Should reach that 500 hours by the end of summer...

FYI, the MU2 needs some break in, about 50 hours. I received mine pre-burned in by the dealer so cannot comment on the sound quality in that initial period.

From reading about different viewpoints of the sound qualities of the same pads, I wonder how much of the difference comes down to the audio chain. A few days ago, just changing one power cord and the power filtration in my chain resulted in a different presentation from the same (thick) pads...

My WE 300s very much improved with more hours.

Yes, clean power is fundamental to the entire audio chain. You cannot make up/compensate for lower quality power filtration and cords later in the chain. I remember NAIM Audio talking about this back in the 1980's. Here is a more recent explanation (in English):

Meant as humor but I guess that did not convey. My Envy is on its way back from the shop with the improved transformer, which measurably dropped the noise floor by about 20 db. I have great-sounding tubes currently so no need for any further changes with the Envy. Instead, I've turned my...

I just told my wife I have the budget version, the Envy OG.

See if you can audition a Puritan from a dealer. It is a nice step up in dynamics from the Niagara 1200. That is one side and perhaps someone knows both sides of your question.

Great minds...

After months of listening to the stock pads, I put on the thick pads and am suffering from sleep deprivation because I cannot stop listening. I prefer the thick with my set up with the Envy and MU2.

I asked the audio dealer I have worked with recently about transformer hum. He replied with the following: "Transformer hum can be caused by a number of issues. Transformer laminate saturation from voltage or current levels that are above the TFR's idesign spec. It is like a car's engine...

Yes, the PSM 156 is a big step up from the Niagara 1200, which I now use with a TV, and where it improved the image quality substantially.

Not exactly a straightforward comparison but I tried removing my PSM156 from my chain and plugging the Envy, Grimm MU2, and Innuos PhoenixNet all into the Yeti Acoustics power conditioner. The sound quality clearly worsened. So I went back to the original configuration: MU2 into the Yeti and...

I just thanked Western Electric. One of my new WE300B tubes had a slight staticky ticking that stubbornly remained after at least 10 hours of burn in. The tube otherwise sounded the same as the matching one. An RMA was emailed from WE and one week after sending the tube back the company sent me...

I am not promoting any vendor but did get notice today that Tube Depot was having a NOS tube sale. Maybe someone here might find a goodie. I need to stay away from these sales and instead learn how to cook better. https://tubedepot.com/t/tubedepot-sale