Do Audio Speakers Break-in?

[YSC]

I do believe materials change through time, but I also think that the difference is subtle enough to not creating audible effect

 

[pozz]

From there, it's a rabbit hole. It is easy to prove speakers break in. All you have to do is show one that changes parameters from "out of the box" to some point in the future. Easy.

People who say "break in" happens also say it's audible. The latter is where proof is necessary, since it implies that measurements and reviews are potentially moot depending on when a speaker is tested during its lifecycle (the objects of this argument being speakers that are well within their operating life, not vintage speakers at their end). The answer will affect the credibility of reviewers.

Other measurable mechanical changes as a speaker operates aren't important. Klippel has videos about real time tracking and compensation of those (the next frontier of active speaker tech):

There will always be mechanical variation from use. That's not in question. Neither is driver level variability off of the production line and changes found in testing drivers in in open air. Those things unquestionably happen, but they should not be extrapolated to include audible changes in finished products.

For break in to be audible it has reflect mechanical changes so significant that they shift FR, compression, something along those lines, for a finished speaker in a irreversible manner. The FR change due to testing temperature for the KH80s is not proof, since it's reversible as soon you bring the ambient temperature up. That's not "break in". That's more to do with ensuring similar or repeatable testing conditions.

 

[Keithdd]

Temperature is an undeniable factor, just a question of how much difference. I recall one true - 35 day here in Alberta and the car had been outside all day. Not only was the sound from the speakers appalling (till they warmed and the rear of the car warmed up) but the foam in the seats had frozen hard, as had the rubber tires which were no longer round. Speakers also generate their own heat so presumably there's some warm up factor too, who knows how much/little difference this makes.

 

[More Dynamics Please]

Power Sound Audio's Tom Vodhanel, who has measured and listened to more than a few speakers, posted the following on AVS Forum today:

Hi all, just to be clear. Break in is real and easily measured. Suspension compliance shifts. The important point in all of this is the changes all tend to offset. Can you measure the changes from brand new to 20 hours of use? Sure. Can you HEAR them? Nah.

99% of all speaker break in is really your ears acclimating to the sound.

 

[SIY]

Keep in mind that although TS parameters may change with temperature, the overall system response may not.

 

[Berlin]

My dealer told me that my new speakers need approximately 100 hours break-in time. I got in touch with the speaker manufacturer and an engineer confirmed in an email that their speakers practically do not change over time. He wrote that they subject their drivers to very high level signals during QC testing. This "exercising" process exceeds the stress levels the drivers would experience under normal listening conditions...

 

[Doodski]

My dealer told me that my new speakers need approximately 100 hours break-in time.

A great example of the puppy dog close sales technique. Get the customer to take the product home and then they will unlikely return it.

 

[mansr]

My dealer told me that my new speakers need approximately 100 hours break-in time. I got in touch with the speaker manufacturer and an engineer confirmed in an email that their speakers practically do not change over time. He wrote that they subject their drivers to very high level signals during QC testing. This "exercising" process exceeds the stress levels the drivers would experience under normal listening conditions...

Who was this honest manufacturer?

 

[LTig]

people who say break-in is a myth are only idiots with no experience in speakers

Read posting 489 and think again, before insulting people with far more knowledge than you seem to have.

 

[LTig]

Car stereo speakers have to be designed with somewhat different surround, spider and cone materials because a car stereo can be used at -40° f and +120° F. My car subwoofer measures differently in cold weather, the bass rolls off faster. Even the air in a cold car has a higher density than warm air and this changes performance somewhat.

So, sure, it would make sense to let a speaker come to room temperature before critical listening.

I agree fully, but this is not break in, because it happens every time the speaker is cooled down.

 

[raistlin65]

people who say break-in is a myth are only idiots with no experience in speakers

People who easily dismiss the notion that speaker and headphone break-in is largely a psychological phenomena, are themselves troubled by blind spot bias.

 

[Sal1950]

Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Mod's, IMHO time to shut this down
Nothing left to be said here.

 

[Dialectic]

Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Yes They Do
No They Don't
Mod's, IMHO time to shut this down
Nothing left to be said here.

Can we open a thread on burn-in?

EDIT: there is one.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/burning-in.21918/

When will it all end?

 

[Sal1950]

When will it all end?

How about we come up with a membership test to determine if any applicant is a radical subjective or not.
If he is, then we refuse membership unless it is explained he is on a probationary period and we expect him to take some time
to learn and accept the facts of bias influence, etc. I'm sure we could work something out.

 

[Dialectic]

How about we come up with a membership test to determine if any applicant is a radical subjective or not.
If he is, then we refuse membership unless it is explained he is on a probationary period and we expect him to take some time
to learn and accept the facts of bias influence, etc. I'm sure we could work something out.

Ahofer's recent post has been kind of a honeypot for those guys...

 

[Berlin]

Who was this honest manufacturer?

ATC

 

[Sal1950]

Ahofer's recent post has been kind of a honeypot for those guys...

Which one was that?

 

[Dialectic]

Which one was that?

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...re-that-casts-doubt-on-asr-objectivism.23618/

 

[krabapple]

A lot of other speaker companies recommend "breaking in", some arguably better than Klisch. Not that I claim "breaking-in" does something but I must ask, considering some of these companies are really good, they must know the truth better that a lot of us here: are all of them fraudsters?

To that extent, yes.

It's called marketing.

 

[krabapple]

one, break-in mavens always need to demonstrate that the measureable 'break in' difference exceeds the unit to unit variation.

two, the only 'break in' ever demonstrated was what occurs the first few times the woofer flexes.. which is not what break-in mavens and disingenuous loudspeaker manufacterers are are yammering on about. Their 'break-in' typically takes hours, days... Similarly, difference due to materials 'warming up' from cold temperatures don't count.

Also , as always, your sighted comparison doesn't mean dookie.