Speaker break-in?

[Go Blue]

Do new speakers need to be broken in? If so, how is that done? (please merge if this is covered in another thread)

[VinnAY]

the "Blu-ray guru" doesn't search???

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...eaker+break-in

[Johnny Vinyl]

Totem Acoustics, the manufacturer of my Totem Sttaf's, recommended a break-in of approximately 80 hours. All I did was NOT play them very loudly for about the first month and then gradually brought up the levels as I wanted. I can't say whether the break-in resulted in an aurally better experience as they always sounded fine to me right out of the box. Also, during that time and for several months after, I also experimented with speaker placement as such. At this time I think I have found just the right spot and they sound superb. In fact, I think they could sound even better, but I'm limited in space and can only do so much with them.

I would therefore say, regarding break-in, use common sense and don't try to blow their brains out on the first day.

John

[callas01]

about 100 hours i think is the general rule

[mdabb]

Even after a break-in period.......... and I may catch a little heat for this, but I feel that speakers sound even better after a warm up period as compared to what I hear when I first turn my system on.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by mdabb

Even after a break-in period.......... and I may catch a little heat for this, but I feel that speakers sound even better after a warm up period as compared to what I hear when I first turn my system on.

I agree...I always turn on my system and let it warm up first before using it. Not very long, but usually around a half-hour or so.

John

[Fors*]

I guess I consider my self kinda lucky, as I was not aware of a "break-in" period for new speakers?! Good thing I did not have a chance to really turn them up, until well over 100 hours due to my 2 littles ones around.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by John72953

Totem Acoustics, the manufacturer of my Totem Sttaf's, recommended a break-in of approximately 80 hours. All I did was NOT play them very loudly for about the first month and then gradually brought up the levels as I wanted. I can't say whether the break-in resulted in an aurally better experience as they always sounded fine to me right out of the box. Also, during that time and for several months after, I also experimented with speaker placement as such. At this time I think I have found just the right spot and they sound superb. In fact, I think they could sound even better, but I'm limited in space and can only do so much with them.

I would therefore say, regarding break-in, use common sense and don't try to blow their brains out on the first day.

John

Great summary for 99% of us out there. Some people recommend pink noise with the speakers facing each other. For someone with my level of patience, that is entirely unrealistic. I did basically what John mentioned above. The only difference was the first night I played some classical orchestral music through the night

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by John72953

Totem Acoustics, the manufacturer of my Totem Sttaf's, recommended a break-in of approximately 80 hours. All I did was NOT play them very loudly for about the first month and then gradually brought up the levels as I wanted. I can't say whether the break-in resulted in an aurally better experience as they always sounded fine to me right out of the box. Also, during that time and for several months after, I also experimented with speaker placement as such. At this time I think I have found just the right spot and they sound superb. In fact, I think they could sound even better, but I'm limited in space and can only do so much with them.

I would therefore say, regarding break-in, use common sense and don't try to blow their brains out on the first day.

John

John,

Your Totems are not a new car. You can blast your speakers out of the factory box and nothing will happen. In fact, you may "break them in faster".

According to some experts, most speaker manufactures know that the break-in period is not an important factor and do not write anything about it in their manuals. However, when you call them or email them, they will tell you that you need between 30 to 50 hours. The reason is because they do not want you to return their speakers. They are hoping that you get used to them or the return period expires.

Others claim that the only part of the speaker or subwoofer that needs break-in is the spider and that normally requires less than an hour. They argue that if the manufacturer insists that their drivers need break-in, it means that they are mass produced and never been tested.

As your fellow Canadian, Paul Barton of PSB, has said it multiple times, it is not the speaker that requires break-in, it is the brain that requires break-in and getting used to the new speakers.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Schultzy

Do new speakers need to be broken in? If so, how is that done? (please merge if this is covered in another thread)

Yes, in the sense that they need a number of hours on them before they'll "loosen up" and sound their best. But not in the sense that a new car engine needs to be broken in.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

John,

Your Totems are not a car. You can blast your speakers out of the factory box and nothing will happen. In fact, you may "break them in faster".

According to some experts, most speaker manufactures know that the break-in period is not an important factor and do not write anything about it in their manuals. However, when you call them or email them, they will tell you that you need between 30 to 50 hours. The reason is because they do not want you to return their speakers. They are hoping that you get used to them or the return period expires.

Others claim that the only part of the speaker or subwoofer that needs break-in is the spider and that normally requires less than an hour. They argue that if the manufacturer insists that their drivers need break-in, it means that they are mass produced and never been tested.

As your fellow Canadian, Paul Barton of PSB, has said it multiple times, it is not the speaker that requires break-in, it is the brain that requires break-in and getting used to the new speakers.

Big Daddy,

I agree with you wholeheartedly, but my break-in occurred prior to me having had the good furtune (or curse. ) of listening to those much more in the know than I. The opinions on this whole "break-in" requirement varies as much as the implication speaker wire and interconnects have on a system. Either way, break-in may not be needed, but if it gives a consumer confidence to follow a given manufacturers suggestion, it won't hurt either.

John

For the record...I followed Totem's recommended break-in period, which is clearly stated on their website.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

According to some experts, most speaker manufactures know that the break-in period is not an important factor and do not write anything about it in their manuals. However, when you call them or email them, they will tell you that you need between 30 to 50 hours. The reason is because they do not want you to return their speakers. They are hoping that you get used to them or the return period expires.

