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New cables - To judge now or after burn in period?

I am in the midst of auditioning a host of Siltech speaker cables (Siltech Legend 380i & 680i) and interconnects (XLR and RCA - Siltech Legend 380i). Needless to say, they are quite a bit more costly than my existing QED cables (QED Genesis Silver Spiral Bi-wire & QED Signature 40 interconnects).

The Siltech cables are highly recommended by my distributor and seem to be well received by the audiophile press. However, doubts arise as upon trying them at home they do not sound as dynamic as my existing QED cables. While the highs are more resolving and I am hearing things that I have not heard before, the bass seems constricted and the music does not make my feet tap anymore.

Is that because the cables are brand new and have not been burnt in as yet? Or is it because there is no synergy between the cables and my particular system? Or is it a bit of both? If it is a burn in issue, how many hours of burn in is required before I should make a judgment as to whether I prefer the sound of the interconnects and speaker cables?

All inputs or observations are welcome.

128x128dcpillai
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Mechanical devices such as headphones, speakers, and cars burn in. (Reach specified or optimal performance) after a certain time.

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Yea.. The only things I know that "Burn In" are valves (tubes).

Things BURN UP, things burn down. But equipment, cabling and certainly CARS BREAK IN..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjo-lHXlp7k

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From my experience, cables don't "burn in." They either work or are DOA. Low-quality cables may also die without warning.

I think 600 hours total with the most power-hungry gear would do the trick. Sorry about your electricity bill.

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So which one is it.. Did you get "Roofied" between post?

If you say YES and NO in the same sentence, you cover all your bases.

:-)
ghdprentice
7,320 posts
 
Your observations are exactly what I would expect from silver interconnects and cables that were not broken in. Having a host of stuff at once makes it a bit hard because of the pressure to evaluate. Take what you take to be the best of them, put them on and play 24 x 7. The bass should develop as the noice floor drops on them after 100 hours. It would be a mistake to make serious observations before you have at least 200 hours. Silver can take a long time to break in. If you are starting to get to like them after a solid 200 - 250 hours… then Don’t decide for another hundred or two.

Yes, this can be frustrating. I have broken in dozens of interconnects and cables. The difference in most good quality ones is very obvious and always an improvement.
mastering92
870 posts
 
I don’t believe in cable burn in. Not going to debate anyone who believes it.

I said 600 hours because it was 3 times what others were saying (just to be safe). But really, I’m joking about it.

It was a long time ago. Unknown branded RCAs. Haven’t had a dud since.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
I think break-in is a more appropriate term for cables. George Cardas uses the term run-in. IMO, burn-in applies to electrical parts such as tubes and capacitors where voltage is actually causing a physical change to the internal structure.


andy2
1,555 posts
 
By the way, what's the difference between SilTech and SilNote cables?  The names sound too familiar.
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