Speaker Break In...? Or listener “Break In”?

TBC: There are a number of times when speaker makers have measured the break in of a woofer.

The annoyance for us is that driver manufacturers (not speaker makers) specify the drivers after being broken in, but we get them without, so when we measure them they don’t necessarily match up for a while.

YMMV, different drivers, suspensions, etc. will behave differently. Usually this has to do with the resonant frequency dropping after use. That’s a key component of cabinet design, which is why it can be really annoying.

Best,
E

Here’s one I’m going to throw out, because Audiogon is just not contentious enough tonight.

Anyone who doesn’t believe capacitors break in, substitute tweeter caps for Mundorf MKPs.


This isn’t a point I’m really willing to argue. Believe what you will. If you want to experiment, try that swap and listen for yourself.


The MKP’s are really cheap ($7-12 each) and really have the most difference between fresh and broken in, especially with imaging.

They’re also not the very best either!! I’m just saying, if you can’t hear them break in, you can rest assured you won’t hear anything else break in either. Not only do they sound different, they sound weird while breaking in.

Peace.

E