Break in period

Shadrone,

A quick question. Do you assume that manufacturers only use new component parts when they make their prototypes and that their designs are only to be heard with new parts. I think it is reasonable to assume they do not, and that your product's critical parts age to approximate those of the manufacturers prototype.

Or are you saying that parts aging never changes the components contribution to the sound?

BTW, how do you define 'significant'.

Lastly how did you determine the appropriate length of time for the breakin to occur. It seems to me that listening skills/experience/interest are more determinative of the length of the break in period than anything else.

For other naysayers......

Everything is new, degrades and dies. Changes occur. Those are immutable 'facts'.

Why do I seem to note that when believers post they always post regarding the equipment that they observed the break in occur. Conversely, the nay sayers NEVER give any specificity to support thier positions. I would like them to tell us:
1) What credentials do you hold
2) What experience do you have
3) What have you actually listened to
4) Under what circumstances did you listen to the equipment that caused you to form your opinion.

Tell us poor believers what causes you all to want to deprive us of out poor beliefs. Absent 'facts' to support your beliefs that is!

Let us hear from you, but no more one liners please.

S7Horton, next time how about printing my whole sentence, not just the part you think you can nail as not factual?

Well, thank you all for your input and replies. I guess I touched a nerve with this topic. Sorry about the disagreements. We're all at different experience and educational levels when it comes to high end audio, eletronics, sound, etc.

My conclusion is that it's probably a combination of your own ears and brain acclamating over time plus the materials inside the speakers themselves are perhaps changing a bit. Maybe the Kevlar in my B&W's become less stiff for example. Just a thought. I'll go along with the first responder of between 100-200 hours. I have to tell all of you that when I installed a PS Audio power port some months ago and replaced the junk builder's grade eletrical outlet, I heard and continue to hear a marked difference in the information and detail coming from my loudspeakers and amp. I know this has nothing to do with the "break in period" topic but to if anything caused the sound to improve considerably, that did it. I actually installed a 2nd one since my SW is plugged into a different outlet from the amp. Good stuff gents.

Pdn,

It is not the fact that the brain and ears adjust to the sound of the new equipment. Our ears and braind actuall have very short memories. Listen to a song on a well conditioned system, then listen to the same song 24 hours later on the same system. Do you hear the same things as you did the first time or do you focus on something different in the music. Did you mood influence what you heard each time?

Ever attend a show. Can you tell the difference in the systems or do they all sound the same after your ears and brain have adjusted. I think not.

Lets deal with speakers B&W inparticular for starters they will take upwords of 300 hours to start to sound good. at 1000 they will start to sing. At 5000 you will go wow are these the same speakers.

It is not just the kevlar drivers but all of the drivers that require breakin, they are mechanical devices and will loosen up after time alowing for better driver extension and speed.

Now lets deal with electronics why do systems sound better after they have warmed up. Ever wonder, or is this something we just accept as fact. Electronic devices have ambient operating temperatures. Lets take a transistor or a tube as they heat up it allows the electrons to break free from their orbits more easily, transfering to a hole in the next molicule's orbit generating current. To much heat and the electrons will break free from their orbits randomly generating noise and distortion.

Ok got go will get back to this later.

P.S. Credentials 7.5 years USNAVY Electronic technican. 8 years Digital Switch Design Engineer.

Artizen65:

Excellent input. Makes much sense. You're so right about our moods. I've been thinking about that too. Also night time when you have more melatonin present in the brain relaxes you more and music can sound greater. Lots of variables. Thanks again.