Or, they don't have to be broken in at all! It's more likely that your ears need to be "broken in"; ie, you have to get used to the new sound. And now, I'm taking cover. We haven't had a good break-in fight around here for awhile!

Also, I wouldn't believe the salesguy for a second when he said that all the controls were the same. He was trying to get you to buy the $1000 receiver, after all...

I think it would be more accurate to say that nothing will sound the same in the showroom as in your room. Room acoustics are going to make far more of a difference than $700 worth of receiver, unless the $300 receiver was a total piece of crap.

As for your Athenas, are you sure that the DVD wasn't just poorly mastered? Compare some other sources. Have a look around the boards for various threads on well mastered source material.

I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!