Cable Break-in....again?

Phd,

A good system design should require very little break in...any design that drifts significantly over time is likely to require regular maintenance or calibration...something a good designer will try to avoid.

Fortunately regular copper speaker wire driven with normal AC audio signals and within its design tolerances is so extremely stable with time that it should far outlast everything else with no drift in properties that would affect the sound....this means that a break in is simply not required for your regular run of the mill copper speaker wire. (only a cable made from materials that were not stable over time/electrical use could conceivably require a break in period, but this would be a poorly designed cable in the first place)

Shadorne, you could be very well correct in regards to the subject of breaking in cabling. If I understand you correctly your suggesting that if there is anything breaking in at all it would be the components & not the cables. Since most quality cabling as well as components are designed by ear for a desired sound and in the end become part of a whole system makes you wonder exactly what part of it, if not all of that system is breaking in. I don't how one can prove if the cable is or is not breaking in with the new components since you really can't test separately. I think this is a thread that everyone has their own opinion and maybe no one can be proven wrong but an interesting topic nonetheless.

Nsgarch, I am relieved to see that your 'musings' were with your tongue planted in your cheek!
Let the marketing continue and I shall continue my listening with non-directional cables (except for the shielding, of course.
Bob P.

i've been wondering about this break in thing lately. On several posts you can read the arguement that blind tests are not accurate because the mind's ability to accurately remember what was last heard is limited and the time to switch cables may exceed that time window. I can't help but wonder how much of the so called break in is just getting used to the revised sound of the system with the new gear? in other words you are the one breaking in not the gear.