How to "break-in" new speakers??

When I was visiting the store that I purchased my speakers on a more regular basis I could always tell when I was listening to a fresh out of the box demo pair of Focal Chorus speakers. They have a slightly harsh sound to me to the point that I prefer the sound with the grill covers on. It took many months before removing my grill covers was the preferred sound but it's by far the best sound now.

They recommened just leaving them running during the day at low to moderate volumes to allow the drivers to loosen up. They also suggested using an open radio station as white noise is the best to use because it has a full spectrum of sound.

I won't say that the speakers have ever sounded good vs. bad, but after some break in they do sound better. The store always offered to send the demo speakers home if you preferred to have ones that had some time on them or you could have a new pair from the stock. I ordered a color that they didn't have on demo or in stock so it wasn't an option for me.

When they bring in the new Focal Diablo speakers they almost always set them up near the front desk and just use them for their general listening to break them in.

all of this falls under the heading of:
Things that sound like they should be true. Tubes have to warm up, turntable motors have to stabilize, engine oil used to have to heat up etc..... But since wire has to be broken in, according to the true believers, I guess this is not so absurd as it first seems..

For the record, I am not advocating paint peeling SPL for break in, only a moderately (above average listening) level.

I'm just saying....

Patience is a virtue..it is extremely important and critical to burn in a good quality speaker for 100 hours at low volume for the following reason. A woofer and midrange driver have a moving piston that moves frontwards and backwards constantly, which is visible to the eye observing the acoustic suspension surround ring moving in and out. The drive piston is stiff in a new speaker and needs time to loosen up. If you play the speaker at high volume right out of the box, you stand the risk of damaging the piston alignment permanently resulting in a uneven, slightly crooked piston motion that will effect the sound quality of the woofer and mid-range driver.

Low volume is not necessary.

Moderate SPL is fine and this is what manufacturers recommend. Once again elevated SPL, so long as you are not peeling paint, is quite safe.

Ignore the amateurs.