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Cable Burn In Problem

I'm trying out some interconnects, XLR. Problem is, I don't want to put 100+ hours on my CD laser, or my preamp tubes, or my hot-running, electric-consuming power amp.

The only solution I se is this. It is possible for me to find some old tubes to put in the preamp (which has balanced and rca inputs and outputs), and have that running into the turned off power amp. Supposedly just the connection is enough, but, of course, the preamp has to be on and have signal going through it.

I don't have any source to hook to the preamp except my digital player, which again, I don't want to put this mechanical and laser life on.

I do have an old receiver, but it has only rca's, so it is useless.

Any possible suggestions?
saxo
rodman99999
6,158 posts
 
Interconnects will very greatly in their audible differences before burn-in. There's NO short-cut to the length of time it takes, because it's time/voltage that charges the dielectric. I have used a tuner/old, spare receiver (FM output via tape out, tuned to a rap station for the bass/mucho voltage) to perform the output duty(find adapters for the XLR/rca) to save on LASER time. The pre-amp or power amp don't have to be turned on at all.
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Saxo,

I really sympathize with your problem but there is really is no way that anything other than playing all the equipment for 100 hours properly all hooked up (exactly as it would be in the music listening real situation) and also with the particular genre of music that you want to break it in for.

I am not sure but I suspect you might need to be there actively listening too for those 100 hours. I mean if you think about it: if a tree falls in an empty forest with no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?
rodman99999
6,158 posts
 
Saxo- Any source that provides line voltage (be it in the form of FM interstation noise, pink/brown/white noise or music signal) to the interconnects will do. Having them connected to the pre-amp, without the pre-amp turned on is all that is necessary for a successful burn-in. The dielectric and conductor couldn't care less what genre the voltage is! When the interconnect is finally placed in it's permanent station, it will still go through a further stage of adjustment, but the majority of the burn-in will have been accomplished(without wasted hours on your tubes, LASER, ears, family's nerves, etc).
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
Shadorne, you cheeky monkey, you.
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Shadorne, you cheeky monkey, you.

Yes. I am being cynical again.....I know and accept that many will disagree but concerns about cable break in are,IMHO, bordering on paranoia...just play the music and enjoy it for goodness sake...

Frankly if a systems sound is making you so unhappy that you have to worry/fret about burn-in of cables then something is not right. A great system should make you ecstatic even with an unburned-in coat hanger for a speaker cable....
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