Do Turntables sound better with time?

NO! That's a weird idea! 

OK!

lol

👍

Anyone else?

No, but they can be setup wrong.

Of course. Motor bearings and things relax and bed-in with time. The same way you can't use launch control in a Dodge Demon until you've done 500 miles. 

Depends more on the repeatability of the owner's skill in setting up a phono cartridge.  Also, all audio systems sound different on different days, for many different reasons. Ask a better question.

I have never observed that. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen… but if it does it is pretty subtle.

The turntable is more likely to be a constant. The phono cartridge is likely to improve with playing time as the suspension of the cantilever loosens up.  I suppose it's possible that the preamp or amp were "burning in" and improving with time, if they were new.  

NO.  Maybe the cartridge, but in my experience (55 years since my 1st turntable) a turntable will not change, unless it starts to breakdown. As noted above, other factors may improve the sound.

Any audible difference would be minimal but we have ta accept the fact that for a new set up many things would change with use. Bearing, motor, power supply, tonearm cabling, let alone cartridge. Can we isolate any change individually?

Most all mechanical things have a break in period. You did not state if you are using the built in phono preamp but that would be another item to consider.

How audible are these factors? All depends but seems no reason to doubt what you have noted.

I’m sure it’s possible that the bearings in the motor can do some form of “break in” as well as the suspension ( if it has some). Certainly, the cartridge, just like a speaker but in reverse, which converts mechanical energy into electrical may need some break in. 
 

There are those who think wires & cables break in too & although probably not measurable, might be true. I think this also be a matter of our own internal “wiring” meaning our brain & nervous system getting used to new & different sound.

@lewm 1+, There are many reasons the sound of a system can seem to change from barometric pressure and humidity to the mood of the individual at the time. In most cases I do not believe components "Break In." Transducers might but not electronics, turntables or tonearms. I think it is our heads that break In. We accommodate to the sound of a system over time and I have seen people accommodate to systems that were severely out of whack. We tend to like what we are use to listening to. People honestly think a component sounds better and it does to them. It is easy to see why people think items "break in."  They are just blaming it on the wrong component. 

And the truth, like most things in life, lies somewhere in between.

@mijostyn my turntable bearing needs 20 minutes warm up every session.

In most cases I do not believe components "Break In." Transducers might but not electronics, turntables or tonearms

@noromance The only viable reason I can think of that might cause that would be the spindle oil needs to heat up a little to thin out so the table can reach full speed. In which case I would use thinner spindle oil. Who is to say it is not the cartridge warming up. Theoretically it's rubber suspension might soften with a little temp build up. The cartridge is a transducer as are loudspeakers. Older turntables may drift with temperature but not if they have AC synchronous motors. 

I would politely say that if it is your turntable that needs to warm up there is either a problem with the turntable or the noggin. 

Audiogon question of the day paid for by @rauliruegas purveyor of fine Mexican Tequilas. Does noromance have a problem with his turntable or the noggin?  The winner gets a 7" 45 of the Tubes White Punks on Dope.

@corelli Why did the chicken Cross the street? It was suicidal and hoping to get run over. 

Or it is over filled. This will cause rolling resistance even in a plain bearing design.

Bearing 101 do not over lubricate, more is not better.

The only viable reason I can think of that might cause that would be the spindle oil needs to heat up a little to thin out so the table can reach full speed. In which case I would use thinner spindle oil

@mijostyn

Bearing uses a proprietary grease so, yeah, it needs thinning or spreading. Manufacturer’s instruction. Cartridge is Decca. No rubber.

Things will change over time; bearing oil or grease can deplete, capacitors will fail, speed stability can degrade / wow and flutter can increase … BUT obviously depends on what make as to what (if any) of those things are relevant or audible. Otherwise, no, anything you hear changing is probably your stylus wearing out. 

Not surprising. As has been stared above it’s a mechanical device, and most mechanical devices break in as parts set/wear into each other. My BMW S1000RR was limited to 9000 rpm for the first 1000 km. Then oil change, tune up and the full 17000 rpm was made available.

When I swapped out my cartridge to the LVB 2M black, I reached out to Ortofon about the cartridge and break in time. They confirmed it needed time to break in so it would perform optimally. 

Seeing as how it’s a DD turntable, and the motor is directly connected to to platter, any micro vibrations would transfer and potentially smear the sound. Between that, and cartridge break in, what you are experiencing could be very real. That, and we adjust to what we are listening to over time. Think listening to a static radio while driving around. Our brains tune out the noise after a while,

Lots of factors.

And just ignore @jasonbourne52  Unless it’s a stone wheel with a wooden axle, it’s snake oil in his mind.

I agree that we accommodate to the nuances of our components over time. At the same time it could be possible your system/turntable has found its groove so to speak. Probably a little of both.

I've recently made a few changes and to be honest have experienced some recent synergistic improvement. I don't care for the idea of burn in, seems like a huge inconvenience, especially considering the tube life is paying the price. But things seem to be settling in. We obsess in this hobby. We are so fortunate. Must say the incremental improvement is a pleasure in itself. Glad to hear your experience is bringing some satisfaction.

Turntables don't "sound" anything,

No. Your brain just gets used to it. Some folks think their turntable sounds worse as it ages. Depends on what you're drinking.

@secretguy 

thats because you didn’t plug it in

@perkri    "Not surprising. As has been stated above it’s a mechanical device, and most mechanical devices break in as parts set/wear into each other. My BMW S1000RR was limited to 9000 rpm for the first 1000 km. Then oil change, tune up and the full 17000 rpm was made available."

It is not best practice to limit your bike to about half revs for the run-in period and then immediately whang it up to the red line.  What is required is a gradual increase in the revs used.  So after 1000km, have some brief sorties to 12000 and then back to 9000; then to 14000 for a while, and so on.  For a further while avoid really hard acceleration in the upper range and pushing the bike going uphill.

But it is true that engines need much less rigorous running in these days as the parts are machined to far smaller tolerances.

Interesting about the oil change recommended by BMW.  When I bought my Porsche 997 GT2 (a very highly performance engine) all of 14 years ago now, Porsche said it was not necessary to change the oil at all until 15000 miles.  I had them change it after running in.  Oil is cheaper than engines.  In my Macan, bought 2018, they said the oil is good for 20000 miles.

I followed BMW’s recommendation for breaking in. Plus, the bike arrived with the restrictions in place. Now, a 200hp bike that is that light is a rather “intense” machine. Again, when the motor was fully available, I continued -as they called it - breaking in the whole motor. Full throttle, 3rd gear was a rare event.

Silence sounds better with time.

No.... I just found a Garrard Lab 80 circa 1968 in my Dad's attic and although it runs , it sounds like crap.   Very cool and nostalgic.   Has prompted me  to search for a modern table and very good cartridge.