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Can an unused cable break in?

I bought a new $300 Audioquest cable about a month ago, hoping to improve the sound of my Cyrus CD transport.  It didn't improve the SQ even after a little  break-in period.   I compared it to another transport system I had and it was quite inferior. So I stopped using the Cyrus but left it plugged in the wall for the month.
Lo and behold, I compared the two transports today and there was virtually no difference in sound between the two of them.
I’m listening to the Cyrus right now and am thrilled with it.
Either it’s my imagination, or the cable broke in while unused!  The difference isn’t subtle.
Is such a thing possible?


rvpiano
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
It is far from clear from your writing but it seems to me that what improved was the transport. We just can’t tell. For example, you’re asking if it improved while unused- while at the same time saying it was plugged in. Well, if it was plugged in and turned on then it was not unused. If it was plugged in and turned on then both the cable and the transport were burning in the whole time. So it could be the transport, or the cable, or both.

This is something I have known for a very long time, that was recently confirmed talking with Ted Denney. He said it is dielectrics, the insulation around the wires, that takes a long time to soak and reach equilibrium. That is mainly what is happening with burn-in. This happens at about the same rate whether playing music or just idle. As long as it is on with current running in it, even at a very low level, it is burning in.    

Oh fyi, he said about a week of being turned on, 24/7. 
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,727 posts
 
I can’t be sure but I believe it was turned off.
Unless it was turned on by accident and left on.
The transport is a few year’s old.
Also I neglected to mention it’s a power cord.
‘Sorry for the incomplete information.
petg60
1,486 posts
 
Even if transport was at standby there is consumption.
Most likely with the above it had time to settle.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
So we still don't know, and fall back on: Any current however small and it is burning in.

No current and no it will not be burning in.  
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,699 posts
 
I’ve experienced onset odd/poor sound from cables/tubes/electronics that I received via common carriers which eventually resolved itself.

The tubes attracted dust like a magnet so I supected that they had picked up a static charge from the sorting systems, belt transports and scanners used to distribute the packages.

With the tubes I found that thermally cycling them 2-3 times helped (on for for a usually short listening session, then off, then on for the next one).

Most tubes sounded good after this (no longer dust magnets either), but did improve with 10-50 hours of playing time.

Only noticed the dust (cat fur;-) attraction with tubes, but it may have been taking place with the cables/electronics as well.

Never noticed the dust thing with tubes purchased locally from various thrifts and flea markets (mainly from old tube caddies).

Just something to think about.

DeKay
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