Some components need time to sound right—and others just need us to adjust.
We’ve all heard our share of skepticism about break-in, but let me assure you that it's real.
Speakers are the most obvious. Brand-new drivers will sound stiff and closed in, especially in the bass and lower midrange. After 20 to 50 hours, things start to open up. The cones loosen slightly, and the suspension becomes more compliant. The result is a more relaxed, natural presentation with better tonal balance.
Cables also change, though more subtly. Dielectrics settle, and charge migration can alter the way a cable interacts with the circuit. With amplifiers and DACs, it’s the capacitors and components that change.
Break-in doesn’t require belief. It just requires listening over time, and paying attention to what changes and what doesn’t.
