It might posted somewhere else, but since I'm pretty much a newbie, I am asking, if it is necessary to break in a speaker. If it is then what is the purpose and how is it achieved.

Not needed.

It has been proven in studies and in controlled double blind listening environments that loudspeakers do not change in any audible fashion over time due to "break-in".

What people percieve as speaker "break-in" is actually a psycho acoustical phenomenon where your ears/brain actually adjust to the sound of the speakers themselves.

So in other words, just listen and enjoy.:):)

Ditto that.

I figured that if there was any validity to this, everyone would or should be doing this. Also if manufacturers are warranting there products, they would mention it in there literature.

Hey, no worries a-dreamer... This topic is debated to length from time to time. End result is always the same as other have already mentioned...

Audio, depends on the manufacturers your talking about, many high end seperates manufacturers mention a breakin period before things really smooth out and things tighten up.

I have found this on speaker burn in and also this from the same company. It is the only measured review of drivers and break-in I have come across. How much of these differences in measured performance makes a difference to the sound of the speaker is subjective to each listener, IMO.

Just enjoy your speakers, no break in required.

Good music and alcoholic beverages is all that is needed for speaker break-in.

Worked for me.

The more you drink the more you cry because it sounds so good.

I give my speakers the good music but I never thought of giving them alcohol.

LOL . That will most certainly lead to speaker break-down

Unless you have Algonquins.

Nice one!

Alcohol-induced euphoria does make the speakers sound better:):):).

Guys, my local Paradigm dealer told me I would have to give my DSP3400 sub a break-in time of about 70 hrs! one of the employees told me 30 hrs would be sufficient/just leave it running with the radio on for most of the weekend. Need some advice on this please. Tks, Adrian

Just turn it on and enjoy it, no break-in is required. That is there way of making you keep it long enough so the warranty is void, then you can't return it... lol

I never thought of that!! Grasshoppa, have much too learn. Tks SQ

If you can hear/notice a difference after 70hrs, I will give you my PB13.





Not really.


I wonder how many golden eared people are out there that actually hear these differences after their speakers 'break-in'.

I almost missed the second half of your post

Waste of electricity. Whats the point of having the system on when you are not there to enjoy it. Silly!

I leave my monoblocks on all the time, according to Klaus's recommendations, don't want to go through the break-in period over again. I will admit, the amps did seem to open up over time, and it was not my brain.

I agree with Sirquack on this one. Based on my limited electonics experience, electronic components tend to work better when they are warm, not hot, but warm. It's easier on the components when you want to need to really push them if there is a little bit of heat in them.

Think of a light bulb, light bulbs blow usually when you first turn it on (from a cold start). That is why I leave my amp(s) computer equipment always on and why we now see the word Standby on TV's as apposed to off. Never never use a powerbar to shut off and turn on your equipment on a reg. basis.

pn

Especially if you want your electric bill to go up!

The reason you see standby on electronics is not to keep internal components from failing, but so that a remote control can turn them on. Standby just means "I'm using enough power to keep this red LED on and so the infrared receiver stays on."

As for recommending never to use a power strip to cut power to equipment, that's really a personal choice. As long as you use the built-in power switch first, it absolutely will not harm your equipment to cut all power to it. You would be surprised how much power you can save in a year if you make it a habit to cut power to standby electronics.

That being said, I admit I leave my receiver and TV in standby unless I'm going away for a few or more days. Also, I shut down my computer at least a couple times a week instead of sleeping it.

Well, I have no amp break-in experience other than my monoblocks. Other than my initial impression of stronger, tighter bass from the M80's, (which I did not expect) there was no further improvement over time that I could perceive.

I also have had recent experience with entry-level audiophile headphones (or is that 'audiopile'?) ... and many people over at head-fi tout break-in times of 50-200 hours depending on the cans and who you pay attention to, as well as cable upgrades (pls let's not get into that!). I gave it a shot for the heck of it, cause I still like to consider myself open-minded on the subject, and after about 70 hours... I hear no difference. Excellent cans, no diff. (Audio-Technica A900's) Oh, and I wouldn't offer my PB-13, even in jest.

Break in? Mine done blowed up!

Blowed up...REAL GOOD!!!

my only break in period was when my son Nathan (3 years old) decided to push one M80. that was one break in. the M80 fell and you noticed this crack along the side.

JP was nice enough to exchange it since i had just bought the set.

that took about 40 hours since i unwraped them to total break in.

Nathan is available on the week-ends and charges 5 bucks to give you total break-in. guareenteed.

LOL.

That's hilarious. Nice of JP to do that BTW!

From a purely mechanical perspective, I think there needs to be some sort of driver break in after they roll off the assembly line. It’s a moving part, so it should have some level of controlled manipulation before pouring the coals to it or it will fail. That’s just common sense. I’m only guessing, but I would think that there is some sort of testing / QC for the drivers done at the factory. Or, the speaker manufacture does some testing at their factory.

I only say the above for reasons of concern over a failure if there is no sort of initial break in. It has nothing to do with sound quality.

I've been told...secretly... that Axiom employs tiny Leprechaun-type creatures that bounce on each of the drivers trampoline-fashion.

That would explain a lot, actually.
In any case, typically FedEx or Purolator are taking care of the final movement, driver testing and speaker break ing.

Wait a second, is JP at Axiom? And thus, are you saying your 3 year old destroyed a speaker cabinet and Axiom replaced it free of charge?? If that is the case, you should make it clear because that is a pretty impressive bit of customer care. That goes far beyond the call of duty. I wonder if I could send back all the stuff my kids destroyed...I would need a U-Haul truck.

This is like one of those secret warranty issues some car companies have. In this case it was covered under the hard to read fine print on Axiom's warranty....I think it reads something like this (can't confirm)...."if said product is damaged by a male child, in the province of Quebec, not exceeding the age of 3yrs of age and using the name 'Nathan', while attempting to aid 'break-in' of speaker...consideration shall be extended in replacement of such product"

All i know is that i needed speakers... i bought them from axiom after speaking with the owner of canada hifi..he highly recommended them,i recieved them in record time, one was damaged, they replaced it instantly, nathan did the breakin test, they replaced that M80 as well, i needed a bracket change,(i ordered the wrong one, sent me the right one the same day)I spoke to Brent and JP,(these guys know what customer service is all about). all in all, it has been a very long time since is recieved this type of service. I can't say enough about this company. fantastic. period.

That's great service indeed...now, is Nathan going to be available in a couple of weeks to break in my M80s?

Adrian, he will have to charge a little more for out of province services...just need to know a few things, how long (in hours Please..)have you had your axiom speakers...PS Nathan only does break in for axiom because we are assured from experience the company replacement policy is excellant. and secondly if it would be ok to start with the M80's as they have an excellant break-in seeing as they have a high center of gravity (much like an SUV) assuring excellent tipover rate to Break in ratio.

this thread has got to stop...LOL

Listen, Mark, I'm willing to pay top dollar for an experienced audio technician like Nathan!

Who needs levitating cables when you can hire a top rate break in technician.