What Exactly Does "Burn In" do for Electronics?

Search any topic on forum here and you'll see that there's overwhelming consensus on one's rig sounding best after about half an hour after turn on.

Cold, out of the box, not so good.

When brand spanking new, one can easily multiply that exponentially until, after awhile, half an hour is all you need.

Something has happened. Check out any spec on individual parts and you'll see optimum operating temperatures under which they are spec'd. That means they have to heat up some and not exceed those temps.

Again, cold out of the box, not so good. Warmed up, good. That should tell you something. Your pride and joy needs less time to sound good so what just happened?

I've heard the difference between brand new and broken in but others will tell you I'm crazy.

I assure you I'm not.

All the best,
Nonoise

I wouldn't waste too much time on explanations. These posts are from people who don't like audio and start arguments for fun.

I love audio and I still out no stock in burn in for electronics or cables. What it comes down to IMO is that with high end audio it's extremely easy to be self deluded. This is due to the simple fact that our ability to perceive sound with utter consistent precision is poor at best yet we tend believe we are highly capable of detecting tiny changes. The brain ear combination is highly sophisticated but as a scientific measuring device capable of isolating tiny differences from one listening session to the next it's unreliable to say the least. That is the crux of the audiophile dilemma.

Our ability to hear differences is no less accurate than our ability to see or smell or feel differences. We'd all be dead at an early age otherwise. Those of us who enjoy this hobby have refined our hearing to a level more than the average person. The same goes for our other senses and those who employ them more than others on a regular basis be it due to hobby or employment.

With these differences come impressions that we catalogue in our memories. All it takes is a quick listen to something to familiarize oneself and then swapping out something to ascertain a difference. It's not that big a deal. The same goes for break in. It's right there, not going anywhere and we listen and listen and lo and behold, those tizzy highs are now softened; that midrange just opened up some: the bass just got tighter and more extended.

My hearing didn't just throw in the towel and told my brain to accept it. My brain didn't just say what the heck, it's not getting any better so let's move on. Nor am I now able to hear something that was always there and only realize it a week after. None of that makes any sense.

Someone should see how long it takes for this topic to resurface. Must be a slow news day, or Costco had a big sale on dead horses.

All the best,
Nonoise

"I love audio and I still out no stock in burn in for electronics or cables. What it comes down to IMO is that with high end audio it's extremely easy to be self deluded."

I respect your opinion, but I would also suggest that just because you haven't been able to hear break in doesn't mean that others are deluded and what their hearing is not real. If you think about it, another issue with audio, is bridging what is fact and what is not real, based on personal experience. (I'm not trying to single you out here. We've all done it, myself included.)