Break in period?

[Radiolad]

So I think i'm gonna pull the trigger buying a new Energy speaker system and I hear things about a break in period.

Should I not turn it up too loud for a certain length of time or what is the deal really?

 

[markw]

Play 'em at "normal" levels for about half an hour and then let 'er rip.

The effects and importance are highly exaggerated. I think it's mostly our ears acclimating to the new sound signature the speaker presents.

But, if you don't like the sound after a few days of getting used to their sound, send 'em back. They won't sound any better the next day ...or the next week ...or the next month.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Break-in for pretty much anything to do with speakers, electronics, or cables is pretty much BS. IMO, for that matter, so is break-in for cars.

 

[theJman]

So I think i'm gonna pull the trigger buying a new Energy speaker system and I hear things about a break in period.

Should I not turn it up too loud for a certain length of time or what is the deal really?

It's always wise to show some restraint for the first few hours. Everything is new and stiff so letting it loosen up gradually is a good idea.

 

[Irvrobinson]

It's always wise to show some restraint for the first few hours. Everything is new and stiff so letting it loosen up gradually is a good idea.

Not to be difficult, but what exactly is breaking in? The surround and the spider? Even at 40Hz it would seem that by the time you've thought about anything loosening up or stretching it's occurred already. Or am I missing something?

 

[theJman]

Not to be difficult, but what exactly is breaking in? The surround and the spider? Even at 40Hz it would seem that by the time you've thought about anything loosening up or stretching it's occurred already. Or am I missing something?

Yup, spider and surround mostly. I've actually had a conversation about this topic with the principles from PSA, Seaton Sound, JTR and Rythmik and in each instance they said the same thing; the drivers are indeed tighter when new, and some loosening will occur. It may be that the differences aren't audible and can only be measured, but even if that's the case there's certainly nothing wrong with being prudent. At least that's my 02 anyway.

 

[zieglj01]

So I think i'm gonna pull the trigger buying a new Energy speaker system and I hear things about a break in period.

Turn them on so that they can get use to you.

When you raise the volume up real loud, and things sound fuzzy and strange or distorted,
then turn it down - this goes for every time you play them.

If you really feel that you have to break them in - then turn them on and set the volume
to moderate - then go make a sandwich, and pour a cup of lemonade or juice - then go
back in and sit down and enjoy the sounds.

Now have fun.

 

[Swerd]

Two things come to mind when the term "break-in" is mentioned for any device with moving parts. Both have acquired mythic status.

The first is avoiding damage or undue wear when a new device is first used. New car engines were supposed to be run gently during a break-in period. No auto manufacturer seems to claim this anymore, but the myth still appears. As far as I know, no speaker maker has ever claimed that new speakers should be run more gently than normal to avoid damage. Occasionally new buyers wonder about this, but their caution is no different than the understandable fear of breaking a new toy.

The second myth has it that one should avoid judging the sound of a speaker until it has been "broken-in" for a number of hours. Depending on who is talking, the time span for this varies from several seconds to hundreds of hours. I have never witnessed even a poor, much less a convincing demonstration of a speaker's sound changing as a result of break-in. It is said that manufacturers and sellers take unfair advantage of this myth to avoid refunds of items recently sold.

If speakers don't need to be babied when new (as car engines may have been many years ago), and if speaker "break-in" can only be measured, and barely or not at all heard, why are we talking about it?

Use new speakers as they were intended. And yes, start judging their sound right away.