Do I need to do anything to break in new woofers?

[ridergroov1]

Hi folks. I bought new woofers to replace my old speaker woofers, 15" Dayton ST385-8, and I was wondering if I have to do anything when I get them to break them in or anything. Should I not have the volume high for awhile? NOt sure what the procedure for this is if any. Thanks.

[Hammie]

You'll hear all kinds of opinions.

Personally, I would not stress them too hard for the first week or so. After that, all bets are off.

Congrats on the new Daytons.

[ridergroov1]

OKay cool. I was thinking to just play something constantly for a few days as well. Anything in particular?

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

OKay cool. I was thinking to just play something constantly for a few days as well. Anything in particular?

Lou is totally right ~ Just don't go crazy on the volume for A while !

As for what to play , Find music that covers A whole range of octaves from Low to High ! & enjoy the Daytons , That's what I have in 2 of my 3 subs

[ridergroov1]

Rock music? Classical? When can I start to push them for movie watching and such? I have a bunch of blus to watch from christmas! Don't want to mess up the speakers though.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

Rock music? Classical? When can I start to push them for movie watching and such? I have a bunch of blus to watch from christmas! Don't want to mess up the speakers though.

What type of music does not matter , Just don't blast it right away . There is another member here that Just got some speakers that the break in period would be about 400 hours . So give them at least A few days to break them in .

[ridergroov1]

so basically you are telling me that i have to put on a cd looping for like a week straight then I can start really using them? WOW.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

so basically you are telling me that i have to put on a cd looping for like a week straight then I can start really using them? WOW.

I did not say that . If you give them A few days to break them in without going overboard on the volume you will be ok . Just don't push them hard . The speakers I mentioned above are $10,000. speakers

[callas01]

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

so basically you are telling me that i have to put on a cd looping for like a week straight then I can start really using them? WOW.

just watch TV or listen to music like you normally would for the first week at lower volume and you should be good.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by callas01

just watch TV or listen to music like you normally would for the first week at lower volume and you should be good.

Thanks callas !

[Zman2k2]

All I did for my speakers was, when I was out of the house, I turned the radio on. I left it at a reasonable volume, around -40 on my receiver, and did that for I think it was 3 days. When I was home, I made sure I didn't go crazy on the volume either. After that, all bets were off, and I cranked up some tunes to really get a listen on them. They're still going strong, and sound great!

[ridergroov1]

Awesome. Is it normal for them to each sound different when I first have them running right now? One sounds fuller than the other out of the box and installed. Just curious. Thanks.

[Big Daddy]

Speakers do not need break-in period. Your brain does. The human brain needs time to adjust to the new sound.

If the woofers are not defective, you can play your music as loud as you want as soon as they are installed. Make sure you irritate a few neighbors.

[ridergroov1]

Anyone else with an opinion. I do believe in some kind of break in period. Trying to find out if it is normal for them to sound a little different out the box. Thanks.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Speakers do not need break-in period. Your brain does. The human brain needs time to adjust to the new sound.

If the woofers are not defective, you can play your music as loud as you want as soon as they are installed. Make sure you irritate a few neighbors.

The best opinion so far ~ Right there

[Rob J in WNY]

Whether you break it in or not is up to you. I felt as though my Polk PSW125 sub sounded a little more robust after the first week or so, but like Big Daddy said, perhaps it was just in my head - I love the sub!

Regardless, if you are so inclined, just take it easy for the first few movies, then let her rip!

[DragonSarc]

yeah when i bought my subs from eD they said no need for break in cuz they said it gets broken in through QI so when it gets to the customer all you got to do is blast em and enjoy

[Big Daddy]

Paul Barton is Canada's most well-known and respected speaker designer. He is the founder and designer of PSB speakers. He has spent a lifetime at the National Research Council of Canada. He practically lives in an anechoic chamber. This is what he said in an interview.

http://www.soundstagelive.com/factorytours/psbnrc/

Finally, and perhaps most controversially, Barton talks about the supposed break-in effect of components that has become so popular in audio today. Break-in refers to running components for a long time (sometimes hundreds of hours) to the point where their components "settle" into their proper operating mode. Barton doesn’t doubt that some components do change subtly, but he thinks that the major improvements people think they’re hearing aren’t in the components at all. Barton doesn’t doubt that people are hearing these changes, but thinks that what they’re hearing is actually brain break-in.

Barton has examined his own speakers to test this. He has taken a Stratus Gold loudspeaker, built and measured some ten years ago, and re-measured it today. The deviation is slight, perhaps 1/4dB at most. Although that deviation can possibly be heard, it is certainly not a huge difference that one may attest to hearing. Instead, Barton surmises that the difference in sound that people are hearing over time is conditioning of the brain. He cites experiments done with sight that indicate the brain can accommodate for enormous changes fairly quickly and certainly within the hundreds of hours that audiophiles claim changes occur in. Could this apply to hearing, too? Barton thinks that more often than not, what happens is that the changes in perceived sound that are attributed to component break-in are simply the brain becoming accustomed to the sound. He warns listeners not to fool themselves.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Paul Barton is Canada's most well-known and respected speaker designer. He is the founder and designer of PSB speakers. He has spent a lifetime at the National Research Council of Canada. He practically lives in an anechoic chamber. This is what he said in an interview.

http://www.soundstagelive.com/factorytours/psbnrc/

So know I feel stupid & my Brain is what is playing games with me

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

So know I feel stupid & my Brain is what is playing games with me

It must be placebo.