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Do speakers need to be re-broken in?

Just purchased a set of speakers which have sat for quite while- 5 years from what I am told. I have heard the differences between new "tight" speakers drivers and a broken in pair, where the bass gets deeper and the speaker "breathes" better and sounds more open, and clear and resolves better, you know- just sounds better all-around.

I haven’t witnessed this personally in my own home in over a decade, and that was with planar drivers and not conventional cones, which this set has, but regardless of speaker technology I believe it is well understood this is a necessary process and manufacturers agree and suggest this- so not looking for any arguments there please.

But I would think used, or already broken in speakers would not do go through this process, but my ears are telling me they are getting better, so contrary to my assumption perhaps they do need re-breaking in? Anyone else gone through this?

mclinnguy

Showing 1 response by westcoastaudiophile

westcoastaudiophile
461 posts
 

@mclinnguy not sure if break-in at less than five watts will do anything, but older speakers always is good to restore / check:

1) Sweep speakers freq. for resonances at 50% max power using external audio sine generator connected directly to amp (or preamp). There is good sig generator app available in Apple store, which makes speaker (and room!) freq. sweep very simple! This step always surprises me how many resonating things I can hear in the room, and even inside speaker boxes! 

2) Take low freq. driver out and vacuum spkr boxes inside. along the way, check passive crossover, terminals, wires, etc for issues (most common is to deox connectors, attach freely hanging wires to the box-walls, etc. Check damping materials etc. 

Clean and deox terminals. 

happy listening! 

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