2. cables
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Cable Settling???

Bought an amplifier from Reno Hi Fi,Pass Labs 350.5, that has spade only connectors for speakers and balanced and rca connectors for preamp. Purchased a new balanced cable also. Went thru an ugly break in period for about three weeks with about 50-60 hours of music being played. Its a frustrating time when you break in cables but perhaps changing connectors on my speaker wires to spades didn't help matters either. Was ready to throw in the towel but when I came home this weekend all had changed for the better. I only play music on the weekends as I am out of town during the rest of the week. Not sure what happened but I am sure that putting hours on the new cables was the reason for most of my improvement. Did lots of research during the break in period which I am sure will require another 100 or more hours but was most intrigued on reading about cable settling after being moved which is what I went thru, took speaker cables out to have spades put on for amp connections. Have never heard about cable settling before but would love to hear from others who have experienced this problem. Happy Holidays.
needfreestuff

Showing 2 responses by almarg

almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
I am sure that putting hours on the new cables was the reason for most of my improvement ....
What makes you sure of that?

If it was a new amp, it could have been breaking in. If it was a used amp, its electrolytic capacitors might have been reforming, or it might have otherwise been recovering from a long period of sitting on a shelf.

If your speakers hadn't been in use for a significant amount of time while you were awaiting the amp, their drivers might have needed to loosen up. Or that might have been the case simply as a result of your intermittent (weekend only) usage, that effect perhaps having been less noticeable with your previous amp.

Also, your AC line voltage and/or noise conditions may have changed. RFI conditions may have changed. And are you sure that your room temperature did not change significantly, as winter approaches (temperature being a parameter that is fundamental to the physics of transistors and other semiconductors)?

If none of those possibilities are applicable, then Elizabeth's theory seems best to me :-)

Regards,
-- Al
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
12-12-11: Needfreestuff
I have electrostatic speakers so it rules out the drivers loosening up.
Thanks for the response. Not sure how relevant it may be, but as a point of information I'll mention that I've consistently noticed that if my Stax electrostatic headphones are not used for a period of a few weeks, they sound very thin when I resume using them. A good workout at high volume for an hour or two will bring back the missing richness.

In any event, my basic point was that with audio equipment there are a lot of subtle variables that can be involved, many of which are easy to overlook or be unaware of. And when sonic effects are perceived that seem to defy technical and common sense plausibility, my expectation is that in many cases (though undoubtedly not all cases) the effect is being attributed to the wrong variable.

Best regards,
-- Al
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