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?

128x128mclinnguy

I recently rotated a pair of JBL 4430s in that had been sitting unused for 12 to 18 months. I absolutely believe the speakers improved over several days and suspect part of the reason is the capacitors getting used again. 

I just last night, hooked up a pair of bookshelf speakers that have not been used in 6+ months, ran them all night, and they sure sound better this morning. And it wasn't my ear/brain adjusting as I was sleeping while they were playing. Not sure why this topic seems to upset some people so much...

I recently purchased a pair of AER BD-3 drivers and was told it could take over 100 hours for the paper cones to loosen up and settle in.

AER BD 3's are really nice full range drivers.  Do you have any specific plans on how they are going to be used?