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Burn in vs perception

Posting here in speakers, but could probably go in any of the forums. Question of the night: how much of burn in of components is actually burn in of our perception? That is, is burn in partly us becoming accustomed to a change in sound.
 

I’m listening to my SF Amati Traditions that at first I found a bit strident, but I now find lush, dynamic, and generally brilliant. I bought them as 1-year old demos so theoretically they should have been played enough to be broken in. I haven’t changed anything in my system—I have been working on my room with more stuff, but that’s it.

Sometimes reviewers or arm chair audiophiles (me) will state that said component needs to be plugged in and left alone for weeks until it gels with the system. Could this simply be our own perception burn in OR is something real happening here?

For speakers I can buy it (woofers need to loosen up and all), but I almost always buy used, and I almost alway a) find a difference of a new component (good or bad), and b) in time, I couldn’t tell you what the change was. Maybe just me, but our brains are pretty good level setters.

I willing to bet this can be a large part of “burn in”.

 

 

w123ale
bolong
542 posts
 

OCD Hi Fi Guy On Break In

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,961 posts
 

I own a complex headphone with two different cells one dynamical the other one Electrostatic...

The dynamic cell come full blown after a warm-in period of 10 to 15 minutes...

The difference is not illusory...No one hallucinate each day at the same hour and only about deep bass and bass... 😊

Then if complex components need warm-in , it did not ask for great brain work to deduce that NEW component which had never worked BEFORE as a WHOLE may ask for an adjustment time which can be audible with some components more than with others ...This is called break-in...

And those "objectivist" claiming that this is  mere placebo or subjective impression of stupid audiophiles need to read about PERCEPTION and his relation to phenomenon, Cartesian dualism is dead , and some Illusions are more real and meaningful than some material object... Anyway break-in is a physical observed and probably measurable phenomenon ...

An immaterial perceived  rainbow is more powerful most of the times in his effect on us than a grain of sand...

«What if this grain of sand is in my eye?» --Groucho Marx 🤓

 

 

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,699 posts
 

I have long believed it is your ears acclimating to the new sound.   In the case of speaker surrounds I believe that is valid but it is a short break in.   Is it even enough of a change to perceive?    Not sure about that. 

Example,   I just picked up an integrated amp.    I set it up in my main listening room.    First with my Forte and then with my Sonus Faber Concerto.   

The Forte sounded really good.  I switched to the Concerto.    Completely different presentation,   but it sounded good.   Thin compared to the Forte.    It took a while for my ears to accept the new sounds they were hearing.   Better ?  Worse?    No....just different 

avanti1960
1,452 posts
 

A topic hotter than a cables and cones thread.  

If you haven't heard distinct changes in the sound of audio hardware from new to maturity you haven't purchased enough new hardware.  

bolong
542 posts
 

I postulate, however fatuously, that "noise" in audio systems can be akin to "noise" in wetware, and that an audio system in all its total parts talks back and forth to itself until an improved unity and flow is achieved... or not.

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