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cable burn-in / system burn-in

So many of us just take what we hear as being the gospel truth about equipment. I know I do, a lot of the time, because there is just to much work and cost to prove it. I have to finally agree with the burn-in effect. After several years, and multiple equipment changes, I can say, with out a doubt, equipment and cable burn in makes a very large impact on the sound. I just started my system again after being down for a few months. It has taken about 40hrs of play time before it has started to sound good again. I have a cd that I always play to hear the effect, which I am very familiar with. So it is kind of scientific, and not just arbitrary. So there you have it...
johnhelenjake
sherod
1,690 posts
 
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.
foster_9
1,638 posts
 
Sherod, I like your style. Thanks for the post. Your experience of the effects of break in mirrors mine and I'm sure many others here.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Thanks, Foster 9. I also agree with you regarding the "bass pressurization" of the room. This is definitely one of the key ingredients to hear/feel when the cables are reaching the optimization of break-in/settle-in.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
A couple of hundred hours for most cables should do it with a short warm up/settling period after each off/on cycle or re-connection of said cables:O)
notec
407 posts
 
Rodman99999 wrote: 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...

Dave_b wrote: A couple of hundred hours for most cables should do it with a short warm up/settling period after each off/on cycle or re-connection of said cables


200 hours of continuous signal, on a cable cooker is 8.3 days. The Audiodharma Cable Cooker recommends 3 - 4.5 days to burn-in cables. Isn't eight days on a cable cooker too long?
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