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Burn-in and Equipmemt Value

A lot of people strongly believe that burn-in results in better sound quality and some will even pay more for cables that have the burn-in done by the manufacturer. If burn-in is real, then why isn't used equipment worth more than it is? At a minimum, shouldn't the demo equipment from a respected retailer be worth more when manufacturer warranties are still in play and the equipment is essentially new?

As a side question, why is it that any perceived change in a system where burn-in is credited it is assumed that the burn-in was on the newest piece of equipment? Some users report changes from burn-in hundreds and thousands of hours down the road.

I understand break-in on speakers and tube amplifiers, but struggle greatly with things like cables and digital sources.
mceljo
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Also, the worst evil downside of 'breakin' is getting shafted by a dealer or someone, claiming you have to wait and break it in more.. Like way past the point you can return it..
Seems like trickery. Using an excuse to avoid a return.
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On the first hand though.. I did have a seven meter Kimber Hero interconnect (From preamp to amp) which sounded like crap when first plugged in. I was ready to return it. But, after a day it was way better. Sooo... Some stuff does change from my experience.
Then My Sennheiser HD800 sounded fine. But with a used Rudistor RPX33mk2 headamp it was not great.(too much treble) So I shelved the Rudistor as not good.(blaming the Rudistor) But a year later I took out the Rudistor and the HD800 with it sounded wonderful. So the Sennheiser HD800s took a LONG TIME to really settle down.
Now, the HD800 and Rudistor make a really good combination.

And so it goes.
mceljo OP
983 posts
 
I think what Mrtennis was saying is that an experienced listener can tell the difference between a cd playing music and one playing white noise!

I would also love to know more about being able to tell a difference in how equipment was broken in...

My personal opinion is that any change from break-in on the vast majority of equipment is more about getting used to a change in the way something sounds than it getting better with time. When I got my tube amplifier, some music was immediately superior and others didn't sound right because I was so used to hearing it a certain way previously and simply sounding different was enough to get a negative response. Now I am enjoying pretty much everything.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
We need more tales of folks having TWO of something. So they can break in one. and save the other to compare first play vs broken in play.
Though this could easliy be tested with sets of cables..
If someone bought two identical sets.. Break in one. then have a gang over to compare broke in vs new.
mceljo OP
983 posts
 
But as long as the peanut gallery has an expected outcome placebo is nearly impossible to separate. I would prefer to swap them out without the owner knowing and then see if there was any notice or reaction.
bifwynne
2,069 posts
 
Mceljo, I for one have zero issue with buying used gear -- period!!! In fact, I prefer it for the reasons you just mentioned.

Case in point: ARC says that most of its gear requires 600 hours of burn in. Who the heck wants to wait 600 hours!!! So when I bought my Ref 5 with 1000+ hours on it, I was quite happy. Ditto with my PH-8 (ARC refurb with 750+ hours) Ref 150 (pre-owned with 1050+ hours) and my Ref CD-8 (??).

I mentioned in another post that my CD-8 is about 5 years old now. ARC says that it's pretty maintenance free. Just use a camel hair photo lens brush to kick the dust off the lens in the transport.

I think a fair point is that good quality equipment like ARC (and many other fine brands) just doesn't age like cars did in the 50s and 60s -- 60,000 miles and you had one old car. :)

Hey, who ever heard that an I/C or speaker cable ever wore out???? ;-')
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