to audition the products before purchasing them. Please feel free to call us and we will try to guide you through the veritable jungle of tweak and enhancement products. Even though for the last 14 years we have accumulated an extensive database of such tweak products with the emphasis of synergy with our products. We strongly recommend to purchase any tweaks only after an in-home trial with your own system.