We're dealing with humans here, and I believe the actual truth of this debate is lost among the BS. Perhaps there is a small sound difference between components before and after they've "burned in". But it is no doubt overshadowed by the human listener's ear changing over time. If you walk into a loud disco, 15 minutes later the disco doesn't sound loud anymore. The disco's amp did not "burn in" to this lower volume, your ears adjusted. I'd also like to point out people will describe their artwork and mattresses very differently after owning them a year, and it's not because either of these "burned in". Give me a break.
I'm told all the pieces need time to "burn in". Perhaps someone can explain what the heck this means. Burn in? How come my computer doesn't need time to "burn in". I don't notice my hard drive speeding up after 100 hours of use. I'm not ruling out the possibility that the components actually do sound better over time, but I'd at least like to know some physics-based explanation why it's so.
Those of you who believe everyone's claims that their components "open up", "burn in", or otherwise improve over time could use a brushing up on the well documented social psychological phenomenon called positive test bias. I guarantee it's orders of magnitude stronger than the changes in electrical properties.
I'm told all the pieces need time to "burn in". Perhaps someone can explain what the heck this means. Burn in? How come my computer doesn't need time to "burn in". I don't notice my hard drive speeding up after 100 hours of use. I'm not ruling out the possibility that the components actually do sound better over time, but I'd at least like to know some physics-based explanation why it's so.
Those of you who believe everyone's claims that their components "open up", "burn in", or otherwise improve over time could use a brushing up on the well documented social psychological phenomenon called positive test bias. I guarantee it's orders of magnitude stronger than the changes in electrical properties.