Burn-in time Vs. Getting used to a sound


I have had much in the way of high end audio over the years. ...and the idea of an electronic item needing several hundred hours of use before sounding their best..is an accepted idea now (for the most part). Recently I have heard a growing thought of this just being the user getting used to the sound of a product.. Truthfully in the early days of Large Advents, DQ-10 Dahlquists and other gear..there was never any talk of burn-in time... Any thoughts out there on this.... Truth or Hype?
whatjd

Showing 4 responses by sfbaydude

Well, when I put together a totally new system, I sure the hell heard it improve over time. Therefore, getting used to the sound wasn't the issue. That which takes the longest to burn in (form) are dielectrics. The two dielectrics of concern are the cables and capacitors. No doubt that 300 hours of continuous burn in formed those dielectrics. I actually listened to it transform over time and was amazed. Even with used equipment, the dielectrics need to form. My $0.02.
For those who do not believe that there is such a thing as break-in or burn-in, this is not about an opinion. There is a physical (as in "physics") explanation for it. It has to do with alignment of protons and electrons in an object conducting electric current. If you really want the details, study about how capacitors work. I'm sorry to disappoint you with such truth. As far as a placebo (aforementioned sugar pills) affect, well there's no doubt that there's room for that to occur too. I actually find some of the comments made in this thread somewhat amazing. I don't know of any experienced audiophile who doesn't know that break-in exists. It's something that you can, in fact, hear over time. If you're not hearing it, then perhaps something is awry. Here are some generally considered times (hours) for burn in: AMP about 150; preamp/dac about 150; transport about 75; Speakers about 200; and Cables about 300-400. YMMV, as always with these sorts of things. Sure, some things sound great out of the box, but they will get better when they reach steady state. As I said before, if the equipment's been off for a long time, then there needs to be some break in time. If cables are disturbed after reaching steady state, then some break in time is also needed. No, this is not imagination, just laws of physics/electronics. Now I have experienced things getting (sounding) worse before they get better, as some of the other experienced audiophiles noted. That's just the way it is. Good luck, and enjoy the music!!!!!!!!
DK: Moving the cables from their original resting position is enough to disturb the formed dielectric. However, one may not be able to hear the difference. I do hear it whenever I listen after my housekeeper was here. I doesn't take very long for the dielectric to form after the disturbance
DK, my friend, dust bunnies don't rule here as far as the cables are concerned, since she finds it so easy to move the cables to clean/vacuum! Fortunately, she cannot move the equipment rack, amp, monitor, and speakers! Accidentally pushing buttons or such is another totally different matter! ;)