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What are we listening for during break in?

Is it time for a reality check? A few days ago a post was started which asked a question concerning burn in of interconnect cables. The consensus of answers agreed that this was a necessary function with no opposing view. The recommendation that got me thinking was to install the ICs between cd player and preamp and use a test disc for 250 hours. My immediate reaction to that bit of advice was "give me a break." That is roughly equal to listening to 250 cds. Considering the amount of time I spend listening to music, it would take me six months to break in ICs.
I have experienced a sonic change after new speaker break in period so I'm not argueing break in doesn't occur. Whether a sonic difference occurs after ICs break in is another matter.
My question is, what are we listening for when we run our equipment for 250 hours just to break in an IC or modification? I don't mean why listen to music, I mean what sonic difference are we hearing? Is it better, worse, different, What the?
timrhu

Showing 6 responses by timrhu

timrhu OP
2,779 posts
 
Gredadd, I agree; cables don't require break in. That's why I'm asking this question. What sonic changes are people who break in cables listening for?
timrhu OP
2,779 posts
 
Grannyring, you are passionate in your belief. As I've never experienced it, I have a hard time understanding and therefore believing a wire changes its sonic characteristics with a hundred hours or so of use. If it does change after break in, does it always change for the better or have you ever heard one get worse? If they always improve there must be some reason, why would that be?
As stated in original post, I have experienced sonic changes in new speakers after break in. It wasn't subtle. I also believe not all components sound alike and I have heard a difference between speaker cables. Maybe I don't listen close enough to new cables to notice a change. In fact I know I don't listen close enough as I'm not sure what I'm listening for.
timrhu OP
2,779 posts
 
Rouvin, thank you for the thoughtful answer. Honestly, I don't think cable burn in is anything other than each listener's own perception. If someone hears a change in their cables after their hard fought burn in, that's fine with me. If another calls it bunk, that's fine with me also. It would take a lot more time and effort than I'm willing to put into it to find out for myself. My system sounds fine to me. There's no inclination for me to listen critically enough to hear the "sonic signature" of my interconnects.
timrhu OP
2,779 posts
 
Charlie101, stay right here. Opposing views are necessary if learning is going to take place. I take no offense from your statement. And you comment about electrical engineers is probably true.
Rouvin, I forgot to ask, if you were using an lp 143 times to decide whether or not you hear a change in cables, wouldn't you think the sound of the lp would change more than the cable?
timrhu OP
2,779 posts
 
Audphile1, I've noticed all of those charactistics you mentioned in my system at various times. I thought it was just the mood I was in. So maybe it was the mood my cables were in?
timrhu OP
2,779 posts
 
Audphile1, I checked your system and don't doubt your hearing abilities. How can you not listen to our system for three full days while waiting for the cables to burn in? I can't remember the last time I went more than two days without listening to at least a half a cd.
I have come to the conclusion, after this thread and many others like it, I simply don't listen as critically as some who post here. When I read threads by listners who change power cables to their cd player and the system opens up with more defined bass, better imaging and/or more detailed highs I honestly wonder what they are hearing. That's where the question for this post came from. I do appreciate your thoughtful answer and the fact that you hear these sonic phenomenon.

Tim
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