His explanation for this myth is both because of the time it takes for the brain to adapt to a new pair of speakers, and also the difference that driver temperature makes. People that measure a new driver at cold temperature, feed a loud white noise for hours, and then measure right after, are just measuring the effect of temperature.
All equipment need to be brought up to operating temperature before turning up the volume. No different than anything else that has moving parts
or is building and dissipating heat. There is a lot of equipment that is made for harsh, quick movements and there is equipment that depends on very
smooth, detailed and precise movement. BOTH require a warm-up to be able to maintain those qualities.
That warm-up period is also what contributed to the equipment's life, LONGTERM.
30 minutes to warm up equipment from preamp tubes to TWO different size voice coils in a single sub driver should be more than enough time to get
consistent performance without deviations. When equipment passes IM (infant mortality), breaks-in, is serviced correctly, those warm-up times decrease
and become more consistent with the environment they are in. Stereo gear and electronics in a room comfortable enough to set in is more that ample
to keep equipment safe from extreme cold start-up issues.
Mid life failures are usually poor AC voltage feeds. The reason for a maintainer and a FAST acting surge suppressor. 105-120vac wasn't uncommon
in my neighborhood in the summer. Low voltage is a killer for a lot of equipment and plugging into a wall receptacle without protection will
insure one thing, little if any LOW voltage protection.
All wood product breath until they are SEALED. That sealing is inside and out. If the speaker breathes through ports, surrounds, leakage and unsealed
surfaces it changes in accordance with what it's breathing and the material that is moving the air. Untreated paper, to woven carbon fiber (shark skin).
Materials prone to absorption will increase the dampening in high humidity areas and if its seasonal it's worse. Where I live, is BAD for ported speakers,
if you're subject to Delta "Tule Fog." The water is brackish and the fog is year round in some places. You will know when you get a set of those speakers
the metal will rust and the wood will swell. I've seen at least 12-15 pairs of great speakers ruined by coastal, misty, foggy, moist conditions like house
boat speakers.
I keep reading about "Myths." Depends where your from. Breaking-in is as real as a person's understanding of what it is.
The slowing down of wear through the reduction of resistance from the components parts (surrounds and spiders), not the environment.
Good example of longer breakin times vs lower break-in times. Nothing is written in stone as far as how long it takes.
THICK Butyl Rubber surrounds vs pleated silks.
50 hours or more vs less than the time to warm up a voice coil,
30 minutes or less.
The question is: is break-in or normal wear happening or is there something else contributing to shorter equipment life and the quality
of that service life for the user?
I like Rolls Royce, while breaking in Rolls leather to my bottom would be a bit of an issue, I could live with it. Good leather gloves, they just
fit one day, just like a glove.
Happy harvest!
Regards
