Equipment and Cable Break-In

[MylesBAstor]

Not to promote any one device but more to look at what is going on beneath the surface. I think it's really important to realize all the potential in one's system, especially cables. Once your system gets to a certain level, cable quality can make or break a system particularly when we are talking resolution, transparency and noise.

http://www.hagtech.com/pdf/fryklean.pdf

[MylesBAstor]

http://nordost.com/blog/what-is-cable-burn-in/

[MylesBAstor]

http://www.audioexcellenceaz.com/products/audiodharma-cable-cooker-cable-conditioner/#tabs-12-0-6

[MylesBAstor]

http://www.bluehorizonideas.com/products/system-enhancing-accessories/proburn/

[MylesBAstor]

A little DIY even for phono cables.

http://www.takefiveaudio.com/mall/shopcontent.asp?type=din_burn_adpt

[Metamatic]

phono break in CD.

http://www.graniteaudio.com/phono/page2.html

[MylesBAstor]

Thanks -- though it is a little limited say in the voltage output area compared to a cable cooker. It will definitely help though and is considerably cheaper! I think Isotek makes something similar too! http://www.isoteksystems.com/product...ystem-enhancer

[MylesBAstor]

Now I find cable burn-in an inexact science eg. exactly how long should one leave the cable hooked up to the burn-in device. The amount of time needed seems to depend upon among other things, the gauge (s) of the wire, the number of conductors and how much dielectric material is used in the cable. There are different recommendations including burning in for 24 hours, listening and then rehooking up and relistening every 8 hours. There's no downside to doing it too long; all you need to do is play the cable and let it settle in. I do find, though, that 1) cables need to be left along for 24 hrs after handling to fully appreciate the amount of change and 2) even after cooking, another 24 or so hours is needed to let the cable fully settle in.

One thing that is usually not talked about, however, is periodically recharging cables. I do find that helps if you can find the time to disconnect the cables. "Recharging," though, won't take as long as when the cable in brand spanking new out of the box. Something like 24-36 hours works.

And if you don't have the money to plunk down (or say a club that might buy a unit and lend it out among members), there are places that will do cables for a fee. Hell, I've even done it for people who want to drop their cables off for me. In fact, anyone in the NY area who would like to have their cables broken-in on the audiodharma, just PM me.

[cpp]

So Myles your saying that our speakers cables that we utilize each day in our system require "recharging". I just don't see the material shifting its construction properties after months of steady use. If that's the case any cable would require recharging, and that would be cables around your HT center, computers, TV, Modem etc.., I would like to see some info from a manufacturer on what goes dormant in a speaker cable after weeks, months or even years of use that would require recharging of a cable. I just don't see copper oxidation unless we left the device free of any current for a long time much like the Statue of Liberty copper turning a blue/green from oxidation.

[MylesBAstor]

I can only listen and report. I happen to have duplicate power cords so can compare used, retreated and unused of the same product. There was some talk that part of breaking in deals with oxygen trapped between the dielectric and conductor. Plastic is not a perfect sealant and over time, oxygen can seep through the dielectric. On the other hand, capacitors that have been not used (in equipment) also need time to re-break-in.