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?
@mclinnguy I'm glad that you're finally happy with the Horning Eufrodites. Will be interesting if you can share how they compare with your other babies -- the Maggies :) I've recently added a pair of nice, and very fast, subwoofers to support my 3.7i's. Tried a few subs but very few can keep up with Magnepan tweeters. I think I've finally found something that does not take away anything from the 3.7is.
|
@arafiq Good to hear. I never wanted to try subs with mine, I was happy for 15 years without them, but I'll admit if I went from these Horning's and then tried the Maggies I would definitely think something was missing- you know, all the stuff below 40hz, which is probably what your ears are telling you after all the other wonderful speakers you have had and still own. You already have your own thread for your maggie experiment so don't post it here but update what you got over there.
|
@mclinnguy Apologies, didn't mean to hijack your Horning thread. But it will still be interesting to learn more about how they compare to Magnepans at some point. |
Yes, they are part horns, part dipoles, maybe part transmission line? I am no expert in the matter of speaker design or definitions, but yes they are quite the design. I am totally new to them too of course, but some here have been enjoying these speakers for almost 20 years? The advantage of multiple woofers moving 1mm instead of one woofer moving 20mm is easy to comprehend- it is the similar principle to a planar magnetic speaker- and what I don’t want is a lack of speed and some slow and plodding bass. The bass from these is powerful yet fast and tight.
Yes, me too. I am now a believer and also experienced the "system sounds better after resting for several days" phenomenon, as many have claimed to be a "thing" for many years. This is beyond breaking in and seasoning of components of course. This is what @gramophone_canada alluded to above, and what I have read from others also who attended audio shows, that systems always seemed to sound best on the last day compared to the first where nothing was touched and all equipment has been well broken in previous to the setup at the show. Beyond cables liking to rest and the dielectric to "relax" over a few days, the Live Vibe platforms I use definitely sound better after gravity has had their effect on the components resting on them after several days. The couplers dig their way into the carpet and the resonances have found a more efficient way to the larger mass. At least that is my understanding of what is going on. Don’t care the reason, my ears tell me something is going on for the better I still wonder though, as far as these speakers are concerned, is this the paper cone relaxing, the foam getting less stiff, the wiring/dielectric on the wiring in the speaker doing the same as any other new cabling, or is it the magnetics re-aligning or re-conditioning? All of the above? No idea. |
No worries! No apologies for any hi-jacking necessary! I am just wanting those who have been reading your Magneplanar adventures to be able to get all the information there and not miss anything. Actually I think that thread you started would be more appropriate for a maggie/horning comparison than this one. |
