need to break in equip after prolonged non-use?

I have always found that, yes, it will need to re-break-in, but nowhere near the length of time the first time around.

I asked Jorma Kosky from Jorma Design cables that same question. Specifically I asked him if I hadn't used my speaker cables in 6 months, how long would they require reach the same level of break in again? This was his response -

When the cables have not been used since then, they need a little time, I can not say how long, it depends on so many factors.

The same principle can be applied to components. You certainly don't go back to square one, but I would think your gear would need 1-2 weeks regularly playing a signal to be refreshed.

Aesthetix told me that my Romulus CD Player, that had not been plugged in for six months, would need about a month to be at full performance...