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Burn-in and Equipmemt Value

A lot of people strongly believe that burn-in results in better sound quality and some will even pay more for cables that have the burn-in done by the manufacturer. If burn-in is real, then why isn't used equipment worth more than it is? At a minimum, shouldn't the demo equipment from a respected retailer be worth more when manufacturer warranties are still in play and the equipment is essentially new?

As a side question, why is it that any perceived change in a system where burn-in is credited it is assumed that the burn-in was on the newest piece of equipment? Some users report changes from burn-in hundreds and thousands of hours down the road.

I understand break-in on speakers and tube amplifiers, but struggle greatly with things like cables and digital sources.
mceljo
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lindisfarne
511 posts
 
I have NEVER, EVER heard any hifi product which I initially hated morph into something I like. I do not drink the "burn-in" kool-aid.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
I have to agree with Elizabeth. I can't imagine how you can change the sound of a component by what you play through it when breaking it in. I'll keep an open mind, but someone is going to have to do a really good job explaining why that would be, and I would have to hear it for myself. I think its more likely that you can break a component in faster with something like white noise, as opposed to just music. Faster break in may give the illusion of "better or different" break in.

"11-23-13: Lindisfarne
I have NEVER, EVER heard any hifi product which I initially hated morph into something I like. I do not drink the "burn-in" kool-aid."

I believe you, but I think you may be missing the point. I think a lot of people have issues with topics like break in because they don't put things into perspective. Generally speaking, the changes resulting from break in can vary on a case by case basis, but are typically not huge. I don't believe anyone is suggesting that a component is going to morph into anything. But in most cases, small to moderate changes can be heard. There's no guarantee or formula to be applied.

Another factor to consider is how much experience you have. I asked the same questions about break in myself. I wasn't at all sure if I could hear any difference. Then one time I clearly heard it. After that, it was easy. The first time you hear it, I think, is when you have the break through. It was the same with cables. If you hear the difference once, it becomes much easier.
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mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 
I think what Mrtennis was saying is that an experienced listener can tell the difference between a cd playing music and one playing white noise!

I would also love to know more about being able to tell a difference in how equipment was broken in...

My personal opinion is that any change from break-in on the vast majority of equipment is more about getting used to a change in the way something sounds than it getting better with time. When I got my tube amplifier, some music was immediately superior and others didn't sound right because I was so used to hearing it a certain way previously and simply sounding different was enough to get a negative response. Now I am enjoying pretty much everything.
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