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Cable Break In for the Naysayers

I still cannot believe that in this stage of Audio history there are still many who claim cable break in is imagined. They even go so far as claim it is our ears that break in to the new sound. Providing many studies in the way of scientific testing. Sigh...

I noticed such a recent discussion on the What’s Best Forum. So here is my response.

______________________________________________________________________________________________ I just experienced cable break in again firsthand. 10 Days ago, I bought a new set of the AudioQuest Thunderbird XLR 2M interconnects.

First impression, they sounded good, but then after about 30 hours of usage the music started sounding very closed in and with limited high frequencies. This continued until about 130 hours of music play time.

Then at this time, the cables started to open up and began to sound better and better each passing hour. I knew at the beginning they would come around because they sounded ok at first until the break in process started. But now they have way surpassed that original sound.

Now the soundstage has become huge with fantastic frequency extensions. Very pleased with the results. Scientifically I guess we can’t prove cable break in is real, but with good equipment, good ears, it is clearly a real event.

ozzy

ozzy
ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,652 posts
 

I thought this info is relevant to the Topic.

ozzy

Nordost – Debunking Cable Myths – M & S | Ultimate High-Fidelity

 

 

mitch2
4,334 posts
 

Some interesting points but it was clearly written by a cable manufacturer.  Would have been even more interesting had they said,

"we put a comprehensive loom of our competitor's midrange products up against a mismatch of our reference products, and our competitor's cohesive mid-range loom beats our mismatch of reference cables every time."

mclinnguy's avatar
mclinnguy
791 posts
 

Has anyone experienced the need to break in used cables? I have. I guess it depends as to how long they have been used, usually it only takes a few days.

After having to re-break in used speakers nothing surprises me anymore. 

Yes, they sounded like crap for 50 hours, I thought they were broken. Then were "ok" for up to 100 hours or so, and then around about 2 weeks later or 150 hours it was like someone flipped a light switch -after that they sounded "right" and more in line with some of the reviews I have read. They were stored for almost 5 years. 

ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,652 posts
 

Thanks for the replies.

Yep, used cables and used speakers do require additional playing time before they sound as designed as I have experienced.

My AQ Dragons are sounding better daily with additional hours on them.

What about electronics? Do you guys think used electronics require some break in time?

I do. based on my own experience.

ozzy

randymaqp
22 posts
 

As I continue to build out my stereo system (retirement bucket list), I have come to believe in the need to break in cables.  I ran my new Audioquest cables for exactly 200 hours (as mentioned, I’m retired so I have time for such specific monitoring) and went through the “sounds good new” phase, the “oh crap, did I make a mistake” phase and the “these sound good as expected” phase.  At each phase, I reran RoomPerfect on my MEN220. After the 200 hours had elapsed I was satisfied. After some time, I started noticing some sibilance listening to certain music. It seemed to get worse.  And the midrange didn’t seem to sound as good.  I had an ahah moment and reran RoomPerfect once again. Great sound now and it seems to be staying consistent.  I have deduced, right or wrong, that the cables were still breaking in and RoomPerfect became kind of baseline of each phase.  That proved to me that cables do break in, and that it wasn’t my ears breaking in.  YMMV

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