Does Power Cord Require Burn-In To Sound Good?

Get a power conditioner if you are having issues. I kind of feel the power cord thing is a shame, unless you’re powering some real serious pull.  

On a DAC, give it a couple of weeks, on 24/7.

Thanks for the responses. I'm seriously hoping for good things to come from this new cord as it's a pretty heavy investment for me. I hope this burn-in thing with cables is something that works ie. noticeably if not drastically improved sound after the whole burning in is complete.

Currently there’s a minor difference in sound quality between the new and old cord but I cannot say which sound I actually prefer at this point of time. Doesn’t seem to be a very positive outcome at the moment..

Hate to tell you, if it doesn't sound good right out of the box send it back. Yes burn-in is real. But it won't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. What it will do, if the cable is any good then it will sound terrific right out of the box, and then improve a lot as it burns in. If it sounds worse than what you have, at 10X the price, send it back. Do not wait. Do not listen to any cockamamie stories. Just send it back.

Some PC's do need more time to burn in but improvements in certain areas would be audible, if none, especially for low powered dacs, then they will not sound much better when they break in.
G

Look at the other 50 threads YES 200 hours.

Flat Earth Science at best! "The capacity of Humans for self-delusion is apparently unlimited" - Mr.Spock the Vulcan

I definitely noticed the burn in phenomena with my audio quest power cables: monsoon and blizzard

Sometimes they sound worse before they get better. Do what MC sez. Or be sorry for the massive outlay. I think you would have been better served putting the $$ into a fuse for your DAC. If you haven't already that is your constricter. A 2" pipe is ineffectual going into a 1/2" valve

I don’t know what the return policy is, but assuming it’s 30 days, leave it in your system for 2 weeks, listen to a lot of your favorite music and then switch back. You should have a very good idea of whether you’ve improved the sound or not after that. But definitely give it a chance.  And remember, it's not about which cord is "better".  It's about which cord you prefer sonically in your system.  I had a Wireworld Aurora in my system for a while, but I found my old Black Mountain cord sounded better, so I packed up the Wireworld for another day. 

@ryder Welcome to the world of audiophile hyperbole, where even the direction in which a fuse is inserted in its holder can make the proverbial "night and day" difference.
Honestly, the more reviews and posts that you read before actually experiencing an A/B contrast with your own ears, the more disappointed you are going to be by the often underwhelming nature of the result of swopping B for A.
There *are* big differences in this pursuit, typically between two quite different speakers or two quite different amps.  There are plenty of other differences too, but they're on a spectrum from modest to small to minimal to barely perceptible.

you will never get agreement here...use it a few weeks and you will know...

Hi, i think if you don't hear any good things from this, it's either because it doesn't match the unit's sound character (and maybe technical aspects), or because, you have already reached the maximum possible improvement a power cord can give to the unit, already with the previous cord! 

Roberjerman is the only poster so far who has contributed anything remotely useful to this question. You guys really need to study some basic physics, along with ohms law and a chart on wire gauge and it's resistance rating per 1000 feet. Then measure the length of a typical AC cord supplied with most audio gear.

No hobo, stats and specs are only that. For one to decide if any cable is an improvement, one needs to listen to it long term to decide, In high-end audio, everything makes a difference, good or bad. One just has to have the time and patience to make that determination. If you are convinced that is not possible, so be it, however it is not the last word.

It could also be, that the very air in the room, requires a burn in period. Both to clearly transmit Bluetooth if you are using it. And also, importantly, to transmit the sound from the speakers to your ears.

Ha, ha, ha, really? Wait for the full moon... 

This formula should help;
The perceived improvement created by a piece of wire introduced into an audio system is directly proportional to the price you paid for it divided by how embarrassed you are about admitting how much you paid for it squared by the volume of space in your budget where money used to be.

Typical argument from someone who hasn't done the experiment but knows that it can't have an effect. And always brings up a cost. Don't understand why it bothers you so much.

What did you expect, of course power cords do NOT make a difference to the sound, unless you change all the wires from the actual generating plant to your system. Even then, you will hardly hear the difference, unless you are a super being, very likely from another planet, and a walking wheatstone bridge who can tell the difference between 0.001 ohm and 0.0011 ohms.

Nope, no need to do all that. just from the wall to your component. Try it you'll like it. Even though you know you won't.

Oh...

unless you are a super being, very likely from another planet, and a walking wheatstone bridge who can tell the difference between 0.001 ohm and 0.0011 ohms.

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At least you have a working theory, not a very good one but ONE non the less.

If you can’t hear the difference, guess what, you can’t. I can’t talk you into it...That is the true QUESTION of this thread. Can the OP justify 10X for a PC that the SQ is not there OUT OF THE BOX...

Of course, they sound different...No one said better, different...

You need to save your money, you hear no difference.. Less expensive for sure...BUT don’t start spoutin’ YOU CAN’T, with some .000X anything... Crack me up... You can’t others can.

Isn’t it good when someone hears INCOMING, even if you can't... BTW  I don't follow blind people either, ask directions maybe. BUT follow, NO....

