Best interconnect burn-in method

Fortunately, there is no logical reason for burn-in with cables. So your approach will be equally effective as any other. If you experience audible differences over time (drift in performance) then it would be best to have your active gear (amp, preamp, power source, grounding etc.) checked and repaired/replaced. Generally a change over time means something is wrong (temperature issues, incompatibility between components, leaks to ground, capacitors beginning to fail etc)

@rodman99999


Sorry but as usual by conflating different areas of electrical wave propagation science less than honest promoters are able to confuse ordinary folks out of large sums of money for meaningless so called performance improvements.

Dielectric becomes only relevant for non analog audio signals - ie at much higher frequencies such as your cable TV signal or HDMI digital etc.

Same as reflection coefficients and impedance matching become become important in transmission of electrical power over large distances (10’s of kilometers)

Conflating things means that this pseudoscience has a ring of truth to it. The real science clearly tells us that we don’t need to worry at all about dielectric properties for in house AC power or for audio signals through interconnects or speaker wires....

@rodman99999

Dielectric is important (it can add capacitance or store voltage as you point out) but not relevant when it comes to audio frequencies over distances of a living room. Air is ideal for speaker cables - so they just need an insulating jacket that is flexible.

It is is simple to obtain pro audio equipment that can accept XLR connections and can handle longer runs and higher capacitance in line level cabling.

If various interconnects are affecting the sound then it is a reflection of the poor quality build of the audio equipment. Usually consumer audio sounds dull and lifeless when using longer run cabling because the inferior design cannot handle the additional capacitance (what you call smearing).

Poor quality boutique gear is the main reason that an interconnect will make a difference.