The molecular level explanation of "cable burn-in"

I’m retired as many on this site, perhaps repetition Is a byproduct of forgetfulness. Over and over with 0 resolve, he said she said I say….who cares ! Enjoy what you have, snake oil or not and let’s move on.

Cheers

Another week, another cable thread.

@classicrockfan

Interesting topic.

I find that the technical explanation of "observable" phenomena can take the following path(s):

Nothing observable happened. Therefore every explanation to validate it is BS.

Something did happen. The entirety of supportive explanations are valid.

Something did happen. But, our attempts to describe what we observed are invalid.

The case above, it’s an automatic reflex to reject all of the explanations if some of the explanations are invalid -- in OUR view even though there is a (growing) body of evidence to show something is real here. Taking an example of an individual finding a mere 20% of the talking points to be "true", that means that the vast majority of the details are not true (in their opinion). What about the other 20%? Do we reject the premise entirely even though there are proven elements to the premise?

I find it interesting, that groups of people with pedigrees as long as their arms can reach totally opposite conclusions on many subjects; some a matter of life or death. So, it comes down to motivation. What’s in it for them?

Are they trying to save the world from bad sound? Trying into make a buck? Attempting to maintain their SGR (Smartest Guy in the Room) status? Just enjoying lively conversation? Every fiber of their being is wrapped around this, and the penalties for failure are severe? (job, status, potential prison sentence ...). And, yes, there can be multiple motives -- save the world from bad sound AND make a living in the process. These are not always contradictory but can be rather complimentary.

The atomic expansion theory states that all atoms in the universe are expanding at the same rate, so we don’t observe anything changing. Right? Wrong? I don’t know. It’s well above my pay grade. But, it’s fun to watch the really smart guys on both sides of the issue duke it out. With no clear winner.

Seems as plausible as any other 100% subjective theory, which they all are.

My mom had alcohol issues and once used a zip cord on me. To her surprise the evidence appeared the next morning in the form of red welts. She put long sleeves on me and buttoned up my top button before sending me off to school.  These days I can appreciate a better cable in a different manner.

@dougthebiker 

“If you can't tell the difference between cheap and expensive cables, your system isn't very resolving or you've got the speakers in the wrong place”

Maybe.  Or the set up doesn’t have the interference the fancy cables are solving in another situation.  Or the components were designed to use the wires being used.

It’s all very situationally dependent.

I’ll make everyone mad.  The main cable doesn’t effect the product it serves.

Instead, a poorly insulated main acts as an antenna and transmits garbage from inside the component it serves under certain circumstances.

You can test this with a cheap main and a cheap interconnect from different devices.  Tape them together for a bit of a run.  You can definitely pick up a hum or hiss or pop. 

In the typical rats’ nest of wires  behind so many audiophile set ups, you’ll get plenty of touching wires with plenty of parallel runs.  Frequently you’ll get some noise.

Run your wires carefully, try not to let them touch, give everything space, and where they have to cross, do so at 90 degrees (or a sharp angle), and use nice, but not exotic, wires, and all such issues disappear. XLR/balanced wiring and components helps a lot, too.  
 

The most sensitive run is from your turntable.  Any issue there is multiplied along and it’s the weakest signal in the chain.  Run it balanced (or however one wants to describe it) if you can.

All the exotic wires, difficult to repeat issues, difficult to test, issues are explained by the above.

Source:  I was an electronic countermeasures officer in a rather long and unpleasant war, and would face things like components working differently when one was placed on top of the other and not the other way around, that no Raytheon engineer could explain but sure as Hell happened consistently. 

Who knows why, but trust your ears.

If you can't tell the difference between cheap and expensive cables, your system isn't very resolving or you've got the speakers in the wrong place.

I think the big miss on the whole snake oil thing is it's very obviously certain that better cable, esp in the extremes (lamp cord for speaker cable like I used when I was a super poor kid).  And there's a large range of improvement.  The only question is how much is worth it.  To me it's simply the law of diminishing returns.  And the good ole subjective, if it works for you then it works.  I think there are many things in our lives where we put some "faith" in things that aren't so tangible but it still makes us feel better and at least have the perception, real or not, that it's better.  More yawn...I know.  lol

"So it’s the plastic polymer (as dielectric insulation) to undergo some sort of molecular rearrangements to minimize the distortion. Probably one of the greatest scientific discoveries ever!"

Just in case this was not meant as sarcasm...

As a plastics engineer all I can say is BS. Any plastic will require a significant amount of energy (HEAT) to undergo a molecular rearrangement of any type. So much so it might even cause a FIRE.

I can't explain it, therefore it cannot exist.

*Yawn*

Very witty post. Thanks 

"Keep on believing in imaginary things"
Like your belief that all Dacs sound the same?

Creating standing waves on the wires in the cable. LOL x 2!

DC Phase Alignment! LOL!

Keep on believing in imaginary things.

All the parameters in your equations are valid. Except Snake Oil. Might want to add the dampening of the conductors inside the cable.   When current flows through a cable it flexes.  A big air conditioning unit startup pulling 200 amps inrush.  An untethered cable will flex or move.  Extreme, high tension power lines shorting will actually whip around like a snake.  Obviously, there is less movement in what we speak but does alter the reactance of the cable and have an effect.

Also.  I think it has something to do with the power supply in the connected unit.  Not so much feeding power into the unit, but how the cable reacts to the counter emf that the unit is trying to push back into the power cord.  Creating standing waves on the wires in the cable.  The wires in the cable flexes on those standing waves.  And find a happy spot.  Break In.  Ultimately settling the Phase Aligning the dc voltages out of the power supply.   After all, It's all about the DC Phase Alignment

I think we both have too much extra time on our hands and need to get a hobby. 

Thanks for the inputs. You don't hate Mondays... so good night!

Reminds me of a co-worker who would write such equations to describe various other coworkers' personalities and quirks.  Was quite funny actually.  Yes, they were aware of it.  

I like power cables! I need power cables!

You can choose to believe any hype you choose or listen to someone who has been on the tech and repair side of the industry for 40 years. as I have chosen to do. Let your wallet be your guide!. 

Childhood trauma? Anyone whip you with a power cable when you were a kid for bad behavior?

Bigger yawn...

Big yawn ...