[Andy Lammer]

I lent a fellow AVSFORUM member several power cords, digital cables, & interconnects for several days. In their absence, I used "retired" items until he was finnished evaluating them. So my equipment was powered on 24x7 as usual. I will also note that my system sonically suffered from having to use my retired "B & C" items. I only listened briefly with these substituted components, then got busy with work for a few days without any listening until my items were returned.


When my items were returned, I put them all back in on the same components. The next day, I did some listening ( in a good mood ), and I have to say my system was certainly lacking ( from my memory ) even though my A items were back in there normal spots. I think a few days later now, it is sounding much better, as I remembered it.


I have heard/read that when cables are in your system for a long time, they reach a level of mechanical "happiness & relaxation" from crystal structure "alignment", or something like that. Removing cords & cables, bending them into new shapes for some other system layout, etc, then "scrambles" this crystal structure, requiring a period of mechanical settling once again.


Has anyone experienced similar results when tearing down their system and re-orgainzing the components, etc, in that it took a few days for the whole system to "settle", and did it sound better a few days later ? Of course, it could also be that my ears need to get accustomed to the new sound, but as mentioned above, I did not listen to it while my items were out on loan.


- Andy

 

[JimBookhard]

Andy,

Quote:

Has anyone experienced similar results when tearing down their system and re-orgainzing the components, etc, in that it took a few days for the whole system to "settle", and did it sound better a few days later ?

Absolutely. You're not imagining this phenomenon.
Quote:

I have heard/read that when cables are in your system for a long time, they reach a level of mechanical "happiness & relaxation" from crystal structure "alignment", or something like that. Removing cords & cables, bending them into new shapes for some other system layout, etc, then "scrambles" this crystal structure, requiring a period of mechanical settling once again.

I've also read articles which say things similar to what your describe. Just relying on my hearing and experience with this hobby, I just know that whenever you remove or disconnect a cable (or any other component) from your system, you will break your system's synergy and it will take a period of time for the system to regain its synergy and level of performance.

 

[Steve Bruzonsky]

Andy, you, Jim, I and others are all "crazy" in the same boat as I have experienced this phenomena a number of times. And I have experienced burn-in even with new video cables in the system - or a new power conditioner - all I know is that sometimes, not all the time, things seem to improve some over time!!!!

 

[Jose]

From STEALTH Cables:


About the burn-in process:

All our cables require about TWO days of initial break-in after the installation to show their "sound character" - before that time, a slight upper-midrange "brightness" or "glare" (typical for pure silver cables "out of the box") might be heard. For approximately 7 to 10 days after the

initial break-in, sound becomes progressively smoother and more natural.In general, in two weeks after the installation, cables are is ready for critical listening. Please note that in order to perform their best, my

INTERCONNECT cables should be broken-in on the very same system with the very same components used for critical listening! If a cable is disconnected or used with other components, it might be necessary - for the best sound - to start the break in process from the very beginning...According to my CURRENT point of view on the break-in process in cables, it mostly deals with the "ground potential differences" in the components used - that's why I recommend to break in the cables with the same components that will be used for critical listening. It may sound

funny, but cables do break in ( a bit more slowly) with just equipment in "on" position (powered) even with no music or any signal passing through!... So, it's not strictly necessary to play something all the time. Just keep your equipment "on" and play something once in a while... If you

wish, you can even leave tubes in "stand by" position (with partial anode voltage applied - if you have this mode... Using any commercial devices or burn-in CDs is possible, but please don't count on a more speedy "break-in" compare to the above mentioned process: as it is mentioned

above, cables break in mostly deals with the "ground potential differences" in the components used - not the program material played;



I hope Serguie doesn't mind that I post this......


Jose.

 

[dhanks]

This type of thinking is what doctors refer to as compulsive obsessive.

 

[Steve Bruzonsky]

Quote:

Originally posted by dhanks This type of thinking is what doctors refer to as compulsive obsessive.

This member is "what doctors refer to as compulsive obsessive", as he is on a MISSION to save the world from tweakers!


And don't worry, we "tweakers" are a tiny percent of the audiophile population. And if someone doesn't want to read about the tweak, they don't have to.