Beware of the cable claiming long burn in period.

@ fleschler

I had not changed any major equipment from 2013 to July 2018 except adding inexpensive music server.

But once I started updating my system, I shall get the sound that I want.

It is close.

Thus I will invite audiophile nearby to listen to my system on 16th Saturday.

After that, I may not touch anything except some inexpensive tube rolling for next 3 years or longer.

Update on Blackcat Silverstar II cable.

After 500 hours, harshness is almost gone.

Compared with 700$ Zenwave D4 digital,  Blackcat Silverstar II cable. is slightly more transparent but Zenwave has more of body and bloom.

Choice of cable is dependent on personal taste and system.

But it is still a pain to go through long burn in time to get the best of cable.

Digital Cables are the easiest to burn in. If you don’t like to burn in cables or equipment then buy used. Enough complaining

Does anyone here have thoughts on cable cookers to expedite the process of burn in?

Different cables bring different qualities and our subjective interpretations are varied as are the systems and environment the cables are placed.  Cables like any gear may be of benefit or not.  This does not mean any one of us is right or wrong, the cable design is either a good fit or not.  

Like finding a mate, some cables may be more popular but that one-off may be the best fit of all.

I found positive results with ZL Technology and am approaching a replacement loom.  They are based out of Korea and designed by Kang Su Park of Allnic Audio.  

I was loaned one power cable and grew from there.  

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BWC5ZTW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

After having 6 ferrite cores on it, the hardness is almost gone with more transparent sound,

Now  I can recommend  Blackcat Silverstar II cable highly with ferrite cores(less than 10 $).

ketcham
Does anyone here have thoughts on cable cookers to expedite the process of burn in?

Glad you asked. Cables do improve with burn in. Everything does. And will improve equally well whether its music you're playing or hooked up to a cooker.

The question is, why bother? Everything I have heard either sounds good right out of the box, or it doesn't. Nothing that sounds bad ever turns around and magically becomes good after a hundred hours. Sounds good, then sounds even better? Sure. But if it doesn't sound good right away don't waste your time, send it back right away. Any cable worth the money, it will sound good right away, and then as you listen it will only sound better, and better, and better. Usually so fast you can hear the changes happening even during the first few minutes. This goes for everything by the way, not just cables but speakers, phono cartridges, amps, tubes... everything.

This whole idea of patiently waiting hundreds of hours for something to sound good is a sham some people get away with because so many others haven't figured out this simple fact.  

just bought a used power cord for my passive power strip, sounds better after 48 hours...

My philosophy is that if the sonic signature of an audio item does not suit you right out of the box, no amount of burn in is going to make such a huge difference where you will change your mind. I’m not saying, things will not open up or improve. Heck, you may learn to like it. However, the general, major sonic qualities should be present from day 1. 

Some cable companies should offer replacement tubes. By the time you burn their cables in, you’ll need to change out tubes (tic). 

I believe in burn in. However, some companies use it as an excuse to talk people out of returning their products.