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The molecular level explanation of "cable burn-in"

According to one cable seller

"The insulation (or dielectric) will absorb energy from the conductor when a current is flowing (i.e. when music is playing). This energy-absorption causes the dielectric's molecules to re-arrange themselves from a random order into a uniform order. When the molecules have been rearranged, the dielectric will absorb less energy & consequently cause less distortion."

So it’s the plastic polymer (as dielectric insulation) to undergo some sort of molecular rearrangements to minimize the distortion. Probably one of the greatest scientific discoveries ever!

“Many premium AC cords constrict or compress the audio transient as their characteristic impedance restricts the transient current.”

We all know impedance restricts current but how possibly “many” premium AC cords constrict/compress the audio transient (when not carrying audio signal)? Then again is it achieved by this molecular rearrangements of the cable insulation?

Unfortunately there are no measurement data or mathematical formulas to be found to back up this amazing scientific discovery. Simply “it happens”. So I came up with a formula for them.

∆E = P - SoT

∆E: energy absorbed by dielectric

P: energy (power) drawn from wall outlet

So : Smake Oile

T: Dielectric Transition Temperature

classicrockfan
classicrockfan OP
175 posts
 

Let’s hear from cable manufacturers about "cable burn-in". National Wire and Cable Corporation is one of the few good cable manufacturers in America actually do wire drawing/annealing/stranding/extrusion etc.. All the major brands (cable resellers) buy bulk cables from these manufacturers (or from china) and do cutting/terminating/seasoning with snake oil (extra jackets and all pseudo science magic lamps dielectric bias art console network or other passive RF filters (???) and stabilizers etc..)/packaging them to sell. Ask the actual manufacturers for their opinion on cable burn-in. They will give you an honest and direct answer to the question. "No there is no such thing as cable burn in." And ask about those magic oil lamps.

All my coworkers told me to stop wasting my weekends on this forum. And the weather gets better recently in the bay area.

dill
2,567 posts
 

"All my coworkers told me to stop wasting my weekends on this forum."

- Listen to your coworkers ...

subaruguru
1,376 posts
 

An anecdote:

Back in the 70s I was charged with manufacturing and calibration of microvolemtric lab equipment to the 6th place (microgram by mass). We decided to mold the bodies of these handheld piupetters and dilutors out of PFVD, a remarkably nice, hard, moldable and machinable fluorocarbon with full chemical (except fluorines) inertness. After being in the market across hundreds of labs internationally we found that a percentage of the bodies developed a small but VERY conspicuous crack that, although innocuous, was not acceptable. We found that indeed the PVDF, like its softer cousins, cold-flowed across time. In that sense one could imagine the "rearrangement" of molecules mentioned and derided above. We found that we could accelerate the proicess by simply applying heat and pressure for a few minutes (as in a clinical lab/dentist's  autoclave), wherein the PVDF then quickly reset due to the thermal shock...and then remained completely stable for many years (as far as could be ascertained). Is this cold-flow "curing" part of the so-called burn-in (npi) audio process. I doubt it. But still...?

The other aspect I wish to mention is the possibility that break-in is associated with the build-up of statis micro-voltages when handling cables in dry winter rooms. These charges have to quench to ground. My latest experience with my (ArgentPur) cables is that speaker cables may require 0-100hrs burn to fully "open up", whereas folks are saying that ICs do not. This leads me to question whether the delta is correlated with mass or length (spkr cables are bigger/longer), or usually on a static-charged rug!

YOUR thoughts? Thanks. ErnieM

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