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Cable burn-in questions.

While burning in an interconnect cable, say the analogue output from a dac into a preamp, is it necessary for the preamp to be turned on? (I understand the answer would be “yes” if that input has not been used - to “break in” those circuits in the preamp.  But this question is focused on the cable.) Is current flowing through a cable when the preamp isn’t on?  Any reason why the amp connected to the preamp output must be on?  Does the volume on the preamp matter when a cable being burned in is connected to an input? 

  I assume speaker cables would need current and voltage passing through, to be burned in.  Does the volume setting matter?

    explanations for answers will be appreciated.
128x128lloydc
delkal
110 posts
 
Volume from the pre does not matter but I don’t think the circuit is completed if the preamp/ amp is turned off (depends on how it is wired). If you are handy it is easy to make a dummy load with a spare RCA plug from your junk bin and a couple resistors.
https://www.mojo-audio.com/blog/breaking-in-cables-and-components/


The bigger question is if you can really burn in an interconnect with a DAC. Any idea of the output voltage? If it is a lot lower than a CD line level output it will take forever. It not enough power to do anything.




jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,620 posts
 
Yes the preamp needs to be on.The volume can remain off.It's a tedious process.I just went through this recently - 10 hrs a day and only turned the amp on the last hour to hear the changes wrought.This particular cable sounded horrendous the first 150 hours.
lak's avatar
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lak
4,650 posts
 
Do you know anyone with a cable burner (Audiodharma Cable Cooker) would be a lot faster breakin time.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
If the volume is off there is no signal. Hel-loo!
delkal
110 posts
 
For interconnects you can make a simple DIY cable cooker. Make an adapter so you can hook up your interconnects from the amp to the speakers. Then play it at low volume ~40-50 dB’s overnight to a couple days. You will put more energy thru them in one night than having them in your system for weeks.


Just don’t crank it to max volume or you can fry a small gauge interconnect, they are not speaker cables.


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