henry4841 Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 This came up on another thread so I was thinking the subject may be worth more discussion. After years of not believing they do improve after a breaking in period I am of the opinion now they do improve after some breaking in. Not really sure about speakers but electronics, yes. Lets hear what other here think on this subject. Please no conflicts or verbal fights. Respect others opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinion as it is almost impossible to actually prove the topic one way or the other. Unless one can see improvement on test equipment the subject is pure subjective and not fact. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyErnie Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 I'll go with 'Yes.' Whether that's due to equipment or ears adjusting is open to debate. I've definitely heard new vacuum tubes 'open up' after a few hours of use. Guitar speakers are quite well known for loosening up after several hours, I don't see why any other cone speaker should be different. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezin' Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 After having my crossovers recapped they do appear to sound better with some time on them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikekid Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 What I've always 'noticed' in my life is that they either work or they don't, and if I like them or I don't. Never logged into my brain a slight better or worse performance in sound in our gear over/due to 'time'. Unless broken or altered.. 🙃 Just me and I may be wrong 👌 I've been before a few times.... ~Mike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roninklipsch Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 I would suspect some devices might, like tubes perhaps or brand new caps. However I question a lot of what I hear on audio forums anyway. Heck, some folks say you can replace a fuse and hear it so they spend 250 bucks on a fuse. Then they- wait for it, turn the fuse 180 degrees and again hear a difference! But to answer your question from my personal perspective, I have seen mfg recommendations on speakers and amps etc quote 200-500 hours needed to fully break in. Who the heck remembers exactly what their system sounded like weeks/months ago? In short, I have never heard a difference but that's just me. My last amp was bought new, sounded great then, sounds great now. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 57 minutes ago, DirtyErnie said: Guitar speakers are quite well known for loosening up after several hours, I don't see why any other cone speaker should be different Guitar speakers are heavily damped with non compliant cone suspension to take the abuse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakeydeal Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 The short answer is obviously “of course”. The long answer will get you to the same conclusion. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 In terms of electronics, if I leave my receiver on for a while it seems to sound better compared to when I first turn it on. Then again it could just sound better because I think it sounds better. 🤔 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry4841 Posted March 13, 2023 Author Share Posted March 13, 2023 Class A SS amplifiers with definitely sound better when they reach the correct operating temperature. In general terms the harder, hotter, you run a transistor the better it will sound. That is until it destroys itself. There was once a designer that built an amplifier and said it sounded better than anything he had heard before. That is for 10 minutes. 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 I have had a new pair of speakers that needed 40 to 50 hours for the woofer to loosen up and make enough bass. I have never noticed any SS electronics change sound over any amount of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyErnie Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 4 hours ago, the real Duke Spinner said: Guitar speakers are heavily damped with non compliant cone suspension to take the abuse Some of them. Then you get the older-school stuff with naked paper cones and tiny motors. Few things are black-n-white. Most things are closer to 'on a scale of 1-to-10...' 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 20 minutes ago, DirtyErnie said: Some of them. Then you get the older-school stuff with naked paper cones and tiny motors. Few things are black-n-white. Most things are closer to 'on a scale of 1-to-10...' I have 1971 Celestiom greenbacks Bought new Never noticed a difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyErnie Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 If you were doing it right, they got hit so hard they broke in instantly. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 5 hours ago, roninklipsch said: I would suspect some devices might, like tubes perhaps or brand new caps. However I question a lot of what I hear on audio forums anyway. Heck, some folks say you can replace a fuse and hear it so they spend 250 bucks on a fuse. Then they- wait for it, turn the fuse 180 degrees and again hear a difference! But to answer your question from my personal perspective, I have seen mfg recommendations on speakers and amps etc quote 200-500 hours needed to fully break in. Who the heck remembers exactly what their system sounded like weeks/months ago? In short, I have never heard a difference but that's just me. My last amp was bought new, sounded great then, sounds great now. Convenient way to avoid Returns. 😀 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 7 minutes ago, DirtyErnie said: If you were doing it right, they got hit so hard they broke in instantly. 😉 My Marshall SL Goes to *11* 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jhakobe Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 A few months ago I may have been more skeptical and assumed it was more an issue of someone getting used to the sound rather than speakers breaking in or electronics warming up. That changed when I replaced woofers in some speakers. When I first listened to the speakers with the new woofers the sound was quite bad - no depth, poor imagery, lack of bass. I let them play on with a variety of music at a moderate volume level while I did other things around the house, occasionally going back to the room to see if I was mistaken. For a few hours I was not mistaken, they continued to sound bad. And I almost took them apart thinking I’d wired them out of phase when “Let It Be” came on. It sounded different so I sat down to listen - the sound stage moved back, imagery was better, and there was a notable increase in bass. Your results may vary, of course. When it comes to new speakers, I’m quite sure at least some need a break in period. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyErnie Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 2 hours ago, the real Duke Spinner said: My Marshall SL Goes to *11* Yup, that would do it. used to play bass for a guy that gigged with one. the bar would let us turn it up to 0.8-1.1. Mesa V-Twin pedal for tone. Apocalyptically loud. 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 Celestion have a "Suggested Break-In Method" for their guitar speakers https://celestion.com/blog/how-to-break-in-a-guitar-speaker/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the real Duke Spinner Posted March 13, 2023 Share Posted March 13, 2023 2 hours ago, DirtyErnie said: If you were doing it right, they got hit so hard they broke in instantly. 😉 100 watt Marshall Super Lead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 My 2A3 amps sounded better after they had been on for at l east an hour or so. Part of that was probably me starting to unwind and letting the day fade away. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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