Cables "Burn In"

Do the cables settle in, or do we settle in to the cable?

If a cables will never fully settle-in from normal use, then if we just buy a cable that we like in this partially burned-in state, we can forget about trying to burn it in more, and just enjoy the music.

How can we be sure a cable won't get worse after we burn it in using burn-in device? Where is it written they will always sound better?

Since a cable will lose some of its "burn-in" from non-use, then why bother? We really would have to put our cables back in the burner each time we stop using the system, or we have to leave a CD playing 24/7/365.

In the end it seems like a lot of trouble for nothing; and I am a big believer that cables matter.

Sugar, the main benefits that i've experienced from "burning" cables is that they tend to sound far more natural, offer increased liquidity and sound less "hi-fi". Rough edges are removed and all that you are left with is the music in an even more appealing presentation. Since better musical reproduction is what i am after ( even though i am definitely a "gear head" and like to tinker ), i find it a win / win situation in every aspect.

As to the "burn in" wearing off, i don't know about that. I don't think that this takes place unless something occurs to physically or chemically alter the cables. I guess that i could take some cables that i know are well burned, use them for an extended amount of time and then try re-burning them again. I think that Bob Crump has found that cables are "once burned, always burned" to a great extent. Obviously, this would be a matter of subjective judgment.

I personally don't believe that the initial differences between "burned" and "unburned" is subjective at all, as the differences can be rather staggering and hard NOT to notice. Sean
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Sugarbrie: I am with you on this one. "Burned in" is a state of mind.
Also: I think the cable people would toss the cables on a machine and burn them in at the factory if they wanted them to sound that way.

Have to side with Sean on this one. After tiring of hearing that I had to run cables for 50-100-500 hours to hear their "true potential", I picked up a Audiodharma Pro Cooker. It definitely makes a difference on ICs (2-3 days) and speaker cables (4-5 days), but virtually none on PCs (your experience Sean?).

Interestly, I found some of the biggest differences with less expensive wire. I "fried" a set of Dimarzio (of guitar pickup fame) $500 speaker cables, and they more than held their own with a set which lists for $2500.

Just my experience.

I do believe cables need some break-in. Something changes in the molecular structure when a current is applied. Just wondering if we are going too far? As a mused above: Why wait forever for the cable to burn in? Just get one that sounds good in a perpetual partially burned in state, whatever that is!?