First new set of main speakers in 23 years. Opinions on break in for speakers? Is it real, and if so how long do you recommend? Do you have any specific methods?
Get them setup and playing, I don’t put much stock in a burn-in period, I just avoid pushing them too hard for the first couple of weeks.
I’ve always thought that it’s the listener that gets broken in, as you get used to the sound
It’s mostly this.
I was very sceptical about break in, and obviously I think it’s total bs for electronics, amps for example. But for speakers, Focal specifically says in their manual that the new Shape I bought needed break-in. I don’t remember if it was stated for my Sopra.
Anyway I guess you could debate speakers have moving parts, with lubricant etc. which need to settle in. But honestly it would happen very quickly or even at factory.
I watched an interview with a Sennheiser audio engineer and he laughed at the idea of break in. He said it would be ridiculous for Sennheiser to sell headphones that will sound different in 50-100 hours.
Later on in the interview they spoke with Dan Clark and he has a wall where he burns in drivers before he matches them.
So it seems like burn in is real but it’s done by the manufacturer, maybe cheaper gear doesn’t get burned in. I still burn in all of my gear just in case though.
Exactly this.
It makes sense that it is real, but the differences are so tiny that nobody can hear any difference. So if you hear burn in, it’s your imagination.
It wouldn’t make sense for DCA to spend time and resources on burn in if it did absolutely nothing, but they’re also aiming for 0.25dB driver matching which is quite extreme.
just like i said for headphones. the break-in period is for your brain to get used to the sound of the new equipment.
Wouldn’t it make sense that a woofer cone surround could be stiff initially, and become less so with some repeated flexing, like most any flexible material?
Or…are surrounds made of material that keeps the same elasticity it had when manufactured?
Generally just playing it is fine with current speakers. You’re adjusting to the sound of the new speaker just as it’s adjusting (usually slightly) to moving more often. With older speakers sometimes there’s significant suspension issues that need to work themselves out- hardened adhesives, etc. Sometimes it’s too late, sometimes a little boogie can bring them back.
I always think about some guy doing 15 to life for “breaking in” every time I hear this. I own Q series Kefs. These are not speakers you break in.
Burn in does have a measurable effect on speaker drivers. Basically you’re allowing the suspension and surrounds to become more pliable as they cycle over time, which affects the FS, Vas, and Q factors. A common outcome is that it can lower the overall tuning of the driver.
This is something that happens though after several hours of listening, so the traditional burn in of playing a continuous sine wave for 20+ hours isn’t really needed unless you want them burnt in faster.
Stereo Review studied this 30 years ago. Any measurable difference (inaudible) reverted to zero when the speakers cooled down.
This is one of those art over science topics for me. It’s likely not something measurable, so you can only go on experience.
I’ve experienced break/burn-in twice where I genuinely noticed something. The first was with new tubes in an integrated amp - a harshness/hardness in the top end softened and became more sweet. The second, when upgrading from Klipsch Forte III to Cornwall IV. Initially the Cornwall bass sounded very thin but filled out after a few hours.
Either way, if it sounds good that’s all that matters.
Of all audio components, I would say “break-in” is a real thing, since they are electro-mechanical devices. Amps, DACs, cables (lol), not so much.
8 seconds for most speakers. Maybe 13 for difficult ones. DO NOT listen while you are breaking them in…
I guess my question would be, what’s breaking in? I’ve heard that capacitors need break-in time, so the crossover might need some time. The drivers themselves are moving parts and it seems very likely that they might undergo a certain degree of mechanical change during the first hours of use, not unlike a new pair of shoes break-in. This probably is the primary effect actually, and seems very likely to be real.
I can only guess at how long it takes. Going back to the shoe break-in analogy, probably a month of regular listening will get you through the majority of breaking in. I personally don’t have good enough ears to hear it.
it seems very likely that they might undergo a certain degree of mechanical change during the first hours of use, not unlike a new pair of shoes break-in.
The first loud listening session, some low 90dBC in the seat, with the fresh out of the box Heresy IIIs presented us with some warm smells from the speaker fronts. Much like glue curing, warm paper, MDF, and grill cloth. Things smelled fresh and warm. After being ‘beat upon’ the speakers now sounded like the demo models at the showroom and lost their bass-shy nature and the glare in the mids and highs.
That listening session was well within the speakers limits/capabilities so no damage should’ve occurred.
Years later I learned voice coils may hit 200C in normal operation. How much of that heat makes it to the spiders and cones I have no idea but I better understand why we smelled warm smells after the high SPL session of an hour or so. The guts of the speakers become right warm when run hard.
So I’ve taken to thinking of speakers more like a new leather belt, stiff until some movement happens and then it settles down to a certain level of flexibility for the majority of its lifespan. Only at the end does it get extra floppy and feels ‘worn out.’ One would assume materials engineers for speakers have a firm and vast knowledge of this phenomena and this was taken into account during the design process, with the goal of quickly arriving at the ‘sweet spot’ for long term satisfaction of the end user.
its the spider of the woofer only. some dont need any, others especially coated spiders which are sometimes on pro drivers are very stiff when new, you can feel the difference with fingers on the suspension from a new and used unit. if its audible depends.
passive crossovers do not have break in
Yeah I’d say it’s definitely real, most take around the 70 hour mark to fully break in, but some need a bit more.
I’ve heard speakers fresh out of the box and then a few weeks later. I’ve also heard speakers that are broken in compared to the exact same speakers fresh out the box, and you can generally hear an instant difference, mainly to the lower end.
I worked in home cinema and hifi for over a decade, so have heard lots and lots of speakers in that time, that’s why I’ve managed to do direct comparisons.
There’s no need to pay someone to do it though, just wire them in and play stuff through them, give it a month or so and enjoy.
Break in or run in for speakers is real. I have proved it.
Had a pair of Martin Logan electrostatic hybrid speakers on loan from shop for several months while the ones I ordered came in. I wanted a particular wood finish.
The dealer delivered the speakers brand new, unopened from factory. I first played a select track so we could hear how the old speakers sounded. Then set up the new ones in the same location and then played the same track.
Immediately we could both hear that the bass was not as full before and the mids sounded rough. After about 10 mins the roughness vanished. ML recommend a run in time of around 50 hours or so. To speed up the process I left them running all day for a few days.
Yeah, I know I’m going to get people say they do not believe me and demand measurements to prove it. Well bite me. I don’t care. I witnessed it, it was real. The dealer also heard it.
lol you sound like people who defend homeopathy and lithotherapy
I had the same scenario play out, two of the same model speaker, one used and one pair brand new. Played the same track on both, in the same position in my listening room.
I could not hear a difference, nor could my dealer.
This is proof that burn-in isn’t real.
That’s cool man, but that’s just an anecdote. Don’t call it a *proof*.
It is proof to me. Bite me. Go on living with your head suck in a hole in the ground.