Breaking them in

[griffinconst]

I just got a new pair of floorstanders. I know there are different camps on breaking in speakers. I'm not sure what I believe either but the guy in my town that sells Vandersteen says it's important. I forgot to ask him how loud and how long. I figure it couldn't hurt, so...
1. Is playing the radio good enough? Can't generate white noise.
2. How loud should I play it?
3. How many hours do I need to do this?
4. What changes should I notice, if this actually does anything?
Out of the box they seem a bit stuffy compared to my old to a/d/s 400's with a sub. Were a/d/s considered bright in their day?
Thanks ahead for any and all advice.

 

[Pyrrho]

Read this:

http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/speaker-break-in-fact-or-fiction/?searchterm=speaker break

For those too lazy to read the above, the upshot is that after the first few seconds a speaker is played, there is no audible effect of "break-in", and the people who believe in it are believing in yet another audio myth, of which there are many.

 

[jamie2112]

The best advice is to just listen to them. Your ears will adjust to the sound of your speakers as you listen to them. Its a myth about break in its just your ears adjusting to the new sound.

 

[dgshtav]

As I posted in a similar thread...

Personally I believe that speakers require some break-in. But to me, a few hours of different types of music played at decent sound levels should be good enough.

I don't buy into those 200 Hour break-in recommendations. To me, that's just a gimmick that vendors play to push one into keeping the speakers longer beyond the return previlege period.

 

[Pyrrho]

...

I don't buy into those 200 Hour break-in recommendations. To me, that's just a gimmick that vendors play to push one into keeping the speakers longer beyond the return previlege period.

That, and it gives one time to get used to how the speakers sound. People don't like to be told that they shouldn't just go with whatever seems impressive at first, but should listen to a variety of things over time before they make up their minds about a particular set of speakers. For example, very often, people are initially pleased with a speaker that overemphasizes bass, but over time, some may find that less than appealing. But a speaker that may at first seem "bland" in comparison may seem better after giving it a chance and listening to it for a while.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...Out of the box they seem a bit stuffy compared to my old to a/d/s 400's with a sub. ...
Thanks ahead for any and all advice.

Speakers and the room are what you hear and what makes the greatest audible input to your listening, not the wires, amps, etc.
So, what you hear is due to listening to two different speakers, period. You are used to your old speaker's sound and not the new ones.

The above inputs about the so called break in applies. If that doesn't satisfy, play whatever you have through your new speakers until you think you hear what you want to hear. That involves no arguments or debates; it is simple. So, just enjoy them.

 

[EYEdROP0]

One good sign of a speaker that is fully broken in is foam-rot.

But in all seriousness, what Ive found to work really well is pink noise playing for 20 minutes at normal listening volumes, then giving the voice coils a break by playing 5 minutes of silence. Loop this over and over.

I used this burn in method with my headphones and I like the way it changed the sound. I personally could never stand listening to pink noise, let alone on loudspeakers, although some people like it.

 

[Missionman]

its an old myth about speaker break-in. i used to believe in it, but with loads of research later, i learned there is no such thing.
Its not the speakers that need to be broke-in, its your ears than need time to adjust.
Give yourself a little in the room with your speakers playing and all will sound fine.

The sound of speakers differs from your room and speaker position, most people get a large speaker and place it anywhere within a small room, thats wrong. Some people buy tallstand speakers because the look nice. thats also wrong.

Your speakers should be suitable for your room for maximum sound clarity, e.g: tallstands for large rooms, bookshelfs for small rooms.
Place your speakers in face of your seating spot, there is no point facing speakers towards another wall from where you are seated, Wall bounce of sound occures and distorts sound. (say you had an arm chair in the center of a room, face all speakers towards that chair) crystal sound will emerge.

Hope this helped you out mate

 

[abjonesiii]

speaker break-in is in fractions of a second. All that play 'em for days stuff is voodoo

 

[mtrycrafts]

One good sign of a speaker that is fully broken in is foam-rot.

....

I think that is called the breaking out period

 

[mtrycrafts]

speaker break-in is in fractions of a second. All that play 'em for days stuff is voodoo

You mean there is voodoo in audio?

 

[R-Carpenter]

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=209049

 

[Alex2507]

You mean there is voodoo in audio?

just in sales

 

[Sheep]

http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=209049

Use your words!

"Breaking them in"

Wasting some time.

SheepStar

 

[fredk]

I disagree completely. Break in is very important, but it requires that you are properly equiped.

edit: credible phychoacoustic research shows that...
You need:
1. large quantities of your favourite beverage
2. copious amounts of good music
3. at least two sick days

Only under these conditions can you achieve optimum sound quality.

 

[R-Carpenter]

I love this forum. On one hand people are trying to be scientific and objective on the the other hand certain things get disregarded. For example, latest review of TSC in wall speaker. Purely subjective in terms of sound and useless. None of the gurus here mind it. But then someone mentions break in, oh no, boo hoo, lets kick him in the n..ts. If you guys want to be objective, you need to do it everywhere and probably do you own measurements to back up the opinions, other wise, well it's just pulp.

 

[Alex2507]

I love this forum.

That's great. I do too. It's just wonderful that we have this in common. I'm sure that we have many other shared views. Getting to know you better will be such a joy.

 

[Rickster71]

I love this forum. On one hand people are trying to be scientific and objective on the the other hand certain things get disregarded. For example, latest review of TSC in wall speaker. Purely subjective in terms of sound and useless. None of the gurus here mind it. But then someone mentions break in, oh no, boo hoo, lets kick him in the n..ts. If you guys want to be objective, you need to do it everywhere and probably do you own measurements to back up the opinions, other wise, well it's just pulp.

Since Tom was installing them in his parents' house, he did say the following:

"As reviews go, this isn't my most rigorous. The fact is that once you leave your own room where you are familiar with the acoustics and limitations, you're really unsure of what is the speaker and what is the room. Plus, I couldn't exactly measure them as I would with most speakers since I didn't have my heavily treated AV Rant podcast room to do it in."

 

[Jacksonbart]

You might notice some extra bass as the woofers loosen up a bit but basically its your ears getting used to your speakers.

 

[lsiberian]

I just got a new pair of floorstanders. I know there are different camps on breaking in speakers. I'm not sure what I believe either but the guy in my town that sells Vandersteen says it's important. I forgot to ask him how loud and how long. I figure it couldn't hurt, so...
1. Is playing the radio good enough? Can't generate white noise.
2. How loud should I play it?
3. How many hours do I need to do this?
4. What changes should I notice, if this actually does anything?
Out of the box they seem a bit stuffy compared to my old to a/d/s 400's with a sub. Were a/d/s considered bright in their day?
Thanks ahead for any and all advice.

The best way to break in new speakers is to Watch your favorite movies followed by listening to your favorite cds and then playing your favorite video games.

Break-In requires your favorite celebratory beverage and a good snack like popcorn. If you can invite friends over to gloat with you then all the better.

You must be in the room enjoying the sound to properly break in the speakers. I would say spend as much time as you like and then when the sun starts coming up and the police show up at your door. Go to bed and turn down the volume.

P. S. Don't break open a bottle on the new speakers It could cause some series issues.