Regards

There's a serious issue here that few even want to address...what about cables that sound better BEFORE they burn-in. What then? Huh? HUH?? You just spent $5400 on a big ol' power cable and it just gets worse every day...cellos lose their cellness, death metal starts to sound perky and upbeat...it all just goes downhill...at that point you really have to have a stash of new cables and learn what rhymes with "Cardas."

Oh god, here we go with oldhvymec’s verbal vomitus and rhetorical mania again. He loves to entertain himself with prose only decipherable to himself. Regards

Yep, aside from real science and the principals of physics, cable burn in is a thing just like saturation is a thing. Auditory hallucinations can be obtained for the price of a coat hanger.

Please...

It would improve the standard of debate on this forum if people read the questions and replied to them with RELEVANT comment. The OP says he hears a difference and the old silly brigade comes out yet again saying "No you didn't.  Cables don't make  a difference'" The clue is in the question, but  those who are self obsessed hi-jack and foister their ignorance on to others

I'm out. It's no fun having a battle of wits with unarmed opponents.

“Self obsessed” - look in the mirror. Inane posts with zero science behind their premises invite just a touch of fact-based common sense

I actually compared.

See my article at Dagogo.com entitled, "Audiophile Law: Thou Shalt Not Overemphasize Burn In", wherein I compared not only broken in products, but warmed up system to a cold system. The results were telling in regard to the phenomena of "burn in" and "warm up". 

Does that DAC have a linear power supply? If so there is 25-100 ohms of wire in the transformer. Do the math

ryder OP1,074 posts12-04-2020 10:09pmThanks for the responses. I'm seriously hoping for good things to come from this new cord as it's a pretty heavy investment for me. I hope this burn-in thing with cables is something that works ie. noticeably if not drastically improved sound after the whole burning in is complete.

Any ideas if the cord needs to burn in to open up and sound better?

Five years minimum....

Please consider it just as my personal experience....

Strip the ends off each end if you have any. Put the cable in a bbq , moderate heat, lid down and bake for 3/4 hours.

LET IT COOL

Scribe an arrow at on end or the other. Reassemble the plugs if they came with it.

Use the arrow to align the cable.......

😁🇦🇺

“Auditory hallucinations can be obtained for the price of a coat hanger.”
Truer words were never spoken (or posted).

I love this crap..........

Where I've heard a very clear and distinct difference:
RCA cables

Where I've heard no discernable difference:
Balanced cables.
Speaker cables.
Power cords.
Any manner of tweaking or lifting cables.

Just my experience with MY SYSTEM.

Regards,
barts

I acquired a SR Power Conditioner on the used market.  Considering what I paid for it, I was greatly underwhelmed with any if at all improvement over the one it replaced.  I figured, "Live and Learn" and worked hard not to fret over the wasted money.  About 7 - 10 days later the sound improvement was bizarrely much better.  I mean, it was like I had a different system!  This, I never would have believed until I experienced it first hand.

for really good burn in / aging of the very best ac cords, it takes about 12-18 years, depending on gauge of the conductor

so you better get started now!!!  😱

tbakin6347 posts12-06-2020 4:03amOh god, here we go with oldhvymec’s verbal vomitus and rhetorical mania again. He loves to entertain himself with prose only decipherable to himself. Regards

Yep, aside from real science and the principals of physics, cable burn in is a thing just like saturation is a thing. Auditory hallucinations can be obtained for the price of a coat hanger.

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Thank you very much, I’ll return the insult AND raise you one. You’re a mighty fine person, I hope to get to know you..

I know who you are.... Funny guy.... we would have a great time together...

Cables are broken in not BURNT IN... Maybe that might help...

Let me see, take the 25,000.00 cables out of  tbakin6347 stocking and put in some manners and Maybe a little chunk of coal. :-)

Happy Holiday

With great Respect...

Hey, I am developing a fondness for oldhvymec's unusual ramblings. Sure, I don't have the same "belief" that he has in the differences between cables, but buried inside many of those posts is a much healthier skepticism than a lot of audiophiles.

and put in some manners

Pot meets kettle.  Res ipsa loquitur

res ip·sa lo·qui·tur

1. the principle that the occurrence of an accident implies negligence.

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Merci beaucoup. AGAIN! I return your present... Nice touch though...:-)

AND certainly with no foul implied.

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audio2design371 posts

Truly a gentleman..

Regards...

 Translated from the Latin: "the thing speaks for itself."  

...try a different search engine

tbakin63

(regarding "Res ipsa loquitur") Translated from the Latin: "the thing speaks for itself."  ...try a different search engine

You might want to acquire some knowledge outside of a quick Google search, sir.

Res ipsa loquitur is an accepted legal doctrine exactly as quoted by @oldhvymec. Please feel free to look it up.

And translated literally from Latin, sir, it means "the thing speaks for itself". I’m not invoking it for purposes of legal doctrine. Daft

"Invoking"? Face it bub, you didn’t invoke, you used.

It seems your last few posts show a distinct lack of listener skills and audio experience, while your writing skills are poor even when it comes to throwing insults, which seems to be your main reason for being here.

Not sure how you’re set up there but usually there’s a mouse or touch pad or sometimes touch screen, that can be used to click on over to other websites more appropriate to your particular sort of inclination. Wherever it is, I think you will be happier there. We sure will.

What are non audiophiles doing on an audiophile site?