Burn-in time Vs. Getting used to a sound

I'm sorry too, actually quite..but the answer to Subaruguru's question is, of course, yes!

Joe b, that is your experience, but not the last word. I did have a cable that had problems until a long burn in was finished, and it sounds wonderful now. I agree that it is frustrating when "version" II or III always addresses the weaknesses of Version I. Buy the top of the line if you can. I auditioned three interconnects of the same brand, and bought "version" III, even though it cost two and a half times more than "Version I", and I am glad I did. It is a standard thing to have a basic, better, best, product line. Most of us know what we would buy if cost was no object. Keep on trying , and don't let the jerks get to you, they won't go away. Your ears and wallet are more powerful than their rhetoric. It sure is great when something sounds wonderful right out of the box though, is'nt it? My new Pioneer DV-37 sounds as good to me as many of the mid-priced highend CD players I have heard, and it knocked me out the minute I plugged it in. Here's hoping eveyone here hits the "bullseye" more often than not.

For those who do not believe that there is such a thing as break-in or burn-in, this is not about an opinion. There is a physical (as in "physics") explanation for it. It has to do with alignment of protons and electrons in an object conducting electric current. If you really want the details, study about how capacitors work. I'm sorry to disappoint you with such truth. As far as a placebo (aforementioned sugar pills) affect, well there's no doubt that there's room for that to occur too. I actually find some of the comments made in this thread somewhat amazing. I don't know of any experienced audiophile who doesn't know that break-in exists. It's something that you can, in fact, hear over time. If you're not hearing it, then perhaps something is awry. Here are some generally considered times (hours) for burn in: AMP about 150; preamp/dac about 150; transport about 75; Speakers about 200; and Cables about 300-400. YMMV, as always with these sorts of things. Sure, some things sound great out of the box, but they will get better when they reach steady state. As I said before, if the equipment's been off for a long time, then there needs to be some break in time. If cables are disturbed after reaching steady state, then some break in time is also needed. No, this is not imagination, just laws of physics/electronics. Now I have experienced things getting (sounding) worse before they get better, as some of the other experienced audiophiles noted. That's just the way it is. Good luck, and enjoy the music!!!!!!!!

Breakin effects are certainly valid. "Accustomization" is also a valid, although probably much less recognized phenomenon. Example: I extensively auditioned a pair of used speakers at my dealer's shop, then finally brought them home. Buyers remorse was immediately apparent at home: the differences (between what I'd been used to hearing from my old speakers) and the 'new-used' speakers were very apparent, and I wasn't sure that I could live with my new choice despite some of the obvious improvements over the old pair. Obviously the already-used speakers were well run-in by the time I finished auditioning at the store & took them home. After about a month I no longer noticed the 'new vs. old' colorations (both pair have their own sonic signatures) as I became "accustomed" to the "new" sound I liked it even better.

SF: What do you do to disturb cables, other than hooking them up the opposite way?