cable burn-in / system burn-in

Shadorne wrote: Another factor could be stiffening of the compliance of your speaker drivers after months of no use ... If you listened to music on other systems ... If the room has changed or the position of equipment/istening position has changed ... Another factor that can make a real difference that will be audible is your capacitors in your equipment ...

To which I would add: Temperature changes (temperature being a parameter which is fundamental to semiconductor operation in innumerable ways, as well as one which affects most other electronic devices to some degree or another); line voltage changes; changes in the electrical noise environment (both airborne and through the power lines); on-going aging and/or burn-in of other system components; the cleaning and de-oxidization effects on connectors resulting from removing and replacing cables; for vinyl sources, the physical effects on the records of repeated re-playings, and loosening up of the cantilever suspension material in the phono cartridge; etc., etc.

The basic point being that even if our sonic perceptions are 100% accurate (which they certainly are not at least some of the time, when subtle differences are being assessed), it is very easy to attribute the difference to the wrong variable.

My own experiences have led me to believe, btw, that "stiffening of the compliance of your speaker drivers after months of no use" could very well be the most significant of these factors, if the system has not been used for a considerable period of time.

Regards,
-- Al

Obviously, given the dynamics of dielectric absorption; if a cable or capacitor is unused for a length of time, the energy absorbed by the dielectric will fully discharge. When put back into service, the dielectric will have to reach it's target(optimum designed/voiced) level once again. Engage in whatever semantic gymnastics you choose from there. As long as my system's cables or electronics(new or reinserted) sound like music at the end of the 200hrs of continuous signal that I generally feed them; I'm happy as the proverbial bumblebee in a clover patch. Happy listening!!

Rodman that is pretty much my understanding of what is (partially) go on too.

My computer was down for some time. I just got to read all the comments and respond.
I guess what I was referring to would be described as (settling in). I do not know, scientifically, what is going on. I only know that after several days of being hooked up, and playing, there is quit a quality improvement in the music. It is very difficult to discribe, or even discern, all of what is changing to make it sound better. But it is the equipment, and not my ears/brain or other human conditioning that is changing.
Thanks for all the info, it is very interesting.

This is one of the best threads I've read regarding cable break-in/settle-in. Many threads about this subject have been started and in my opinion have gone down the drain usually with the battle of the believers against the naysayers. I'm a believer of the break-in/settle-in of cables because my ears hear the differences. I was one of those who bought an expensive new set of interconnects several years ago( before I understood this burn-in process) and unfortunately sold it prematurely because it didn't sound "right" to my ears. After reading awhile so many posts that cable break-in is real, I bought that same set of interconnects, and this time allowed the 150 hours or so that was required for the break-in and this time I actually heard the changes( roller-coaster ride) until one day the overall sound just opened up and beautiful music was brought forth. But on the other hand, I have allowed more than enough time on some cables, be it speaker cables, interconnects, and power cords, and some cables just didn't gel with my system, anywhere I tried them. I did re-sell those, but at least I knew that I gave them a fair listen by allowing enough time for the break-in process. Patience is a virtue when auditioning especially new and used, as well, cables. I wonder sometimes when I peruse the ads for used cables, "Did that seller really keep these cables long enough to really hear their potential?" Only because it happened to me.