Others claim that the only part of the speaker or subwoofer that needs break-in is the spider and that normally requires less than an hour. They argue that if the manufacturer insists that their drivers need break-in, it means that they are mass produced and never been tested.

As your fellow Canadian, Paul Barton of PSB, has said it multiple times, it is not the speaker that requires break-in, it is the brain that requires break-in and getting used to the new speakers.

Huh. Well, I disagree with Barton. When I first took delivery of my ML Spires, they sounded bloody awful. I began questioning my decision, but remembered how much better the ML Vantages I borrowed a few weeks previously sounded. Sure enough, a few days later (say, 10 to 20 hours playing time) they started sounding much better.

Interstingly enough, as part of my decision making process I borrowed a pair of PSB Synchony 2s. They may have a good rep (TAS' Neil Gader likes them for example), but me and the friend I'd asked to help me listen to the various speakers thought they sounded like crap! Certainly not worth the ~$2500 asking price!

It may not be fair based on a sample size of one, but PSB is on my list of speakers to avoid. Maybe I'd been spoiled by having the Vantages the previous week, but I was very disappointed with the PSBs. Heck, even my 11 year old Spendor SP1s are better!

[naturephoto1]

There are many views on speaker break-in. Some say they need none, others say 50 to several hundred hours. Many speaker makers, indicate about 100 to 200 or so hours to perform at their optimum. I am one that believes they do require break in to sound their best.

Rich

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by richteer

Huh. Well, I disagree with Barton. When I first took delivery of my ML Spires, they sounded bloody awful. I began questioning my decision, but remembered how much better the ML Vantages I borrowed a few weeks previously sounded. Sure enough, a few days later (say, 10 to 20 hours playing time) they started sounding much better.

Interstingly enough, as part of my decision making process I borrowed a pair of PSB Synchony 2s. They may have a good rep (TAS' Neil Gader likes them for example), but me and the friend I'd asked to help me listen to the various speakers thought they sounded like crap! Certainly not worth the ~$2500 asking price!

It may not be fair based on a sample size of one, but PSB is on my list of speakers to avoid. Maybe I'd been spoiled by having the Vantages the previous week, but I was very disappointed with the PSBs. Heck, even my 11 year old Spendor SP1s are better!

Just because you disagree with Paul Barton doesn't mean you should bad mouth PSB speakers. It is accepted by many in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries that Paul Barton is a very knowledgeable and one the most respected and experienced speaker designers in the world. In fact, he practically lives in the National Research Council of Canada's labs in Ottawa. Many experts and magazines rank PSB speakers very high and pick them as their editor's choice. I have listened to many PSB speakers over the years and I have always been impressed with them. You can buy many of them at bargain prices.

This is a thread about speaker break-in. You may believe in break-in and disagree with a well-known speaker designer and expert, but that doesn't give you the right to bash PSB speakers.

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

I think break in happens if play them at decent volumes for a hundred hours...or blast them for ten minutes...either way, your speakers are still getting used and eventually add up to that "recommended" break in time...Let's be logical here...some QC from speaker companies is off the wall.

[Intamin]

My manufacturer suggest all of 1 minute break in for the drivers to reach normal tempurature. Other than that, no break in. I will say it takes my ears time to "break in" and get used to the sound.

[Rob J in WNY]

I can honestly say that my Polk Audio PSW125 subwoofer improved noticeably over the first few weeks of ownership.

[rded]

As Far as my Dynaudios are concerned, it was the silk dome tweeters that took forever to break in/loosen up, I'd say over a hundred hours or so. Before break in, vocals especially in HT sounded like they were underwater

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Just because you disagree with Paul Barton doesn't mean you should bad mouth PSB speakers. It is accepted by many in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries that Paul Barton is a very knowledgeable and one the most respected and experienced speaker designers in the world. In fact, he practically lives in the National Research Council of Canada's labs in Ottawa. Many experts and magazines rank PSB speakers very high and pick them as their editor's choice. I have listened to many PSB speakers over the years and I have always been impressed with them. You can buy many of them at bargain prices.

This is a thread about speaker break-in. You may believe in break-in and disagree with a well-known speaker designer and expert, but that doesn't give you the right to bash PSB speakers.

I didn't intend to bad mouth PSB's wares. I was just expressing how disappointed I was in the specific set of PSB speakers I borrowed. GIven their reputation, I had high expectations, that in this instance (and much to my surprise to be totally honest) weren't met.

For all I know, the pair I borrowed were atypical and didn't fairly represent the brand. But that one sample (which I agree is statistically insignificant) is the only first-hand experience I have of their speakers (at least under somewhat controoled conditions).

[zicmubleu]

After reading some of the comments about how the poster's speakers sounded much better after a break in period and how they were less than expected before hand, I am wondering why the manufacturer doesn't break in their own speakers before they let them out the door? If I was manufacturing a product I would want it to be at its peak the first time a consumer used it. With a car engine you do have a small amount of latitude but even car manufacturers break in their engines I believe. With something like a speaker the manufacturer could hook it up to a sound source and break them in for you with no real effort, then they would be assured that the speakers were performing at their peak to start for the consumer which would help their reputation.

If a speaker loses it's break in if it sits in the store for a few months, such as the surround getting stiff, I would think that is a serious problem that will shorten the usable life of the speaker and I would want to avoid it. What is the logic for breaking in a speaker? (besides the warranty issue BigDaddy brought up)