Pretty much no matter the component or wire I'll give it 10 straight days of it being on constantly and/or having some kind of music or signal being sent through it. Then I'll give it a critical listen. If it doesn't sound good after all that I'm selling it or returning it.
I came up with this from a lot of stuff I've read. Be it reviews on the net or the actual instructions that came with the item. Pretty much everything I've come across requires 150 to 200 hours of break in so I figure why bother with trying anything different. Just give it over 150 hours then give it a critical listen. When I had a short time to audition or return I'll do something along what Elizabeth said about giving it 3 days.
I came up with this from a lot of stuff I've read. Be it reviews on the net or the actual instructions that came with the item. Pretty much everything I've come across requires 150 to 200 hours of break in so I figure why bother with trying anything different. Just give it over 150 hours then give it a critical listen. When I had a short time to audition or return I'll do something along what Elizabeth said about giving it 3 days.