Burn in period

Undoubtedly there are people who can hear their equipment or cables break in. To me however it stays a mysterious phenomenon.

Take a cable ... it has no arrows on, it has no direction. And audio is an AC signal so there’s no direction there either. That can’t have anything to do with it.

Chemical properties ... they could change over time. Yes, that can be a reason. But hey ... we’re talking about copper, or silver, or gold, not much to change there. And even if so, I always ask myself how come after the first 100 hours the sound always gets better? Statistically chances would be 50 / 50 that the sound gets worse ... I never hear someone about that. Just a fun fact.

Could it also be that it is a strategy to give oneself peace of mind? Suppose someone just bought expensive cables and ... oops ... there’s no clear audible difference with the old ones. Oh ... wait ... yes ... after 100 hours of breaking in they sound a lot better. Saying that to yourself will make you feel better, even if no one else hears what you hear.

Wait ... my new USB3 cable just broke in ... o yes, the picture on my PC monitor is much clearer now!

@lordmelton - I'm pretty sure speakers (drivers) are powered by ac current.  It's my understanding that the plus from your amp provides an AC signal to the speakers.  The signal travels through the speakers back to the minus terminal, which is ground.  Electrically, it would probably be more accurate to call these terminals hot (or +/-) and neutral.  However, if I understand how transformers and capacitors work, audio signal can only be AC and goes from positive to negative; hence, the flow (current) switches direction.    

This thread is like internet porn for people with less than 50 posts.

Another excuse for our resident know nothing blowhard to bloviate.

Love the comments! Hilarious. I am not sure about cables having to “break in” to sound their best. It could be simply that it’s our ears & mind getting accustomed to the new sound?? No doubt cables of all types in a system sound differently from brand to brand & model to model & of course the law of “diminishing returns” applies greatly to this. 
 

For those of you who think cables don’t need to “break in” to sound their best, explain why most amps sound much better after they’re warmed up for an hour or two? I’ll bet they would measure the same from the moment you turn them on. Rogers tub integrated amp is a very well made, high quality product & I’ve noticed even after it’s warmed up that the sound changes when it’s playing for  a few songs.  That said, I’m also using new speaker wire….. life’s mysteries…..