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What are we listening for during break in?

Is it time for a reality check? A few days ago a post was started which asked a question concerning burn in of interconnect cables. The consensus of answers agreed that this was a necessary function with no opposing view. The recommendation that got me thinking was to install the ICs between cd player and preamp and use a test disc for 250 hours. My immediate reaction to that bit of advice was "give me a break." That is roughly equal to listening to 250 cds. Considering the amount of time I spend listening to music, it would take me six months to break in ICs.
I have experienced a sonic change after new speaker break in period so I'm not argueing break in doesn't occur. Whether a sonic difference occurs after ICs break in is another matter.
My question is, what are we listening for when we run our equipment for 250 hours just to break in an IC or modification? I don't mean why listen to music, I mean what sonic difference are we hearing? Is it better, worse, different, What the?
timrhu
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,975 posts
 
the reason why it is suggested to install the ICs that need break in between cd player and the pre-amp is that you can have your cd player spinning 24/7 and nothing else needs to be on in your system. that's all. you don't have to be listenning for 250 hours. I noticed cables go through various stages during the break in, at times sounding harsh, at times lacking detail and sounding dull. It doesn't always take 250 hours for a cables to start sounding the way they should. different cables, different break in time. I observed it while breaking in ICs and speaker cables in my system. I beleive in both cable and component break in.
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,975 posts
 
I usually play a good recording of Mahler's 5th and Metallica's "black album" to break in cables with pretty good results.
timrhu OP
2,779 posts
 
Audphile1, I've noticed all of those charactistics you mentioned in my system at various times. I thought it was just the mood I was in. So maybe it was the mood my cables were in?
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,975 posts
 
Timrhu, it depends... :)
But seriously, I think when you insert brand new cables or components into your system, letting it play without actually listenning to it for a first 75 hours or so may be a good idea. Otherwise, you may jump to conclusions too early. Furthermore, some cables require warm up time after the break in. I auditioned AQ Jaguar interconnects once and found the needed about 45 minutes to open up every time I started playing my system. May be it's the DBS system that's causing it, but whatever it was, that was the case. Also, changing caps in the components, when the caps are brand new they have this plastic sound to them. 100 hours or so cures the problem.
timrhu OP
2,779 posts
 
Audphile1, I checked your system and don't doubt your hearing abilities. How can you not listen to our system for three full days while waiting for the cables to burn in? I can't remember the last time I went more than two days without listening to at least a half a cd.
I have come to the conclusion, after this thread and many others like it, I simply don't listen as critically as some who post here. When I read threads by listners who change power cables to their cd player and the system opens up with more defined bass, better imaging and/or more detailed highs I honestly wonder what they are hearing. That's where the question for this post came from. I do appreciate your thoughtful answer and the fact that you hear these sonic phenomenon.

Tim
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