Dylanl Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 I have heard others speak about putting 100 plus hours of pink noise to burn in speaker cables for better sound. Is there any truth to this? If so what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Just hook them up and play them. After 1000 hours you won't know the difference. Some will say it's the dielectric that is being conditioned, because wire is wire, comparing apples to apples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Some will say it's the dielectric that is being conditioned, because wire is wire, comparing apples to apples. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!!!!!!!!! It's not the dielectric that's being conditioned, but the dialectic, the conversation, that is being ignored. As part of that dialectic, I will posit that cheap speaker wire performs equally well as high highfalutin speaker wire, but costs a lot less. It is possible that a manufacturer can screw things up to the point that speaker wire will sound worse, but it can never, ever, sound any better. Sometimes, however, I eschew dialectic discourse for intuitive reasoning. When I'm in that state, I would agree with the need for a break in time. I would propose that if you spend 10 hours running Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" your cables will have a funky soulfull groove added to them that will stand you in good stead in the coming years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 1) Go to big box home improvement store 2) Buy sumthin' cheap 3) Listen to music If you want to impress with looks or you yourself like the looks of something, buy it. Won't sound any different but if you like it buy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylanl Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 1) Go to big box home improvement store 2) Buy sumthin' cheap 3) Listen to music If you want to impress with looks or you yourself like the looks of something, buy it. Won't sound any different but if you like it buy it! I understand all that, but, I know a few respectable audio guys that say there is a perceived difference after burn in by comparing 2 sets. Just looking for some scientific thought behind it. Silly me, I would think fresh or new wire would be at its best at that point and only degrade over time but what do I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchester21 Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Dont know for sure- I run Nordost blue heavens. Some people offer burn ins for like 30 bucks. I just hook up mine and go with it. Does definitely makes a difference on components. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 As an aircraft type guy (nothing to do with audio) fresh is better due to lack of corrosion. We use environmental splices, etc. If the contacting conductor corrodes it plays havoc. Just because it ohms out as good doesn't mean it can carry any load. So my non-technical thought is, if it makes good contact then it's good. I have put several high dollar sets of speaker wire on my system (never bought them, just borrowed to hear) and I still use lamp cord from HD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxx Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 I've never done it. With hi end quipment, I'm not sure you could tell a difference... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted April 28, 2010 Moderators Share Posted April 28, 2010 I know a few respectable audio guys There's the problem............................. kind of an oxymoron. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebse2a3 Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 As an aircraft type guy (nothing to do with audio) fresh is better due to lack of corrosion. We use environmental splices, etc. If the contacting conductor corrodes it plays havoc. Just because it ohms out as good doesn't mean it can carry any load. One of the best things people often don't think to do is at least once or twice a year clean the interconnect jacks and plugs or at least unplug and plug back in(for the scraping/cleaning action) your interconnects between equipment. mike tn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Some will say it's the dielectric that is being conditioned, because wire is wire, comparing apples to apples. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!!!!!!!!! It's not the dielectric that's being conditioned, but the dialectic, the conversation, that is being ignored. As part of that dialectic, I will posit that cheap speaker wire performs equally well as high highfalutin speaker wire, but costs a lot less. It is possible that a manufacturer can screw things up to the point that speaker wire will sound worse, but it can never, ever, sound any better. Sometimes, however, I eschew dialectic discourse for intuitive reasoning. When I'm in that state, I would agree with the need for a break in time. I would propose that if you spend 10 hours running Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" your cables will have a funky soulfull groove added to them that will stand you in good stead in the coming years. Thebes you completely ignored apples in your reply. Apples are apples right? No of course they aren't. Grannie Smiths are way different from Golden Delicious, but neither require burn in, unless you are making a pie. Then there are those who swear by a combination of the two, or purists who insist on using only Jonathans. But comparing same variety apples carmelization is preferred to burn in if you have to get technical. Just as with wire