What Exactly Does "Burn In" do for Electronics?

"My point is not whether or not the sonic differences are real my point is that we don't know for sure and that there is a possibility that we can be fooled or deceived by our ears."

No doubt. Especially when the differences are subtle, as is often the case.

I'd say always trust your own ears above all else, but also realize that nobody is infallible and we all have our limitations. Also that some may use this information for less than altruistic purposes, especially when there is money to be made.

Makes sense.

I do think I hear a difference with some new power cords, but so subtle its hard to be certain.

I definitely hear differences with different analog ICs. DIgital ones, less so.

And rolling tubes in my tube DAC....absolutely no doubt.

I think burn in is a real consideration for mechanical devices, like speakers. ALso for some electronic components, like caps and probably transistors.

I suspect there is "burn-in" aspect with wires as well, but to a lesser extent that might matter less practically in most cases.

It's shades of grey, not black/white. No two things are exactly the same nor do they remain 100% constant over time, but practical effect may still be insignificant or even nonexistent in many cases.

Almarg is correct to point out that there can be many factors at play to account for perceived differences over time, and isolating each is difficult in practice, especially outside of a highly controlled envrionment, like a laboratory. When the differences are subtle on teh grand scale of things, one must always wonder and not be too quick to associate cause and effect.

"The problem with your analysis is that in reality tubes are cryo'd everyday in cryo labs around the country without experiencing any problems. "

Seldom does anything happen without some problems, except in a perfect world, so something a bit more concrete than saying it is so would be useful. Saying something is so does not make it true. Especially when there is money to be made.

Prescription drugs are marketed to us continuously these days. You get a brief summary of the drugs benefits and then you get the many possible side-effects.

At least companies that push drugs are regulated to the extent that they have to disclose pros and cons fully. No such luck with high end audio. THe stakes are just not high enough to regulate anything so its pretty much the wild wild west where anybody can claim anything at anytime with no substantiation and get away with it perhaps.

"The difference being I have experience in cryoing audio items, 15 years of experience. "

Geoff, saying something doesn't make it true. It applies to everyone.

What I see from you is all words, doubletalk as needed, and hoaky products with only words to justify them.

That doesn't make that true either.....but I would play the odds....

Obviously, like most industries with a long history,there are a lot of quality companies and people in high end audio.

Then there are the pure charlatans and everything in between.

It is what it is, not that much different really than most things.