26 year old Monitor break in period?

HB27
HB27 Posts: 1,518
edited March 2008 in Vintage Speakers
Ever heard of 26 year old speakers needing a "break in" period? I picked up a very nice pair of RTA Monitor 11s still in the box recently and the owner said they hadn't been played since new.
I'd noticed they were a little mushy and not quite "up to snuff" on their sound. I've played them out for a while now and believe it or not they're really coming in sound wise. The last 2 days they've really smoothed out. The bass is now crisp and that vintage monitor sound is really nice. I thought they might need a freshen up but the longer they play the better they're sounding. Not just to my ears but a couple of my audio freak buds have also noticed the same thing over the last week or so.
These have been stored in the original packaging since almost new and not been hooked up in a couple of decades.
Am I imagining they needed a break in period after all these years? Is it possible?
HB
Post edited by HB27 on
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited February 2008
    Lots of power at unreal levels till the cops come. Works for some folks?

    Chuck
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited February 2008
    They're getting a good workout today. Pumping them full with EL34s & HDCDs through the ShengYa. These old monitors are coming around nice. I'd never thought about breaking them in. The more they play the better they sound. I don't think I've ever broken in a speaker before though. I'm not even sure of the recommended procedure.
    HB
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  • cubdog
    cubdog Posts: 835
    edited February 2008
    Give them another 10 or 15 years and they will really sound good.

    cubdog
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2008
    cubdog wrote: »
    Give them another 10 or 15 years and they will really sound good.

    He he he... I agree. No break-in is one reason I love buying used speakers; but it's possible that second hand speakers may not have really been used. Talk about "mint".
    Jake
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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited February 2008
    Break-in adresses the physical construction of the speaker. Mostly the spider.

    So yes, even a speaker that has been in its box for 25 years requires a break-in.
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited February 2008
    These 11s are really sounding great. They've been hooked up and played constantly and are smoothing out and blending so nice. I like my Monitor 10 and 12 but I have to say the 11 can kick some serious tail.
    Talking to F1Nut brought out the idea of break in. I was going to jump the gun and re-cap and go through these. Glad I didn't do it. The advice of "Play 'em out and get used to them" is good advice. I've given that advice, now I've learned to take it.
    Thanks,
    HB
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  • HB27
    HB27 Posts: 1,518
    edited March 2008
    Ok, an update on "break in period".
    Another week of playing them out constantly.
    These have really came in nice. Detail and clarity is unreal.
    I've been a monitor 7 fan over my 10's and 12's as the 7 always seemed more detailed in the mids. The 11's are very close in detail and clarity but these are bass monsters in comparison to the 7, 10, 12's.
    Yes is the answer. Even older speakers may need breaking in.
    HB
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