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Burn-In with Preowned Transparent Speaker Cables?

Hi, a question about your experiences with preowned cables ...

I just acquired a pair of Transparent Gen 5 Super speaker cables, pre-owned.  I do not know the hours of usage, but they came out of recent use in another owner's system.  I am using them to replace a pair of Kimber 8TC I have used for years on various speaker systems.  After a few hours use, I hear the Transparents as being big, bold, and dynamic, with stronger bass, and a nice ability to place individual instruments very distinctly across the image.  But I also hear them as being significantly less musical, fairly uneven in perceived frequency response (no measurements here), and not having a really smooth spatial image.  I am fairly stunned, because they are generally not smooth and somewhat hard to listen to.

So my question is this ... should I expect that Transparent cables require a significant breaking period to even out their sound?  Are these common break-in characteristics for these cables, even though previously used?  Any other ideas?

The cables are being used with a Burmester 911 amp and Wilson Sasha 2 speakers.  I have verified cable hookup polarity and direction.

Thank you sharing your thoughts.
sel53
7 responses Add your response
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
IME, used cables require a short run-in period (depending on how long ago they were in use).
Consider that they were coiled, boxed, then maybe sat for awhile. They’ll need to physically settle into your setup. Cables present changes in sound during the break-in period.


raysmtb1's avatar
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raysmtb1
792 posts
 
I would suggest you do the cable dance( like the middle eastern snake dance). Make sure and rub it in all your cracks. The one way OFC copper (OFC means “only for catholics”) needs to bond with molecules in your brain. That’s why they aren’t smooth sounding yet. If you’re not Catholic, they’ll get much smoother if you find a Catholic and rub the cables in their cracks and sometimes this helps. There’s nothing harder than re-breaking in a cable. They get set in their ways and after you put them in the box and roll them up they get used to being retired from working and they get lazy. Once you take them out of the box you could also try to whip them back into shape and tell them it’s time to go back to work. I often hit mine with a flyswatter and sometimes that will help wake him up. Don’t be afraid of them, let them know who’s the boss. If they don’t wake up and respond tell them you’re going to use them to hook up your electric dryer and run some serious voltage through them. If that doesn’t wake them up nothing will. Sometimes use cables just don’t burn in again. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
IME, used cables require a short run-in period (depending on how long ago they were in use). 
Consider that they were coiled, boxed, then maybe sat for awhile. They’ll need to physically settle into your setup. Cables present changes in sound during the break-in period.

This is exactly right. However, its not like going back to Day One all over again. You should have heard big changes the first hour or so. Did this happen? Usually then they'll continue to improve, but much more gradually. In other words just like normal break-in but faster and shorter. Are they doing this, still gradually improving, or have they hit the plateau? 
docknow
303 posts
 
It has been said that cables need time to re-break-in after you move them when they are already installed.  I personally would not make any firm judgements without a week of playing music through them (you don't have to be listening).  You might consider call Transparent and seeing what they say.  I find them quite willing to talk on the phone.

Alternatively, you could try the advice of @raysmtb1, especially if you have a flyswatter :)
tump350
80 posts
 
I purchased an 8 foot pair of the same Transparent Super's used from a dealer I know.  I found an immediate improvement in SQ upon installing them, but after about 20hrs or so of listening everything improved.  I found the music to be fuller, more detailed, a little 'warmer' (I have a digital system) and more believable than with my prior cables. The above advice seems to be right on the money, without the dance.
sel53 OP
18 posts
 
Thank you for the responses (most of you!). There was a slight change in the first hour or, not so much in the next few. I guess a little more patience will help to evaluate them. I honestly hope this is a “phase”, rather than “they way it is”, because the improvements I hear do not make up for the loss of overall musical enjoyment. Best,
jafant
18,825 posts
 
sel53

The TA Super is not too difficult to burn-in. On the other hand, if you had Reference/Reference XL or OPUS, those guys,  require hundreds of hours of burn-in. Great cables- have fun!

Happy Listening!
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