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Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8192 01/23/03 04:27 PM
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Folks,

I have heard a variety of opinion about 'breaking' in a set of speakers. Some people say it takes anywhere from 20-100hrs to do it, others say its all hogwash. Just wondering what the folks and axiom and the users on this board think about the subject? I know lots of people originally think the axioms sound overly bright when they hear them, and I just wonder if they just get used to that sound when they say the speaker has 'broken in'?

Is this something that can me measured, has it been? If so, what is the recommened amount of time need to 'break' in an axiom speaker?

Thanks....Amer

Re: Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8193 01/23/03 05:31 PM
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I am of the opinion that it is you that is "breaking in" not the speakers. In other words it takes you a few days to get used to the sound.


getting to 2,000 posts; one year at a time vp160/qs8/qs4/ep350/m60/m2200s
Re: Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8194 01/23/03 06:33 PM
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I'm with FordPerfect. I don't buy breakin, especially on speakers with metal tweeters. The metal can't be changing that much...

Re: Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8195 01/23/03 09:08 PM
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Anything mechanical needs time to work itself in with other pieces, especially moving parts, and a voice coil definitely qualifies. You do not put a engine together without first breaking it in. The cones on a speaker along with the surround is not metal, but definitely move also. If this procedure were not that important then I don't believe a company like http://www.northcreekmusic.com wouldn't bother breaking speakers in and then testing them to within .5% frequency response to match them in their speakers. Now to test this I suppose you would need a response curve of a brand new speaker, vs one that has been run through for 100 hours and see the difference. To quote them "For perfect pair matching, tweeters are broken in with 24 hours of pink noise, while woofers receive this along with 24 hours of a 25 Hz 1/3 octave warble tone. Perfect pairs are matched to within ± 0.5dB and provided with anechoic 2pi frequency response and free air impedance curves. Woofers are also provided with T/S parameters." If this wasn't necessary I doubt they would take the time it requires to do it.


Re: Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8196 01/23/03 09:10 PM
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Amer, I'm definitely in the "hogwash" group. Speaker cones and domes cycle hundreds or thousands of times a second. One minute should be ample for any "break-in". Sometimes the ears take longer.

For a brief comment on this topic by Paul Barton of PSB Speakers, see my reference in the 7/6/02 Technical board thread on "burn-in".


-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8197 01/23/03 09:34 PM
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DanTana,

How on earth would something that cycles at the frequency of a tweeter need 100 hours to settle?

One thing that is really beginning to unnerve me about this audiophile hobby I've emmersed myself in is all the lack of science. Maybe it's just my bias as an engineer with far too many science classes behind me, but I want experimentation that validates some of the things audiophiles cling to.

It's doesn't make sense and that doesn't seem to bother anyone. I want evidence.

Regards,
Semi

Re: Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8198 01/23/03 11:20 PM
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If something can 'break in', then it also follows that it will also, at some point, wear to the point that it is past it's optimum 'break in' stage. Engines wear out, they get broken in. Shoes wear out, they get broken in. Jeans do the same thing. Do the moving parts of speakers wear out, or does speaker failure have to do with damaging events (such as being shorted), rather than 'wear' over time?



Re: Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8199 01/24/03 12:20 AM
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I agree with Semi and once again reiterate, "show me the science".

From what i've read (actual peer reviewed journal articles reprinted and website published), there is very little change if any over time in the frequency response of a driver after hours of use.
Secondly, as mentioned so many times before, try to find the results from an honest and controlled blind test in which a person was sat down and allowed to hear a set of 'broken in' and brand new speakers.
My guess is that the results would be similar to the blind testing of different brands of cables...absolutely no significant difference from the expected results of 50:50 random selection.

So why do speaker companies break in their speakers?
Because the myth exists and rumour sells.
How else do you think that the Inquirer survives as a newspaper?


"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."
Re: Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8200 01/24/03 01:39 AM
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Wouldn't you break-in a new engine? They turn several 1000 rpm's, under your logic a engine would be broke in after a minute. I don't think Chrysler, Ford, GM is going by "hogwash" and I think anything that moves will definitely change after time. Unless the laws of physics cease to exist in your living room?

Re: Breaking in a set of axioms.
#8201 01/24/03 01:52 AM
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You're comparing a very complicated, heavy machine, exposed to all manner of vibration and abuse with hundreds to thousands of moving parts to a speaker with like three. There's not a whole lot to settle into place there.

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