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Burn-in and Equipmemt Value

A lot of people strongly believe that burn-in results in better sound quality and some will even pay more for cables that have the burn-in done by the manufacturer. If burn-in is real, then why isn't used equipment worth more than it is? At a minimum, shouldn't the demo equipment from a respected retailer be worth more when manufacturer warranties are still in play and the equipment is essentially new?

As a side question, why is it that any perceived change in a system where burn-in is credited it is assumed that the burn-in was on the newest piece of equipment? Some users report changes from burn-in hundreds and thousands of hours down the road.

I understand break-in on speakers and tube amplifiers, but struggle greatly with things like cables and digital sources.
mceljo

Showing 2 responses by nonoise

nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,590 posts
 
I've yet to see evidence on just how electricity "moves' across any surface be it a circuit trace or cable so in my mind to think that it's a given and always follows the same path unless channeled or directed, doesn't make sense (this is not to say that the Mceljo suggested that).

Having said that, this energy is burning a path down that circuit trace, capacitor or wire and it takes time to do it so that it can be done as efficiently as possible since that is the nature of energy: it waits for no one but it can be directed.

Having said that, burn in should be viewed as a normal event and not given much consideration. Now onto my second glass of Pinot.

All the best,
Nonoise
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,590 posts
 
How can a component have an "optimum operating temperature" and be rated at that temperature and not experience a "burn in" of sorts? No one here doubts the notion about "warm up" and when a system sounds its best.

The signal is energy that passes along or through a wire or component and it's in the nature of the beast that it warms up accordingly, albeit incrementally (unless it's a tube), but the effect is there.

So the wire or component does wear in due to the constant off/on nature. It would follow that warm up time would decrease a bit and the wire or components' properties would change ever so slightly. Is it that far fetched to say that with a highly resolving system one can hear it? I think it's totally normal and expected and this debate is nothing more than another exercise.

All the best,
Nonoise
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