How much does volume matter when breaking in amps and cables?

Measure away, guys. Oh, I get it, you’re waiting for someone else to measure it. Lol

It’s just too expensive to remove the serum from porcelain...so might as well just listen 

I agree that traditional, static measures of a components performance is no longer adequate.

I think we need dynamic measurements of speakers in a room, or data logging approaches to the performance of an amp at the speaker terminals to better understand the impact of power conditioning, all cables, and crossover designs.


I also think that if this were done, it would collapse the price for a lot of these devices, as we’d understand better what we were hearing, and find the cheapest possible way to get that.


If your approach to audio is "I’m going to let measurements developed in the 1970s tell me everything" that isn’t science. That’s quality control. Real science happens when you observe something, and find innovative new ways to measure them, or find ways to correlate behavior to user preference. That’s true R&D. Everyone else is just stagnant.


Best,

E

So I guess the concensus is that high volume is not really needed for non sepeaker component break in. 

I do know that with new speakers for my guitar amps there is most certainly a small breakin period... not hundreds of hours but 10 15ish. I bought a 20 watt Celestion green back and the rough edges in the sound smoothed out pretty quick but definitely changed for the better... all my amps are tube amps and new tubes do break in... pretty quick too. Ive not really noticed it with 12ax7’s but the 6V6’s do need a short time to settle in. Again not hundreds of hours but a few... I leave new power tubes on stand by for a hour or so and we are good... unless they red plate when power hits them... lol. That’s always a good start to your day. When they pop... $$$