Speaker Burn In?


Many components including speakers are said to require burn in of some period of time before they will reach their peak performance. Speakers like Magnepan are notorious for long burn in periods. Even cables are said to require burn in. Now I an faced with a set of speakers that need upwards of 240 hours burn in before they will 'open up' and play their best.

When faced with a required burn in how to yo do that burn it? Do you simply let it run it's course of time during your normal playback schedule or do you run the system 24/7 until the required time has been met? Are there other methods that can be used? Is their an accepted preferred method? And does the volume being played for burn in have an impact? Do higher volumes 'drive' the component harder and therefore provide a better burn in or to moderate or low volumes achieve the same goal?

In the past I have simply ignored the burn in as an effort and allowed the time to occur 'naturally' during my normal playback times. But with my last several components I have been more mindful of burn in and the recommended hours to optimum performance. Right now I am burning in a pair of speakers. I am about 40 hours in on non-stop playback. My normal listening level is from 72 to 81 on my system. When I leave the house or go to bed I drop the volume to 60 to 63. It is audible and in fact at this early time (3:40 AM) locally it even seems a little loud. How do you deal with this process?

Important process or waste of time thinking about it?
mwheelerk

Showing 3 responses by polk432

600 hours.. are you kidding me? I have Martin and Gibson Guitars that are supposed to sound better after years of play and sitting, but.... if they do not sound good right off the bat (just like speakers) I'm not buying. It's just good business sense, but that's why I retired at 48. Best of luck.
You may as well just play them. Always make the dealer burn them in first so you can hear them at their best, otherwise they probably already do, and the dealer made an easy sale. There is too much bullshit regarding speaker and wire burn in. 24 hours is enough. You will only THINK they sound better by waiting. I've had dealers mad at me for having them take the time to burn the speakers in, so that way they had no excuses if I didn't like the sound. My money is worth more that their time...because.... it is money that has been worked for and saved in advance. Not money they haven't earned yet, so don't let the dealer tell you you're wasting his time. That's what they're there for. Just play the speakers. No need to run pink noise or run one speaker out of phase. If they do not sound good after 24 hours, (I don't care how expensive they are) they will do your ears no good. Happy listening.
Xti16. The point I am trying to make is that you may not like the speakers after you take all that time to burn them in, and it may be too late to get a refund. Better safe than sorry. Linn Katans (sound good to me) take up to 600 hours to burn in? I ain't buyin' that.