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Cable Burn In

I'm new here and new to the audiophile world. I recently acquired what seems to be a really high end system that is about 15 years old. Love it. Starting to head down the audiophile rabbit hole I'm afraid.

But, I have to laugh (quietly) at some of what I'm learning and hearing about high fidelity.

The system has really nice cables throughout but I needed another set of RCA cables. I bit the bullet and bought what seems to be a good pair from World's Best Cables. I'm sure they're not the best you can get and don't look as beefy as the Transparent RCA cables that were also with this system. But, no sense bringing a nice system down to save $10 on a set of RCA cables, I guess.

Anyway, in a big white card on the front of the package there was this note: In big red letters "Attention!". Below that "Please Allow 175 hours of Burn-in Time for optimal performance."

I know I'm showing my ignorance but this struck me as funny. I could just see one audiophile showing off his new $15k system to another audiophile and saying "Well, I know it sounds like crap now but its just that my RCA cables aren't burned-in yet. Just come back in 7.29 days and it will sound awesome."
n80

Showing 8 responses by elizabeth

elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I just plug new cables in and play the music. I like to ee if they do not sound right immediately. And if they resolve in a few hours.Good cables sound good pretty quickly. and just get better over the first few weeks.To me, if a cable needs a long time to be tolerable, I do not need such a cable.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
A cable which has not been used for a long time does require some break in again. even cables which have been moved, IE twisted, the wires rolled up, or rearranged may also need some time to ’settle’ (break in). Usually the time needed is much shorter.So the cables may or may not have some; permanent change? but also some that needs use (IE energy flow) to keep. And new bending of a cable just seems to dissipate some of the ’mojo’The folks who sell the cable cooker claim any cable will ’benefit’ from reuse of cooking. No matter what.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I have certainly been pressured to wait, and not return a cable which sucked by the seller saying it needs to break in.  Finally after a MONTH, system on 24.7 and playing music 10 hours a day I said I AM returning it. The next cable I bought for that position was fine from the moment I plugged it in. (Seven meter XLR)
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Geoff, what time do you get UP in the Morning. You post was at 5:01 AM Eastern time???I guess the early bird gets the worm....The change after burn in, the insulation has a charge.
As for cryo and how can you tell? Trust in the person who did it. Plus the problem of what degree Kelvin and how long kept there? Some cryo treatments are way better than others.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I am already high just from listening to music.Who need beer?
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
"Leading edges of notes..." yup. Cardas Parsec seems to sweeten the very tippy tip of the beginning of notes when it was with my VAC Standard.. How is not mine to know or explain. Just to verify Yup, happens. I sent back an expensive pair of cables since they sucked.  No amount of dealer saying 'let them break in' mattered.Then the Stereophile AND TAS raved about DAC. sent that packin too. But cable break in? yes. heard it. Many times. The strange one is Duplex break in. What a freaky roller coaster.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
The answer to the riddle, batman, is the cable NEVER stops 'burning in'. The cable improvement is a curve, with no actual end point. When the cable is in use, it improves, when not in use, it gradually loses the break in mojo. Or if it is moved, bent, it loses some to, and tales time to get back to a good pint of break in. Why the folks who use and promote the 'Cable Cooker devices say cables should be redone now and then for best sound.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
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