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
thank you Tim. In regards to power cords. I found some power cords work better with digital and some work better with pre-amps and amps, but I can't say the difference between power cords was as big as changing Monster M550i interconnects to Acoustic Zen Silver and Matrix refernce. One story comes to mind(about component break in). A buddy of mine had his McCormack DNA-125 amplifier revised by Steve McCormack(Silver revision plus Plitron transformer). It is a very good amp in its stock form(I have one and enjoy it a lot). So, he recieved his amp after the revision has been completed, I come over, the amp sounds like a $200 Sony receiver. My friend's pissed, we're both wondering what the hell's going on. We decide that he'll leave the amp on, playing softly for 3 days. He and I haven't been listenning to this amp for three days. I come back in three days and holy smokes!!!! This amplifier sounds amazing!!! Did my ears get used to the sound? No way. I haven't been listenning to it for three days. What happened was the caps and wiring and all the other magic stuff that Steve did had finally settled and the amp is now sounding amazing. Just an example of electrical component break in. It's certainly not BS.
Audphile...

You ought to hear the other SMC mods... and as much as I don't believe in cable break-in, it did take a while for my SMC mods to show their stuff.
Bgrazman, I can imagine. I plan on sending my DNA-125 to Steve for some upgrades soon. With my speakers, the Plitron transformer, I think, is a must.