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Conditioning/Burn-In Method

DISCLAIMER
Potentially controversial subject matter ahead. Thus post is recommended for mature audiences only. If you're in the school of thought that cables are voodoo, this post is not for you, please move among.

Now, to business.

I'm in the process of working in a set of Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR interconnects between my DAC, Preamp and Amplifier. So far, I probably have only 20 hours or so of play, and if memory serves, Frank recommends 60 hours or more. Given the difference in amplitude from DAC to Preamp, and from Preamp to Amplifier, do you guys think it might be worth swapping them out (rotating them) to help balance and perhaps accelerate the process?

Thanks in advance!

parabolic
jnorris2005
185 posts
 
I'm sorry, but I think that cable break-in is the most egregious example of snake oil salemanship in audio.  I can't believe otherwise rational people would consider spending $1000 or more on a device that does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! 
That said,  the one cable related factor that can benefit from burn-in is the actual physical connection of the cable jack to its plug or speaker wire to connector.  Sometimes it may take a while for the connection to settle into its lowest impedance.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Is there something I could buy at a local Lowes or Home Depot that would serve the purpose?
Radio Shack sells the resistor shown at the following link, which would be suitable as long as you are careful to not apply so much power to it that it gets hot. It is rated to handle up to 20 watts:

https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-8-ohm-non-inductive-resistor

Regards,
-- Al


parabolic OP
106 posts
 
@almarg if I’m going to order something online, I might as well get the exact thing I need. Would one of these work better? Remember, I’d be attaching on the speaker cables, and I’m running a Bryston 4BST (250W@8ohms).

https://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Salon-Audio-Amplifier-Non-inductive-Resistor/dp/B00N8QE2PM/ref=sr...

https://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Salon-Audio-Amplifier-Non-inductive-Resistor/dp/B00N8R5ZGG/ref=sr...

@jnorris, apparenty you didn't read the disclaimer in the first post.
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Yes, those would be suitable. Although as you may have noticed the 8 ohm version is listed as "currently unavailable."

Regards,
-- Al

parabolic OP
106 posts
 
I’m guessing this one would do the trick? If not,
https://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Salon-Audio-Amplifier-Non-inductive-Resistor/dp/B00N8QYMXO/ref=sr...

Or does it have to be 4ohm?
https://www.amazon.com/Electronics-Salon-Audio-Amplifier-Non-inductive-Resistor/dp/B00N8QE2PM/ref=sr...

I'm guessing that any load that matches the range of my amp output would do the job, yes?
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