1. Home
  2. misc-audio
  3. 198467-41

Break In Question?

I have been under the assumption that in order for a component to break in there must be a signal pass through from one piece of equipment to another. That is, running a Dac/Preamp into an amp, the amp must be turned on for the Dac/Preamp to break in.

But is this really true? Does the amp really need to be turned on?

ozzy

ozzy
larsman's avatar
larsman
3,132 posts
 

@mahler123 - Then please explain to me how I can get a pair of headphones, take them out of the box and they sound terrible and I'm ready to send them back, then I put them on a stand and play music through them without putting them on for 150 hours or so, then put them back on and they sound completely different and I keep them. Nobody is 'getting used to' anything in this situation. 

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
1,071 posts
 

@douglas_schroeder 

The book costs $30 for the paperback version. If you spend the money, you likely will reap rewards many times the cost from learning how to avoid ineffective methods in system building. 

Wow, temping solicitation. I see you have wrote the same in a few other threads. How charitable of you. Unfortunately, I only buy broken-in books, so I expect I will never come across this glorious opportunity. 

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,413 posts
 

Here is the chapter in my book entitled: 

Chapter Three — Why Reason Rarely Changes Minds

Why Reason Rarely Changes Minds Beliefs signal belonging before they signal accuracy. Reason often acts as a lawyer rather than a judge.

https://substack.com/@georgeprentice/note/p-194020749?r=486jpn&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web

Although best to start at the beginning. 

https://open.substack.com/pub/georgeprentice/p/forest-and-trees-table-of-contents?r=486jpn&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

limomangus's avatar
limomangus
2,000 posts
 

Yeah they used to tell you ,you must never turn your amps off...but I never listen to that.

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,413 posts
 

@mahler123 

Company Product Type Typical Recommended Break-In
Wilson Audio Speakers ~100–300 hours
Magnepan Planar speakers ~200–400 hours
Focal Speakers ~20–50 hours
Bowers & Wilkins Speakers ~15–100 hours depending on model
KEF Speakers ~20–100 hours
MartinLogan Electrostatic speakers ~72 hours to several weeks
Dynaudio Speakers ~50–100 hours
Sonus faber Speakers ~100 hours
Harbeth Speakers ~30–100 hours
Klipsch Speakers ~20–100 hours
PS Audio DACs, amps, power products ~200–500 hours often cited
Naim Audio Electronics ~1 month continuous use often recommended
Audio Research Tube electronics ~300–600 hours for full stabilization
McIntosh Laboratory Electronics Usually minimal formal recommendation; some dealers suggest ~24–100 hours
Pass Labs Amplifiers ~200–300 hours
Conrad-Johnson Tube electronics ~100–200 hours
VAC Tube amps ~100–300 hours
AudioQuest Cables ~100–500 hours depending on cable
Cardas Audio Cables ~100–500 hours
Nordost Cables ~150–300 hours
Transparent Audio Cables ~100–200 hours
Shunyata Research Power products/cables ~100–200 hours
Koetsu Cartridges ~30–100 hours
Lyra Cartridges ~30–50 hours
Dynavector Cartridges ~40–100 hours
Ortofon Cartridges ~20–100 hours
More to discover