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Conditioning/Burn-In Method

DISCLAIMER
Potentially controversial subject matter ahead. Thus post is recommended for mature audiences only. If you're in the school of thought that cables are voodoo, this post is not for you, please move among.

Now, to business.

I'm in the process of working in a set of Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR interconnects between my DAC, Preamp and Amplifier. So far, I probably have only 20 hours or so of play, and if memory serves, Frank recommends 60 hours or more. Given the difference in amplitude from DAC to Preamp, and from Preamp to Amplifier, do you guys think it might be worth swapping them out (rotating them) to help balance and perhaps accelerate the process?

Thanks in advance!

parabolic
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
No one has provided any proof of low or high signal strength is better. The 'more is always better' notion clearly would hand the win to more. But plenty of things only need a small amount to do well. Particularly boundary effects.
So I say no one knows, aside from hearsay whether a cable breaks in faster or slower depending on signal strength.
Since no one has proven WHAT changes in break in. (Plenty of theories.. no proof)

And in my experience just leaving the power on does have a positive effect on break in.
jl35
2,244 posts
 
thanks elizabeth, that been my experience, especially if I'm also playing a lot of CD's...I thought there were only tube  CD Players gdnrbob...

gdnrbob
2,421 posts
 
I only discovered that there are tube CD today, though they seem to be older models. Learned something new.
B
tomcarr
530 posts
 
@gdnrbob, I had a Carver CDP back in the 80s. Had a couple small tubes. I thought it sounded very nice.
Currently looking at Modwright modded Oppos...

Tom
teo_audio
932 posts
 
No. But your cables will never be completely broken in until you put more current through them. They need to be fully conditioned by an Audio Dharma cable cooker. Second and a distant best is to use one of the break in CD’s you can buy.

David Pritchard
Never use a cable cooker on a Teo Audio liquid metal cable. Just so folks know.

They come with an initial burn in and all burn in after that is to be via music level signals, from a CD player, FM tuner, USB stick with music, on a server or dac, and so on. Never use a cable cooker.
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