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  3. 192006-94512

Do speakers need to be re-broken in?

Just purchased a set of speakers which have sat for quite while- 5 years from what I am told. I have heard the differences between new "tight" speakers drivers and a broken in pair, where the bass gets deeper and the speaker "breathes" better and sounds more open, and clear and resolves better, you know- just sounds better all-around.

I haven’t witnessed this personally in my own home in over a decade, and that was with planar drivers and not conventional cones, which this set has, but regardless of speaker technology I believe it is well understood this is a necessary process and manufacturers agree and suggest this- so not looking for any arguments there please.

But I would think used, or already broken in speakers would not do go through this process, but my ears are telling me they are getting better, so contrary to my assumption perhaps they do need re-breaking in? Anyone else gone through this?

128x128mclinnguy
james633
1,023 posts
 

 No really but the spiders might loosen a bit. Happens quicker than people think. 

glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
1,665 posts
 

 mechanical break in is a thing. electrical a minor thing and quick. The mechanical is from my experience the longer of the two and dependent on the speaker. Speakers with hard surrounds take longer for example. This is measurable as well.  I find after speakers have been in storage for some time, they take a few hours to sound right after first use, assuming they had many hours on them prior to storage.

ghdprentice
6,965 posts
 

I have never noticed the need for additional breakin when speakers have not been in use for a few years. I would probably have noticed.

larsman's avatar
larsman
1,930 posts
 

My experience with speakers is that some sound great right out of the box, and some sound like the components of the speaker have never met each other before, until after 150 hours or so of playing time. Same with headphones. Nothing to do with anything being acclimated; I don't even listen to them most of the time they're breaking in. It's what I expect so it's no problem for me. But once they're broken in, I've found that they don't change anymore afterwards. 

knotscott
921 posts
 

Speakers that have been sitting for several years might need to flex a little to get the suspension components working freely.  Some caps, depending on the type, might even need a little time with a voltage applied to get the juices flowing again if they've been dormant for a while.  

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