Burn-in time typically refers to actual in-use time in a system. One can set up an audio IC or digital IC cable for continuous in-use time on a CD player or Transport-DAC combination. We’re talking about less than one week of continuous in-use time, which falls easily within most manufacturers’ allowed return policy (30 days, 720 hours).
Beware of the cable claiming long burn in period.
Almost all the audio equipment including speaker need burn in time.
But I had bad experience with one digital cable recently.
Some people blew the horn on it and claimed burn in time more than 100 hours.
Out of box it had lot of details but etched.
After 8 weeks (around 200 hours) it got little bit better but its overall performance is not better than other digital cable that I have had.
Now it is too late to return it.
Beware of any cable claiming more than 50 hours of burn in time.
The chance is high that you will waste your time and money.
But I had bad experience with one digital cable recently.
Some people blew the horn on it and claimed burn in time more than 100 hours.
Out of box it had lot of details but etched.
After 8 weeks (around 200 hours) it got little bit better but its overall performance is not better than other digital cable that I have had.
Now it is too late to return it.
Beware of any cable claiming more than 50 hours of burn in time.
The chance is high that you will waste your time and money.