2. speakers
  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
daniel25
18 posts
 

Maybe they got stiff after sitting for so long and like someone said are loosening up a little but I'm not sure that makes sense bcs if that was the case wouldn't that imply the material of drivers are deteriorating? But who knows. However consider the crossover. I'm not sure if crossovers are similar to amps in that when they are left off for a period of time they will return to pre break in state. So that's something to consider. 

gramophone_canada
40 posts
 

Absolutely speakers need to break-in - some need more time than others to do so.When we do hifi shows (done about 20 of these) the speakers and the system almost always sounds better on day 3. I'm currently listening to a pair of SHL5+HD - not that impressed two weeks ago when unboxed but after 24 hours a day of playing in the basement of the house for the last two weeks- they have gotten much better.

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,836 posts
 

Although previously broken in, they've sat around for 5 years. Being mechanical, they have to loosen up a bit but not as much as from brand new. You're hearing what you're hearing. 

All the best,
Nonoise

roadcykler
143 posts
 

No they don't. 

erock79
35 posts
 

I recently rotated a pair of JBL 4430s in that had been sitting unused for 12 to 18 months. I absolutely believe the speakers improved over several days and suspect part of the reason is the capacitors getting used again. 

More to discover