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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
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Read my two Audiophile Law articles in regard to Burn (break in) at Dagogo.com 

My Imbalanced System Test shows anyone clearly there is no change. 

You waste your life worrying about burn in. I have done the comparisons, you can read about it. Danny Richie has measured speakers/drivers and shown there is no change. No surprise.  
mikeyg
3 posts
 
Dcpillai, I got this info directly from the Siltech web site:

"Silver boasts the best conductivity of any metal, and this actually improves over time. The new G9 wire alloys silver and gold together to fill in the micro-cracks of the crystal structure, as well as offering improved cable run-in. Far less time is now needed for the conductors and insulators to achieve their optimum performance – under 100 hours is now required, depending on the connectors."

Good luck.
iseland's avatar
iseland
143 posts
 
Maybe try another brand , like chord cables or Shunyata..

robert53
467 posts
 
Insights - Cable Break-in (cardas.com)
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
I am not impressed when companies with deep pockets make what are, imo, unsupported claims claims such as a cable relaxing.

The Iconoclast Cables, OTOH,  were modeled and measured, and sold on rigorous testing.  They have been superb in all systems from the first moment. They have bested many other brands that claim break in is required.  

The longer I am in this hobby (40+ years now) the less system building nonsense I tolerate. 

See my Iconoclast review at Dagogo.com 
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