in aircraft applications, fresher is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylanl Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 Just for the record, I am using home-brew DIY cables and I think they sound great. I also have NIT cables that sound very good. I have also heard that SOLID CORE ROMEX has merit and it is also cheap. Not to throw in another variable but "skin effect has merit". I just wonder if this is snake oil or based on something real. I wonder what would happen in a blind test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNRET Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 I wonder what would happen in a blind test.The tester would walk into a wall or get ran over. Sorry, had to go there. I PERSONALLY do not believe in the "wire causes difference" as long as some sensible length vs. gauge and clean connectivity is maintained (50 feet of 12 ga. vs. 50 feet of 16 ga made no difference to my ears). Nor do I believe in directional cables (I have them in my box of wires), burn in or 'equal length speaker wire'. My opinion ever since I bought my first "Hi-Fi " in '74 and tried out the latest in wires this year. I will spend my money on speakers (first) and electronics (second), not wire. Now media is a different animal. To me normal Redbook CDs and most CD players are very bad; for my taste. XRCDs with a tube mellowed output are pretty darn good. I'll bet you a BBQ sandwich and a beer that changing media will make a bigger difference than any speaker wire or interconnect but I digress from the original question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kouack Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Burn in cable how they call that hummmm hummmmm, it does start with oil i think huuummmmm no no snake oil yeah that what it is [] copper is copper. Just clean your contacts once in a while you will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryO Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Burn in cable how they call that hummmm hummmmm, it does start with oil i think huuummmmm no no snake oil yeah that what it is copper is copper. Just clean your contacts once in a while you will be fine. Copper may be copper but long strand copper vs short strand is definitely different. Put a meter on it and check resistance.I can hear a difference also in volume on longer strand copper. When I went to the AQ X2 wire I had to drop a half notch on the volume control. It was that noticable. Not scientific but noteworthy. I'm not so sure on burn in on speaker wire but I've heard the difference in IC burn in. I figure playing it out will burn it in. LOL! Just my 2 cents worth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocnorb Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Please go to this link and read , I found it most educational. Supplied to me from another forum member. http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laager Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I subscribe to the scientific method. Hence, I use this for the Heritage HT. Don't see any reason to use anything more expensive. Earth wire doesn't get used. Suppose I could use two conductor for the same end result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kouack Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Burn in cable how they call that hummmm hummmmm, it does start with oil i think huuummmmm no no snake oil yeah that what it is copper is copper. Just clean your contacts once in a while you will be fine. Copper may be copper but long strand copper vs short strand is definitely different. Put a meter on it and check resistance.I can hear a difference also in volume on longer strand copper. When I went to the AQ X2 wire I had to drop a half notch on the volume control. It was that noticable. Not scientific but noteworthy. I'm not so sure on burn in on speaker wire but I've heard the difference in IC burn in. I figure playing it out will burn it in. LOL! Just my 2 cents worth Interesting, how did you conduct the test? DBT or you were already knowing which cable you were listening to, because if the latest i suspect placebo effect, did the cables were about the same size( not talking about the jacket here but copper) to start with? and about same length? Did the AQ X2 cable was defective or had some sort of eq built in that would give a signature to the sound? (look like a fancy box on the cable) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I throw mine on the grill for a couple of hours with the brisket. Can't hear much change in the speaker wire, but the brisket develops more definition. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I understand all that, but, I know a few respectable audio guys that say there is a perceived difference after burn in by comparing 2 sets. Just looking for some scientific thought behind it FWIW, I definitely believe the sound of brand new wire improves with "burn in." My limited experience says 50 hours of playing music through them will take them pretty far, but that may vary from brand to brand.Be aware that moving wires around will make them sound a little tinny and ragged again. They'll sound better again after playing music a couple more hours. I haven't used special devices, and wouldn't bother. All subjective, of course. Forget trying to find reliable scientific rationale. I do not think sonic quality degrades over time, but my quality silver and copper wire has never physically degraded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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