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Do you think driver “break in” is real?

Do you think “high end” drivers and crossovers typically need a “break in” period before they sound their best?  I ask because, I believe I’ve experienced this first hand in a very significant way. I replaced the tweeters (same exact brand and model as original) in my ACI Sapphire 25 year anniversary edition speakers and for the first week I thought I’d lost my all time favorite speakers. I was depressed!  So I just kept playing them…  finally after a couple weeks, I’m literally stunned and blown away at how incredible these speakers sound. Completely different than the first 30 or 40 hours after I put in the new Scan Speak tweeters. So I say break in period must be real - at least for some drivers. Has anyone else experienced this to a degree that is unmistakeable?  
Crossovers too?  I just rebuilt the crossovers for a pair of ACI Sapphire XL’s (using highest quality components- same values) and so far they sound mediocre. Hoping for the same result as my other Sapphires but after about 20 hours - no noticeable difference - and they do not even sound as good as prior to crossover rebuild. They sound flat, too bright with poor imaging - but for 10 to 15 years they were pretty great sounding speakers. Thoughts on crossover break in?? 
Thanks to anyone who responds!!  

sal1963
larsman's avatar
larsman
1,755 posts
 

I don't think it's real. I know it's real. Sometimes 200 hours or more real. 

willywonka
191 posts
 

I know I'm the minority, but I think break-in for almost all audio products is non-existent! It's your hearing that is changing and adjust to the new sound, NOT the stereo components! The whole BREAK IN thing is mostly complete nonsense!

knotscott
814 posts
 

@willywonka

"I know I’m the minority, but I think break-in for almost all audio products is non-existent! It’s your hearing that is changing and adjust to the new sound, NOT the stereo components! The whole BREAK IN thing is mostly complete nonsense!"

You really don’t think that the physical parts of a moving speaker benefit from repeated flexing early on to loosen them up? That’s measurable and objective...most speaker builders will tell you that woofers won’t reach final tuning specs until the woofer suspension breaks in. Remember when you got a new leather baseball glove, and it needed to be broken in to make it comfortable and easy to open and close? Not so different with woofers. Each situation is unique, and how much of a difference a person notices is tougher to predict, but the basic woofer parts need a good stretch to achieve their expected performance.

sksos
154 posts
 

Yes especially large woofers but even crossover parts & wiring at least in my own experience.

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,815 posts
 

I'm convinced it's real based on the mechanical explanations I've heard.

In my own experience, it's hard to tell because simultaneously while drivers are breaking in, my hearing is accommodating to new sounds. Where the adjustment in my ears lets off and the adjustment in the drivers begins is very very hard to tell. There's no control on this experiment and auditory memory is weak for detail.

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