I probably know the answer to this, but I'll ask anyway. I've been using a ragtag assembly of interconnects, some decent, some very basic, for a long time. I recently decided to take a small plunge and order some AR Pro II interconnects from Accessories 4less. I've got them hooked up now, and so far so good. Bass seems to have tightened up, and I sense a wider soundstage coming, but the overall effect seems somewhat muted. Should I expect improvement as these break in?

Also, the cables have arrows marked "signal path"; I'm assuming the arrows go from the component to the amp?

Thanks!

Roy

The signal path is how the signal travels - from CD player to amp, for example.

After I burn in my interconnects, they are less harsh (top end) and smoother. I don't recall experiencing them becoming clearer or less muted.

Fifty (50) hours or 2 days straight is my usual burn in time. I listen for 15 minutes, can't stand it any more and then let it play on and come back after 2 days.

Incidentally, you just have to have the CDP playing a CD, with the interconnects connected from the CDP to the amp with the amp turned off to burn them in. No need for the amp or receiver to be on.... :)

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:lurk:
I'm getting hungry.

Honestly (and this is not intended as an insult to anybody) I have never, ever heard by my ears, ever read, or ever experienced any difference between fresh unused cables and "broken in" ones.

Personally, I feel that a fresh cable is the best, and if a cable is not working properly due to age, overuse or being exposed to the elements or too much current, replace immediately. As long as it is not being exposed to the above conditions, the conductivity of a cable will remain unchanged, as to it's properties.

As to why some people claim to hear a difference.......I can't really answer that. I don't know.

Well, what can I say, Elfasto? I hear it on my system (especially if it's silver wire!!) and it just bothers me (harshness) until it settles in. It's so harsh that I can't enjoy the music - I have to leave the room.

But I'm glad it "breaks in" - can you imagine what would happen if it got worse?!?!? :D :D :D

As for Roypercy, I am sure he'll find out soon enough if his wires change with time. :)

All I'm saying is that he should not judge his cables unless he runs them for a period of time. I recommended two days because it worked for me! And, trust me on this, if my stuff still sounded harsh after 2 days of running them, they would no longer be in my system!

Well, some say there's a difference, some say it's not. You'll just have to find out for yourself what you think/believe/hear.

The signal path is how the signal travels - from CD player to amp, for example.
Let's be honest, the signal doesn't travel in one way or the other. A music signal is AC so there really is no direction. The only real explanation for directivity is the fact that the shielding is only attached at one end (amplifier end if I remember correctly). Still, the arrows are supposed to be pointing at the receiving end.

Well, what can I say, Elfasto? I hear it on my system (especially if it's silver wire!!) and it just bothers me (harshness) until it settles in. It's so harsh that I can't enjoy the music - I have to leave the room.

But I'm glad it "breaks in" - can you imagine what would happen if it got worse?!?!? :D :D :D

As for Roypercy, I am sure he'll find out soon enough if his wires change with time. :)

All I'm saying is that he should not judge his cables unless he runs them for a period of time. I recommended two days because it worked for me! And, trust me on this, if my stuff still sounded harsh after 2 days of running them, they would no longer be in my system!

THanks for the explanation, Gary!

um...oh, nevermind

The only real explanation for directivity is the fact that the shielding is only attached at one end (amplifier end if I remember correctly).

AFAIK, the shield is generally connected at the source end and left floating at the receiving end.

No doubt there are opinions and theories either way.

Generally, would not make a decision until 200-250 hours. Want to give them the opportunity to sound their best. Luckily, I've only ever had speaker cables not come into their own, so haven't booted any ICs. But, have been quite conservative and only listened to one brand until now. Am auditioning a second set at the moment, but also have a new CDP, so isn't a fair evaluation of IC, other than I like or don't like it in conjunction with the CDP.

One way to speed up burn in is to connect the positive side to an insulator, the negative side to ground, Take a megohm meter set at 1kv. Energize for 10min. this will align the electrons, and polarize the wire.

This is just a theory of mine, but couldn't "burn-in" simply be polarization?

AFAIK, the shield is generally connected at the source end and left floating at the receiving end.

No doubt there are opinions and theories either way.

You're probably right about which end the shield is connected although I think I've seen examples of the opposite also, but that was some esoteric cable if I remember correctly. They always have to be different. :D

Anyhow, what I wrote was "the only real explanation", ie the only commonly accepted explanation. There are lots of theories and opinions as you said but the shielding is an actual difference of which there can be no debate if it exists or not.

(I know all about cable wars, supposed and believed differences and so on. Just look at my signature and you'll see why, it's kind of hard to not notice the different opinions circulating if you're an administator on a forum full of hifi-nuts. Well, that's another story...)

Thanks for all the responses! I didn't know I was opening such a serpent's nest, thanks for keeping it friendly. Of course my AR's are way on the low end of the cable spectrum, we'll see if I feel the need to upgrade more as time goes on.

Cheers!

Roy

Thanks for all the responses! I didn't know I was opening such a serpent's nest, thanks for keeping it friendly. Of course my AR's are way on the low end of the cable spectrum, we'll see if I feel the need to upgrade more as time goes on.

Cheers!

Roy

It never will be a serpents nest in TOL. This is the one place in the online world where you can ask any questions about any cable, wire, tweak, etc. with no fear of being mocked or flamed. It just ain't gonna happen here. I promise that.

It never will be a serpents nest in TOL. This is the one place in the online world where you can ask any questions about any cable, wire, tweak, etc. with no fear of being mocked or flamed. It just ain't gonna happen here. I promise that.

Cool. That's what keeps me coming back to AK.

Cool. That's what keeps me coming back to AK.

And we are real glad to have ya! :yes:

Personally I find that one nanosecond is sufficient time to "burn in" cables! If anyone can hear a difference after that, then my hat is off to you for have superhuman hearing.

I do believe after 500 hrs the cables will be completely worn out and you will have to buy new ones. Although, many others ears may tell you different and say 300 hrs is the maximum lifespan of a quality set of cables.

I do believe after 500 hrs the cables will be completely worn out and you will have to buy new ones. Although, many others ears may tell you different and say 300 hrs is the maximum lifespan of a quality set of cables.

huh?

For those who do like to burn in equipment/cables and are diy, you can get the frykleaner half kit from hagtech.com for $39. It generates a broadband noise and frees up your expensive equipment from doing that duty. I built one and have used it on cables...particularly some silver ones and thought that it made a difference. I'm not trying to convince anyone...just letting you know that there's a product out there at a reasonable cost to assist.

If it's that big an issue, I think it should be handled by professionals. These folks sound like they know how to burn in. Note that the choices of burn in are between 96 to 168 hours. Just wanted to point out that too little or too much burn in time might be a problem, according to their options.

http://www.highendcable.co.uk/Nordost%20VIDAR%20Burn%20in%20service.htm

I guess I don't have the energy to try that out either.
Of the dozen or so cables I've tried they all seemed a little coarse or grainy for a day or two and for the last 10 or 20% another few days. All low end stuff.
The most bizare cable break in for me was with the Kimber Hero.
I bought it because every one everywhere said it was so 'neutral'.
It started out normaly, I checked it's sound every hour or so for fun. Started out bright and harsh. About 8 hours later it acheived the correct level of warmth.
To my amazment it kept getting warmer, then much warmer .
I was getting vibrations of overtones undertones(?) harmonics like I'd never heard.
I thought this neutrality path I was attemping was all wrong.
this faded away after a couple hours. Damn.
Any way after two days the Hero became what it is. A little bright on top, coolish mids, and a little plummy in the lows.

I don't for one minute think dennydog was being serious. If he is, I'd love to be his local cable supplier.