What Exactly Does "Burn In" do for Electronics?

George & Peter (Csontos), I would respectfully disagree with what appears to be the logic behind your recent posts, at least with respect to electronic components (amps, preamps, digital sources, etc). It seems to me that implicit in your logic are the following assumptions:

1)The alleged breakin phenomena which you dispute would result in changes that are measurable, at the component level (as distinguished from the piece part level).

2)As long as the component measures within the +/- tolerances defined by its specifications it will sound as the designer intended, meaning that it will sound the same as his or her prototype sounded when its development was completed.

3)Therefore for the alleged breakin phenomena which you dispute to exist, the component must measure outside of the +/- tolerances defined by its specifications when it is delivered to the customer.

In the case of electronic components I see no reason to expect any of those assumptions to be true.

Regards,
-- Al

I get that, Al. I read an inference suggesting a below spec target goal in order to achieve the desired end result. It was disputed but I don't buy it. In terms of "measurable", I was referring to wires and cables as I'm sure you recognize. All in all, I think it went well:)

George is right.

But you need to let your computer screen break in to fully understand the concept.

The effect of burn in on dielectric materials and how it affects the dielectric constant is well understood and can be found all over the Internet by a simple Google, so you can just about ignore all the hoopla surrounding burn in of cables, anything with wires side, capacitors, transformers, things in that vein.

So Al, by disagreeing respectfully, are you saying that you believe that "breakin phenomena" does exist??
Or just to my assumptions that there should be a measurable difference in component specification?

And if so, in which do you believe the "breakin phenomena" exists, passive cables or active electronic components?

Cheers George