2. speakers
  3. 1072005133

Speaker break-in tips..

Volume level and recommended music. For my M20s I used my tuner when (on a jazz station) I wasn't home and played what I wanted to listen to when home. Would I be better off playing a cd when I'm not around, something dynamic like the soundtrack to Gladiator or the like? Maybe you can suggest a paricular piece of music? As far a volume goes: moderate (not ear bleeding levels, of course) is usually the best, but I was wondering if I kept my system playing through the night, at a low volume; would that be cool? My new Harmonic Precision, Caravelles should be here hopefully, in a couple of days. Thanks in advance.
peace, warren
128x128warrenh
subaruguru
1,369 posts
 
Hi again, Warren. Most break-in is about woofer surrounds, then all driver spiders. Quickest exercise is to face speakers together a foot or so apart, ONE out of phase, and play anything dynamic for a few days. The bottom octave will fill in as the surrounds soften and the Fz lower, as will spiders so that crossover/driver responses approach their targets. Maybe tweeter domes break in too, but I'm not sure if that's just a psychoacoustic effect from spectral tilt changes as the OTHER drivers blossom lower in frequency. Have a nice vacation!
clueless
763 posts
 
I agree w/ subaruguru. Face the drivers out of phase. Put them closer than a foot if you want to. The closer you put them the softer you can likely play and get the same break in. When I break in drivers I clam-shell them directly together with c-clamps. I've got a half dozen in the garage going right now.

Cheers
I remain,
blkadr
739 posts
 
The info with my Totem 1s suggested low to moderate levels for the first hours, so it might be a good idea to take it easy for a while. Also, a mono signal should cancel more of the output when running one speaker out of phase.
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
Ern, can you explain the out of phase deal? That's (I believe) where one speaker I reverse the plus and minus? Why place them so close together? What is that about? Also, I'm confused about "the softer you can likely play and get the same break-in." This switching the plus and minus won't damage the speakers, obviously? Can you explain? My ears are great, but I'm lost with this. Why will this speed things up rather than just plain ole running them at moderate levels with dynamic music? Thanks. peace, warren
More to discover