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question about breaking in speakers and amp


HI all,

I set up my new (and first) system the other day. I must say it sounds really good out of the box -- so here is my question. I got three pieces -- a Jolida tube amp, a music hall cd player, and Quad 21L2 speakers. What should I expect to hear change as the equipment starts to break in? What should I be paying attention to?

Thanks!!

Marty
martyw

Showing 4 responses by tvad

tvad
9,467 posts
 
I have shifted my thinking about break-in over time. I guess I've broken in.

Now, I'm pretty settled on the belief that changes occur over the first 24 hours of "on" time, but after that, any changes are imperceptible. At least to my ears.

Those who narrow the golden moment to a number of hours somewhere in the hundreds make me chuckle.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Actually, I suffered through about 500 hours of Blackgate break-in, so I need to
revise my statement. Certainly caps break in and a unit's sound changes over
the break-in period.

I think break-in of wire is less pronounced and shorter.

Speaker driver break-in I have observed takes a day or two. Maybe other brands
are different.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
My Silverline Sonata III took 37 hours.

Well, 36 hours and 42 minutes..

:)
tvad
9,467 posts
 
My woofers took 36 hours and 42 minutes to break in.

However, what really caused the bass to sound its best was a Pass Labs
amplifier. Had I owned the Pass Labs amp at the beginning of my Sonata III
ownership, the speakers might have displayed zero break-in, and sounded
perfect from the get-go. Who knows?
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