Does a brand new electrical circuit for audio gear benefit from burn in/break in time?

When I relocated from NY to Texas and had the fairly substantial electrical subsystem installed here (described in some detail in another thread you are on), I found that the system sounded bright at first. I know some audiophiles believe in burn in, not just of component cables, but of electrical wiring. I figure it was a combination of things, as the system was not fully dialed in-- that always takes time and incremental adjustments of position, crossover points, etc. By the time the iso-transformer got installed, the system had a few hours on it, but in all honesty, I could not hear much difference between that and the "dirty power" that was set up --fully wired with new 4 gauge to 10 gauge, awaiting the arrival of the transformer. Over time, whether it was that I’m more accustomed to the sound, or the cables burned in, the system is not "bright" to my ears. (I’m also older, so high frequencies are not my strength but the midrange is where the action is).

Small changes-- swapping out the rectifier in the power supply to my phono stage--make a considerable difference. I think in some ways, everything makes a difference, but I don’t go to extraordinary lengths to burn stuff in. I just let it play.

When I swapped out one cartridge for another -same brand, same overall specs- the system sounded strident for a couple weeks until the latest cartridge settled. What’s odd is that the first cartridge sounded great out of the box!

I’ve sort of given up on scientific explanations- I just roll with it, pray to the audio gods, and if it all turns on and doesn’t blow up, I consider it a successful day. :)

I’m sure you’ll get conflicting opinions. I’m not dogmatic about any of this stuff.

I’ve sort of given up on scientific explanations- I just roll with it, pray to the audio gods, and if it all turns on and doesn’t blow up, I consider it a successful day. :)

@whart I guess I am kind with you on that. I’d always kind of like a scientific explanation, it would make believing in something easier, but more than half the time I cannot understand the scientific explanations that I do get.

I did post this question because I just finished up redoing the dedicated circuits in my listening room, and that included all new Romex from outlets to the panel. I am sort thinking that maybe things sound a bit ’hard’ (but I am not sure). I just recently had to put four (of the six) original Russian EH 6SN7s back in my preamp, and I had been thinking that this was what I was hearing, but tonight, with all this dedicated circuit stuff on my mind, I got to wondering about the effects of having brand new, unused Romex feeding everything. I know that putting those 4 EHs back in my pre sounds like a no-brainer of a reason, but I still have two pretty good vintage tubes in the balanced input sockets, and when I had it configured that way before (two vintage tubes in the inputs with four EHs behind that pair) I don’t remember feeling that way about the sound.

But perceptions of and memories about (sound) are funny and I digress. But that’s why I was wondering about Romex burn-in.

Sonic memory is an ephemeral thing. 

Sonic memory is an ephemeral thing. 

I had to look up the definition of "ephemeral" but I completely agree with you.  After listening to something I can come away with impressions and feelings and emotions about it, but then later on down the line I cannot replicate the experience.

no.

I just moved my “A” system to a new room and had two new 20A dedicated lines installed . All the goodies …. New Armoured electrical cabling from the panel, new top model FURUTECH electrical outlet plugs, ..and with already run-in CARDAS CLEAR power cables ….in an established $40K audio system.

my experience: after running it for a month, I don’t see any noticeable difference in the electrical system from new even with a “run-in” time. It’s not the same as a run-in on analogue cables. ( at least for me ). No brightness to start, no brightness now.,, no nuthin’ better or no worse from new.

With the mutha size power supplies in my gear, I follow OEM mfg recommendations to NOT use a power conditioner. Installing another Intermediary “filter” in the linkage MAY have a bespoke effect , depending on the PC unit and your bespoke system. ( I’m not suggesting it’s gonna be either good or bad ,,.)

FWIW

Without question it does get better give it a week ,just like speaker cables 

and use good gold copper outlets the garbage that are on your wall is $3 

 buy good outlets and always copper,never aluminum wire !

I noticed an immediate initial improvement but noticed no "burn in."

Without breaking the bank $300 each for Furutech not necessary 

pangea  makes very robust outlets with excellent grip gold over Copper 

$50 to $100 each whatever you can afford . Very easy to instal even has a video

@akg_ca 

Thanks for relating your experience. Sounds like you had a good test situation. When I recently put in a new direct line, I noticed a substantial increase in sound quality, but not change after that. But I wasn’t paying close attention, but I tend to notice changes in sound quality.

Nope: no "burn in" effects.

I'll wager not one of the respondents fully disconnected their system and re-connected prior to the miraculous improvements...

@ghdprentice 

my experience too …. A new 20A line over a 15A line ( both dedicated ) provided a higher degree of slam right off the bat  …this was kinda expected somewhat with more amp headroom maybe, I guess ?

but nada further improvement after that .

While I have been the first to use outlets in a room for my hifi (new house), I have never A/B’d before and after. Saying that, I would doubt that whether it was a space heater or an amplifier, anything would change after 100-200 hours of use.

@ieales 

- not sure why you would even conjecture that … but in any case …nope … that is dead wrong … and you lose that wager …full stop. 

- My entire system was fully disconnected into its individual components and then boxed up and stored away for protection during the house renos

- after full Reno completion six-odd weeks later …THEN …all boxed up components and cables were taken out of storage  and finally reconnected again with new dedicated line and outlets  …. and voila … 

These outlets are great built like a tank put these in your audio room for $100

money well spent 

Does a brand new electrical circuit for audio gear benefit from burn in/break in time?

No.

- not sure why you would even conjecture that … but in any case …nope … that is dead wrong … and you lose that wager …full stop. 

- My entire system was fully disconnected into its individual components and then boxed up and stored away for protection during the house renos

- after full Reno completion six-odd weeks later …THEN …all boxed up components and cables were taken out of storage  and finally reconnected again with new dedicated line and outlets  …. and voila … 

Actually, I win. 

Six nines of the time people make changes, they do not reseat all connections, power and signal, before experiencing night and day improvements.

they do not reseat all connections, power and signal

I will certainly give that a try, @ieales  .

There's no such thing as a burn in time, in the sense that an electronic circuit behaves differently after say 100 hours of use.

There can be a temperature effect though. An amplifier (and also other equipment) warms up when switched on. All components slowly reach their stable temperature and the electronic operating point that belongs to that temperature. Depending on the circuit there may or may not be subtle audible differences between cold and warm operating state. Some prefer to keep their gear switched on 24/7.

^ +1

Unless one lives in an ice box, flipping on the HiFi and playing a track or two while brewing an espresso, pouring a malt or similar, gets the circuits close to idle temperature or better. [class A excepted]

Unless the power amplifier is defective, voice coils & passive XO are at ambient temperature. Temperature changes in these may have more sonic impact than the electronics.

For the vinylphiles, exercising the armature may also benefit.