Speaker Break-In

jerrymb
jerrymb Posts: 278
edited April 2007 in Speakers
I just got a pair of the RTi4's.Is speaker break-in a myth or do speakers actually need time to break-in.How do the speakers know when it's time to stop breaking-in?
Jerry
Post edited by jerrymb on
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  • jusdrink
    jusdrink Posts: 38
    edited April 2007
    it is my understanding that when speakers are new they are stiff but over time with use they will break in. all the high dealers say that anyway
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited April 2007
    Welcome Jerry & Jusdrink.

    If you are enjoying the sound of your speakers now, don't bother worrying about break in.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited April 2007
    You'll know it when you hear it.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • JeffBowser
    JeffBowser Posts: 17
    edited April 2007
    Nothing like some cold hard math and real-life testing to answer that question: http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/speaker-break-in-fact-or-fiction
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited April 2007
    Yep, nothing like real life testing and numbers, eh John?

    http://www.gr-research.com/burnin.shtm
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • JeffBowser
    JeffBowser Posts: 17
    edited April 2007
    My article trumps your article - mine has fancy looking equations, and pretty graphs :D:D
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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited April 2007
    Cool article Russ. I never really thought about the technical aspects behind it since I always thought it was more of a tonal change. The only break in I've ever noticed was with my 7's and how they started to image better over time. I guess it's one of those things that happens too slow for me to notice.

    The AlphaLS's are going to need a little extra time with that many drivers, huh? I fired off an email to CSS Bob because I want to get my ears on a pair. Nothing but respect for the adire, exodus, css and the rest of the diy provider guys. Think I'd get smacked if I brought over my nad / parasound combo to demo speakers worth over two grand just in parts? :p I've seen their setups and they spend more on cabling than I have on my entire system.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited April 2007
    jerrymb wrote: »
    I just got a pair of the RTi4's.Is speaker break-in a myth or do speakers actually need time to break-in.How do the speakers know when it's time to stop breaking-in?

    It's my understanding from your other threads you returned the Polks. I guess you'll never know because you didn't keep them long enough to find out for yourself.

    Yes, speakers need time to break-in about 20-40 hours in my experience.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited April 2007
    heiney9 wrote: »
    It's my understanding from your other threads you returned the Polks. I guess you'll never know because you didn't keep them long enough to find out for yourself.

    Yes, speakers need time to break-in about 20-40 hours in my experience.

    H9


    Or 15 minutes if I'm playing them.:p

    Yes, about 2 days is what I figured.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited April 2007
    Michael, I'm looking about 500 hours before I can really start tweaking placement and dealing with standing waves, etc. It's going to be a while.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited April 2007
    200 hours min if the speakers say Magnepan on them!
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited April 2007
    1,458,986 hours if they are BOSE.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited April 2007
    jakelm wrote: »
    1,458,986 hours if they are BOSE.
    Now thats torture of the worst kind.:D An hour listening to those would be to much to take.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited April 2007
    I agree with RuSs and Doug.........to get them properly broken in and tweaked for your particular room and set-up it can take a long time. These things should not be rushed. You may pass on some great gear if you aren't patient enough.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited April 2007
    jakelm wrote: »
    1,458,986 hours if they are BOSE.

    Bose don't need a break in period.........they should just be broken so no one has to listen to them. :D
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited April 2007
    I know when I upgraded my xovers, I did not notice a difference until I played them for an intire day. They became smoother as I listened to them over hours.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited April 2007
    jakelm wrote: »
    I know when I upgraded my xovers, I did not notice a difference until I played them for an intire day. They became smoother as I listened to them over hours.

    Mine seem to get better everyday but it's starting to level off a bit.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter