breaking in audio components


sometimes you get lucky, and a dealer or direct manufacturer enable you to audition a component for a trial period, after which you may return it, or get a refund if you paid for it initially.

sometimes the trial period is 10 days, usually no more than a month.

you place the component in your stereo systems, listen to "test" recordings and try to evaluate its contribution to the sound of your stereo system.

there is the issue of break-in. a component may or not break-in during your trial period.

what criteria do you use to determine that a component has broken in ?

you might ask the dealer or manufacturer how long it takes to break in the component, or how many hours of signal transmission is necessary in order to fairly evaluate the component.

there is always the possibility that the component has not completely "settled" sonically, while in your possession.

there is the chance that if you buy the component, its sound may change after the trial period ends.

is it always a crap shoot when buying components, or has your experience taught you when to tell that any further changes in sound will be minor and not affect your overall sentiment toward the component ?
mrtennis
I feel that if you don't like the sound of a component from the get go, breaking it in will not necessarily transform it into a giant killer although there will be some audible improvements.
I am very skepitcal as most of you know. But speaker suspensions do loosen up over a short period of time and will produce more bass. We often have to re-adjust subs once they have broken in because the bass increases.
I'm positive my underwear fits me much better now then when I first bought them seven years ago.
I have experienced break in difference with a new pair of Paradigm Studio 60s. A noticeable improvement after a month or so. I seriously thought the speakers were faulty out of the box but smoothed out nicely. Can't say I've noticed it with any other component or cable.
I had a new Arcam Alpha 10 integrated amp that would totally disgust the deaf for the first 12 hours or so, with other products the changes have been either less dramatic or non-existent.