2. cables
  3. 177583-11265

Can cables have a shelf life?

I have a combined HT/Stereo set-up I’ve been revamping for a month or so. New monitors/new center. Same brand but the center is a different family.

I had everything dialed in and sounding pretty darn good but I’ve made a move of my amps and some XLRs I’ve had tucked away due to length issues in a box for guessing 8 years? 9 years? Longer? And I pulled them out today and inserted them in after all these years. Honestly my XLRs I had in place might have sounded better. Particularly the center. But really need to let it ride a few days but was wondering about age (They work so should be no issues right?) After all these years to they require a mini break-in?

They are Kimber Select 1126. I had been using Kimber Hero. The 1126, in theory should be a decent perceived step up. I feel it’s a perceived step back (-:

But not sure if they need to settle in again, if the age may take into account or the build of new cables have gotten closer to these. They’ve kept the model number after all these years but these have to be a couple of recipes back my now.

Thanks

Rick

 

 

dynguy

Showing 1 response by williewonka

williewonka
3,125 posts
 

@dynguy - all cables require a "settling in" period even after simply being reconnected.- normally 20-30 hours

In your case, some break-in may be required but it should be shorter than what is required for new cables - maybe 50 hours

But that depends on the insualtion of the cables - some insulations do degrade and render the cable useless - but most modern cables use quality insulations so this is not normally a factor

  • e.g. I had some old speaker cables with the clear insulation, which after 10 years, they were so bad I had ot toss them
  • by comparison, Teflon is very good

Hope that helps - Steve

 

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