Cable Settling???


Bought an amplifier from Reno Hi Fi,Pass Labs 350.5, that has spade only connectors for speakers and balanced and rca connectors for preamp. Purchased a new balanced cable also. Went thru an ugly break in period for about three weeks with about 50-60 hours of music being played. Its a frustrating time when you break in cables but perhaps changing connectors on my speaker wires to spades didn't help matters either. Was ready to throw in the towel but when I came home this weekend all had changed for the better. I only play music on the weekends as I am out of town during the rest of the week. Not sure what happened but I am sure that putting hours on the new cables was the reason for most of my improvement. Did lots of research during the break in period which I am sure will require another 100 or more hours but was most intrigued on reading about cable settling after being moved which is what I went thru, took speaker cables out to have spades put on for amp connections. Have never heard about cable settling before but would love to hear from others who have experienced this problem. Happy Holidays.
128x128needfreestuff
"listening to you music." Another bad grammar day. I hope Elizabeth isn't mad.

There are a lot of things that can happen, that will change the sound.

In one bedroom, I have long speakers cables. Every time we move them for sweeping, they get moved across the carpeting. In the winter when the heat is running, they get a lot of static electricity that builds up on them. That static charge must cause an inductive type of magnetic field around them. Anyway, it sure plays games with the highs, until it goes away.

Another thing in my area is, our incoming voltage is always different, at different times of the day. On the weekend, it drops more. The same right before the news comes on TV. Even with everyone getting the flat panels, a lot of us get one that is bigger that the old set. So, they still cause a voltage drop. Plus, I imagine the quality of the voltage sure must vary too.

There are several of us in my area that swap amps, and other electronics we buy and try it in our system. This lets us hear a lot of variety for a small fraction of the cost, in comparison to if we had to buy every piece our self. But getting to the point, a fried had an amp of mine for a week of two. When I got it back, I called him and asked him if something happened to it. He said no, it sat most of the time. So I ran it in the other room for a day. Finally, it started to sound like I remember it.

So, there are a lot of things that we may overlook, that can change the sound. Even those new cables may brush against our clothes, and get a static charge on them, while changing them.
"Finally, it started to sound like I remember it."

That's audiophile speak for: I got used to the sound again.

"So, there are a lot of things that we may overlook, that can change the sound. Even those new cables may brush against our clothes, and get a static charge on them, while changing them."

Let's not forget those solar winds and the gravitational pull of Jupiter.
12-13-11: Rok2id
"Finally, it started to sound like I remember it."

That's audiophile speak for: I got used to the sound again.
Not when it's in another closed room playing, while I'm listening to something totally different, in a room at the opposite part of the house.
It's not your imagination.

I have a twice yearly ritual of disconnecting all my wires, giving them a Caig cleaning and then re-coat with Walker ESST and insert.

First listen isn't so pretty but after a few days things snap in.

I usually forgo any type of burn in ritual.I just turn the system on and then listen,if the sound improves it does so gradually.

The only time in all my years at this hobby that I did hear a component snap into focus was the last set of speakers I bought new.

When folks say it's like a blanket being taken away that was covering the speakers, they aren't foolin.