jkinkennon wrote:Why should we think that 300 hours of break-in would result in improved sound rather than degradation? Seriously, if breaking in a speaker or set of headphones results in significantly different sound then there is a manufacturing defect that would need to be addressed.
This is right up there with "monstous cables" and my favorite, the old Wurlitzer speaker which amounted to a horn driver coupled to a trombone bell -- yeah, really!
I think 300 hours is WAY overkill, but according to some of the things I have read, there is a break in period. Here are two pages to read:
http://www.gr-research.com/burnin.htmhttp://www.gr-research.com/myths.htmWhen you buy a new car, there is a break in period to allow the piston rings to seat. The fuel mileage of my Toyota increased steadily for the first 5000 or so miles, and then slowed, but still increased until I hit about 10000 miles. They told me this would happen, and I didn't believe them. But it did!
When I built my speakers, I did burn in the drivers, as recommended, with a 40hz test tone for 10 hours prior to installing them in the cabinets. According to some comments on the BFM Loudspeaker Design Forum by those who do this for a living, you reach a point of diminishing returns. Things will loosen up in the first few hours, with the amount of improvement dropping off substantially after that.
Being that headphones are just tiny speakers, there probably is a break in period. But I doubt any of us could hear much of a difference. How much excursion does a driver in a set of headphones really have?? If they sound good to you, just use them and enjoy!
Terry