Speaker Break-in

I've had speakers that sounded really good after just a few days of break-in time. I've also got a pair of great sounding Fritz speakers, and those took about 250 hours or so before the various frequencies started sounding like they'd met each other. 

ZU speakers burn their product for 200+ hours at the factory before you even see them. They still need a little burning, but they were fantastic when I got them.

Bent

My Vandersteen 3's improved significantly after 150 hours of break-in, didn't listen in between...have bought very few new speakers, so no other recent experiences...

@thespeakerdude +1

The testing the vendor would do prior to shipping which likely includes a burn in test, i.e. play loud for a few hours to ensure no failures will do almost all break in. At moderate volume, there will be measurable changes for a few hours more but audible? That is questionable. People break in more than speakers. We adapt.

@stereo5 - I just ordered the Ayre Cardas System Enhancement Disc Ver. 1.2 before I saw your suggestion of the Isotek System Enhancement CD. It looks perform similar functions.

I have owned many pairs of speakers over the years and all benefitted from break in.  I use the Isotek System Enhancement CD to break in all my equipment.  An easy way to break in speakers is to have them facing each other and wired out of phase. You can crank the volume without it being very loud and it gives the woofer surrounds a great work out.  I have never blown any speaker.  

@tuberist - thx

@nonoise - It was almost $40 with shipping but a little more research I found it for $23 inclusive, so it's on its way! Thank you

One great way to break in a pair of speakers is to play Ayre's Irrational but Efficacious! System Enhancement Disc. It consists of short and long glide tones, white, pink, brown noise, mono brown noise, and out of phase brown noise. 

Be mindful of the volume as you'll see your mid and bass drivers dance about.

All the best,
Nonoise

I received  my new NSMT model 75 Loudspeakers three weeks ago. I did not notice a significant sonic change from out-of-the-box to 100 hours, where I am now. The manufacturer advised a 200 hour break-in; and not to play at high volume during the breakin. Also vary the listening volume. You got great advice from Legacy and your dealer. Enjoy!

@russ69 - Sounds good, thx!

@arcticdeth - lol!

@hilde45 - OK, I see if I can dig out some of my old Motown CDs!

I've only had one pair of loudspeakers that changed dramatically after a short break-in. Everything needs some burning in but mechanical drivers used in loudspeakers get to one-million cycles pretty quick. Hook them up and enjoy. 

Almost bought the Axiom large towers years back.

opted for used amps, and found the close out from klipsch, when they bought and closed one of the best speaker manufacturers in North America. 
 

went through a good 4-5 pairs, all arrived with some damage,  racks, etc, such a shame to see that many of them get wrecked by the brainless moron ups heartless drivers. 
 

kept the best ones, have 2 pairs now, and the break in was awesome, I remember the first few days, sounded thin, lifeless, no bass, minds wee just ,…yuk, the good people here and over at the forum, said, give them time, so I did, it’s been wow, 4 years now, I think more, boy was the wait sooo worth it.

bass became tight and full,rich, treble is the most non fatiguing tower I’ve owned (with altec Lansing m510’s close 2nd)

bought 2 pairs, happy as a pig in mud!

man, I was looking at the Legacy speakers for a while as well, sent me brochures, I read every article, review of them I could find, I’m anal, so before a purchase, I will audition, and read every thing I can find on the item I’m gonna drop a lot of money on. I’m a bit jealous of your Legacy purchase, they make great stuff, and please report back if their woodwork is as good as it looks!”

 

grabbed a McCormack dna750 pair , kept patient, and found the matching LD2 pre for a song, then the UDP1 Showed up also for a great deal, had to!!

for far under my budget, amps, pre, cd,dvd,sacd, universal player, plus 1 nice pAir of Gronneberg RCA’s . I waited months between purchases for the pre and CD player, I used older components til I had my system, then, magically I was looking for speakers, and WOW, BAM, there they were, the ones I’ve wanted for years were practically given away, had too get 2 pairs.

 

that’s the upstairs system

basement is great, ..odyssey kismet monos, Sanders “the preamp” , nice rotel CD/dvd player, 

 

 

3rd system is a mid 90’s yammy 90W simple receiver, hooked up to my computer, which use my Technics sl1200mk2 TT, to record into my hard drive, and clean them up with audio lab 3.0, burn to Taino yuden cdrs’ at 96K. Play through a older pair of BIC Venturi V630 pair. 
 

im hoping my nephew comes to me when he gets into music, I have a nice old PIONEER TT, yammy receiver, and an older magnavox cd/dvd player  

 

 

see, I get talking audio, and I can’t shut up.

 

 

enjoy

 

Brown noise, on as much as possible.

Legacy are great,speakers. Yup, put on a cd, (repeat).

let play all day and night, every night give a listen, you will hear a diff sound signature maybe every night

 

enjoy, great speakers

Mine took over 270 hrs to open up.

 

now, wouldn’t trade em for anything but MBL radiostrhaler 

@soix OK, thank you Gentlemen. Although, @ghdprentice they are not surround speakers the manufacturer is referring to the surrounds of the speakers themselves.

Surround speakers supply so little sound to the overall experience that even if they require a couple hundred hours of break in, I doubt you will ever notice it. Over all over 85% of sound comes from the central channel I am sure 10% comes from the left and right. That leaves 5% for the surround. While the surrounds add enormously to the dimensionality, they’re being broken in is unlikely to be noticed. 

Even if the surrounds are already compliant, the electronics in the crossover will likely benefit from some break in.  I’d give them at leas 100 hours before making any critical judgements.  Congrats on some great new speakers.  Enjoy!