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Component Break In. Truth or Fantasy

I just recently got a second pair of planar headphones and the manual suggests a break in period of 150 hours. I find the topic of component break interesting in that, like so many things today, opinions are polarized with some audiophiles claiming break in having significant effects while other maintaining it is all BS and it's just you getting used to the new sound of your component.

My experiences has been that break in has a significant effect on components that convert one form of energy into another, and that have a mechanical aspect to them.

It makes sense that new speakers, as a result of excursions when being played, will loosen up and that will affect the sound. Same goes for phono cartridge suspensions. It's not unlike our own bodies where stiffness reduces and movement range extends when we work out, move, or stretch.

However, I have not found significant break in effects with all electronic components like DACs and Solid State Amps. And as for cables, not at all.

What has been your experience?

alvinnir2
alvinnir2's avatar
alvinnir2 OP
146 posts
 

@charliecheese I wish new guitars sounded better after only 100 hours or so LOL. It takes a very long time in my experience. I find their  sound continues to change year after year especially if you play them a lot.

Regarding speakers, I believe some companies feel it mandatory to run in speaker components during the R & D phase before they do their final tweak on crossover design to ensure that the final product, after it’s user has used them for a while, reflects the tuning they want to achieve.

I wonder if many audio retailers routinely run in a speakers before they set it out on the floor as a demo. I remember a local Magnepan dealer who used to routinely do this.

parkergetdean
1,040 posts
 

@noromance +1

charliecheese
38 posts
 

@alvinnir2

I use the Tone-Rite doo-dad on my acoustic guitars. Works like a charm.

https://www.tonerite.com/products/guitar-tonerite

larsman's avatar
larsman
3,146 posts
 

@foggyus91 - I don't know what is psycho-acoustic about hearing headphones that sound bad, letting them play for a few hundred hours on the back of a chair without listening to them, and then hearing them again and they sound completely different. It's not in my head - it's in my headphones. 

jl35
4,452 posts
 

When I am "breaking-In" a component, or cable, I will listen very little, an occasional check in just to make sure all is working, so that I am not responding to "getting used to" the sound...

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