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Cable Burn In

I'm new here and new to the audiophile world. I recently acquired what seems to be a really high end system that is about 15 years old. Love it. Starting to head down the audiophile rabbit hole I'm afraid.

But, I have to laugh (quietly) at some of what I'm learning and hearing about high fidelity.

The system has really nice cables throughout but I needed another set of RCA cables. I bit the bullet and bought what seems to be a good pair from World's Best Cables. I'm sure they're not the best you can get and don't look as beefy as the Transparent RCA cables that were also with this system. But, no sense bringing a nice system down to save $10 on a set of RCA cables, I guess.

Anyway, in a big white card on the front of the package there was this note: In big red letters "Attention!". Below that "Please Allow 175 hours of Burn-in Time for optimal performance."

I know I'm showing my ignorance but this struck me as funny. I could just see one audiophile showing off his new $15k system to another audiophile and saying "Well, I know it sounds like crap now but its just that my RCA cables aren't burned-in yet. Just come back in 7.29 days and it will sound awesome."
n80
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
The RCA cables are most likely only directional in the sense the shielding is connected at one end only. But the RCA cables are probably not directional in the sense I use the word, which is due to the inherent directionality of wire. 
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lak's avatar
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lak
4,579 posts
 
+1 elizabeth, I totally agree although I do use my Audiodharna cable cooker since I have one.
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
I have some very pertinent experience with this issue.  My long-time balanced interconnects  (Clear Day) on the link between my Oppo/ModWright 105 CD/SACD player and Aesthetix Calypso linestage have served me well without complaint over the last 3-4 years. Great cables.

Recently a bat-eared audiobuddy suggested I try Duelund 20g ICs, also balanced, and since they were reasonably priced ($175), I figured, why not.  When first inserted in my system they were awful -- flat, closed-in, meh in every respect. Again, the prescribed break-in (200 hours) sounded incredible to me.  Fortunately I have an Audiodharma Cable Cooker to speed the break-in process.

So I gave the Duelunds several days on the cooker and compared them again to the Clear Days.  Better, but no cigar.  It took more days (I lost count), but eventually the Duelunds won the sonic battle and have now replaced the Clear Days.  Note that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the Clear Days and a number of other ICs haven't come close to the way THEY sound.  But the Duelunds are now top dog -- sweet.open, clear, musical --and I haven't an objective clue as to why.  Not really.

One thing sure:  The Audiodharma Cable Cooker is an incredible product, as anyone who owns one will likely attest
rjlee's avatar
rjlee
3 posts
 
Keep listening to your system, you'll notice a difference when they "burn-in." 
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