Hi
Audio is one hobby where we enthusiasts, regularly (and too often) dive into arcana to explain things that are often simple. I am seeing it right here and I have seen it quite a number of times in other forums. I do not believe that cables and wires need break-in... Their physical properties do not change on signal passing through them ... and regardless of wherever we dive to fish for explanations , those are easily verifiable facts. Now I know that some capacitors, electrolytic, for example require some amaount of "forming" exactly for the electrolyte to form... We audiophile seem to have extrapolated this to Teflon but as far as I know there is no physical change in the capacitors after the "break-in" period.
Break in is one of these issues. Whenever proof is asked of material change during the break in period .. The "the too small to measure but , please believe your ears"-argument comes up or anecdotal references are made ...no solid, concrete proofs. ... The discussion becomes a profession of faiths, of argumentation and of tautologies..yet no concrete proofs is ever presented...
So the question remains if the physical properties of the component have not changed ... What would its sound change? Is it too difficult to simply admit that our ear/brain has adapted to the sound of the component?
Electromechanical items , transducers: microphones, speakers, cartridges may need some break in it, IMO, I can see the material property changing with play .. I had a bizarre experience with a NEW Magnepan MG 3? .. r. With strong bass it would simply flap... Changing amplifier did not alter the behavior .. Tubes or SS, big bass whack, equaled flap... A few weeks of playing and the flap went away, never to return. Subsequent Magnepans that I owned , all purchased used, never exhibited this behavior...
Frantz
Audio is one hobby where we enthusiasts, regularly (and too often) dive into arcana to explain things that are often simple. I am seeing it right here and I have seen it quite a number of times in other forums. I do not believe that cables and wires need break-in... Their physical properties do not change on signal passing through them ... and regardless of wherever we dive to fish for explanations , those are easily verifiable facts. Now I know that some capacitors, electrolytic, for example require some amaount of "forming" exactly for the electrolyte to form... We audiophile seem to have extrapolated this to Teflon but as far as I know there is no physical change in the capacitors after the "break-in" period.
Break in is one of these issues. Whenever proof is asked of material change during the break in period .. The "the too small to measure but , please believe your ears"-argument comes up or anecdotal references are made ...no solid, concrete proofs. ... The discussion becomes a profession of faiths, of argumentation and of tautologies..yet no concrete proofs is ever presented...
So the question remains if the physical properties of the component have not changed ... What would its sound change? Is it too difficult to simply admit that our ear/brain has adapted to the sound of the component?
Electromechanical items , transducers: microphones, speakers, cartridges may need some break in it, IMO, I can see the material property changing with play .. I had a bizarre experience with a NEW Magnepan MG 3? .. r. With strong bass it would simply flap... Changing amplifier did not alter the behavior .. Tubes or SS, big bass whack, equaled flap... A few weeks of playing and the flap went away, never to return. Subsequent Magnepans that I owned , all purchased used, never exhibited this behavior...
Frantz