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Cable burn in

Hi all. I’m guessing that what I’m experiencing is pretty normal. But it can’t hurt to get some feedback. I purchased a DMS-650 from Cary Audio which is a DAC/Streamer. Since hifi folks have highly opinionated views on cables, nothing is included with the unit. So when I set it up, I had to scramble and I found the three conductor cable that came with a cheap Sony DVD player. Then I replaced that RCA interconnect with a much better quality Blue Jeans cable. Initially the increase in quality was apparent and obviously worth it. However the sound could be hasrsh on certain recordings. Various tracks had a harshness that wasn’t there before. I’ve been playing internet radio during the day for burn in. Now that harshness has vanished. Sitting down to listen last night, things were actually too warm. Some tracks sounded almost muddy. The sparkle was diminished in an obvious way. I am guessing that once burn is complete the sound will settle happily in the middle somewhere. Is that a reasonable assumption?  I’m also likely going to order power cables and an interconnect from Audio Envy or maybe some other companies to compare. The guy who sold me the Cary Audio gear is not a salesy guy, but he did pretty emphatically recommend some higher quality cables. 

chiadrum
vthokie83
886 posts
 

For interconnects I have used Cullen Cables and Morrow Audio both RCA and XLR interconnects, and have no desire to upgrade. The Cullen Cables took about 100 hours to settle in. The Morrow Audio took up to 300 hours, but I purchased them with 240 hours already burned in from Morrow.

Speaker cables are AntiCables 3.1 cables (again no need to change) took a bit over 200 hours

For ethernet and USB, I use Supra Audio cables, and for I2S HDMI use Audioquest Vodka 48 cables. I have several others that I roll in and out (WireWorld, Oyaide, other Supra).....these signal cables usually didn't need more than a week to break in

bigtwin's avatar
bigtwin
1,205 posts
 

@jasonbourne52  I generally agree with your opinion re cables.  My current system runs Morrow interconnects preamp to amps, and Fidelium speaker cables.  I recently purchased some Furutech knock offs.  The construction was very good.  Installed them and the sound was noticeably worse.  Narrow soundstage and flat.  Switched back to my regular cables and the sound popped back.  It's not what I expected but it changed my opinion about cables.  

kota1
2,706 posts
 

Nordost article on cable burn in:

 

wolf_garcia
6,708 posts
 

I have a few Morrow cables and the longest it took for burn-in was 367 hours and 10 minutes. Once the cables are "burned" everything changes...food tastes better, colors are brighter, people are suddenly gathered on the street to hear a bit of my rig if I open the front door or something...plants grow faster...and I am comforted in knowing I'm now a somewhat better person in all ways.

rudyb
141 posts
 

I put my cables in the oven to burn them in. Slow cooking, 3 hours at 90 degrees C, turns out to give the best results. Amazing sound stage, deep lows and warm yet crisp highs. Sounds even better with my eyes closed and after 2 glasses of wine.

OK, pun intended. But if such a thing as ’burn in’ of cables really exists (meaning the chemical / mechanical properties change in the first hours of usage, influencing the electrical properties), then the probability of the sound getting worse is as high as that of the sound getting better. 50/50 ... the OP apparently fell in the ’it got worse’ 50%.

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