Does a brand new electrical circuit for audio gear benefit from burn in/break in time?

When I relocated from NY to Texas and had the fairly substantial electrical subsystem installed here (described in some detail in another thread you are on), I found that the system sounded bright at first. I know some audiophiles believe in burn in, not just of component cables, but of electrical wiring. I figure it was a combination of things, as the system was not fully dialed in-- that always takes time and incremental adjustments of position, crossover points, etc. By the time the iso-transformer got installed, the system had a few hours on it, but in all honesty, I could not hear much difference between that and the "dirty power" that was set up --fully wired with new 4 gauge to 10 gauge, awaiting the arrival of the transformer. Over time, whether it was that I’m more accustomed to the sound, or the cables burned in, the system is not "bright" to my ears. (I’m also older, so high frequencies are not my strength but the midrange is where the action is).

Small changes-- swapping out the rectifier in the power supply to my phono stage--make a considerable difference. I think in some ways, everything makes a difference, but I don’t go to extraordinary lengths to burn stuff in. I just let it play.

When I swapped out one cartridge for another -same brand, same overall specs- the system sounded strident for a couple weeks until the latest cartridge settled. What’s odd is that the first cartridge sounded great out of the box!

I’ve sort of given up on scientific explanations- I just roll with it, pray to the audio gods, and if it all turns on and doesn’t blow up, I consider it a successful day. :)

I’m sure you’ll get conflicting opinions. I’m not dogmatic about any of this stuff.

I’ve sort of given up on scientific explanations- I just roll with it, pray to the audio gods, and if it all turns on and doesn’t blow up, I consider it a successful day. :)

@whart I guess I am kind with you on that. I’d always kind of like a scientific explanation, it would make believing in something easier, but more than half the time I cannot understand the scientific explanations that I do get.

I did post this question because I just finished up redoing the dedicated circuits in my listening room, and that included all new Romex from outlets to the panel. I am sort thinking that maybe things sound a bit ’hard’ (but I am not sure). I just recently had to put four (of the six) original Russian EH 6SN7s back in my preamp, and I had been thinking that this was what I was hearing, but tonight, with all this dedicated circuit stuff on my mind, I got to wondering about the effects of having brand new, unused Romex feeding everything. I know that putting those 4 EHs back in my pre sounds like a no-brainer of a reason, but I still have two pretty good vintage tubes in the balanced input sockets, and when I had it configured that way before (two vintage tubes in the inputs with four EHs behind that pair) I don’t remember feeling that way about the sound.

But perceptions of and memories about (sound) are funny and I digress. But that’s why I was wondering about Romex burn-in.

Sonic memory is an ephemeral thing. 

Sonic memory is an ephemeral thing. 

I had to look up the definition of "ephemeral" but I completely agree with you.  After listening to something I can come away with impressions and feelings and emotions about it, but then later on down the line I cannot replicate the experience.

no.