Burn-in from a low-quality source
Jan 14, 2010 at 6:56 AM Post #16 of 30
Just noticed you mentioned hiss, the answer is no it won't damage the phones so go for it.
 
Jan 14, 2010 at 7:31 AM Post #17 of 30
Did you guys notice how the OP did not ask if burn in was a theory or a simple fact. I'm sure he has done the research and found that it made sense and would not hurt the phones at all but possibly better them.
I would recomend getting some files from Burn-in wave files: white noise, pink noise, frequency sweep, channel mix
White and pink noise will give the IEM the most work as there is sound in all freQ's.
 
Jan 14, 2010 at 8:25 AM Post #18 of 30
I noticed that after 3 years, my Atrio M5 which were bass monsters, have mellowed out to be the quintessential neutral earphone. It is amazing what 2,8 years and about 3000 hours does to a pair of dynamic earphones. On the other hand, my ER4 has gone the other way and outdone my Monster Turbine Pro for the bassiest badboy I've ever heard.
 
Jan 14, 2010 at 9:12 AM Post #19 of 30
Well I would not suggest using pink noise as it did not change the sound of my Hippo VB. The Hippo VB changed its sound after playing regular music. If this is psychological burn-in, then me, my dad and my friend have all had this psychological burn-in since we all felt the sound had improved big time. Disbelieve me if you will but please dont make fun of something you have not experienced.

I have experienced burn-in all the IEMs I have used till date (PL-30, PL-12, RE1, Hippo VB, Crossroads Woodie 2, Crossroads LBi, Crossroads Bijou 2 and EP-630). The only IEM that I did not experience burn-in was a Crossroads Mylar X3 that I had bought used. Else all the earphones sounded rather bad out of the box and improved in varying degrees after burn-in of about 20 - 25 hours.
 
Jan 14, 2010 at 10:30 AM Post #20 of 30
Thanks for all the replies!

Actually I would simply have rather listened to the RE0s instead of burning them in, but I have an ear infection right now and I dont want to be inserting anything into my ear canal. So since my RE0s will be idle otherwise, I just thought I should hook them up to my computer.
 
Jan 14, 2010 at 10:52 AM Post #21 of 30
I wouldn't worry about it at all. If you choose to believe in burn-in, then it is good to do it. But if you don't, then it won't matter either way. Personally, I just listen to my earphones and as I get used to them, find out their true qualities. Not a single one has changed into anything different since I first started caring (about 18 years ago).
 
Jan 14, 2010 at 8:41 PM Post #23 of 30
To the OP: As others have stated, using your computer audio card as the source is perfectly fine and will accomplish what you want to accomplish in terms of burn-in. I use my computer for burn-in with every new pair of IEMs or headphones that I test.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMorton /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I really wish someone would actually do some tests on this so we can settle the debate once and for all.


There are tests which have been done and which have been published on the web. Don't have any handy, but a bit of Googling will give you plenty of articles to read through and dissect to your hearts content.
 
Jan 14, 2010 at 10:26 PM Post #24 of 30
Quote:

Originally Posted by jwhitakr /img/forum/go_quote.gif
There are tests which have been done and which have been published on the web. Don't have any handy, but a bit of Googling will give you plenty of articles to read through and dissect to your hearts content.


Man, if you could post a link regarding proof of the benefits of burn in in IEMs I know a lot of people would appreciate it.
 
Jan 15, 2010 at 7:16 AM Post #25 of 30
Shigzeo, if it doesn't matter if you don't burn in, that negates the argument in favor, doesn't it?

I've never deliberately burned in a pair of headphones. I attend meets and bring my stash along. I challenge anyone to find a difference between my non-burned in headphones compared to ones that have been.

I'll be at the Orange County meet at the end of the month. Everyone is welcome to listen to my headphones. Go ahead and show me how my headphones don't sound right in the absense of this ritual and ceremony.
 
Jan 15, 2010 at 7:21 AM Post #26 of 30
Indeed. Tests will not prove anything either. Tests may prove this: positioning differences, manufacturing differences, differences in tips, and myriad other things. This is not a provable or disprovable item of audio - it simply goes beyond anything other than faith.

If you believe in it - go ahead. Personally, I don't bother believing it but for the sake of argument, all of my headphones get 'burned in' before I make reviews; I just don't want to risk the ire of believers.
 
Jan 15, 2010 at 1:49 PM Post #27 of 30
Quote:

Originally Posted by shigzeo /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Indeed. Tests will not prove anything either. Tests may prove this: positioning differences, manufacturing differences, differences in tips, and myriad other things. This is not a provable or disprovable item of audio - it simply goes beyond anything other than faith.

If you believe in it - go ahead. Personally, I don't bother believing it but for the sake of argument, all of my headphones get 'burned in' before I make reviews; I just don't want to risk the ire of believers.


It seems to me that the variables you list do not apply to a single earphone in a fixed test setup being tested for the change of measurable perameters over time. Where's the magic?
You are showing a lot of faith in your position that burn-in does not exist.
I would tend to discount the existance of burn in from the inability of its proponents to offer any real evidence.
 
Jan 15, 2010 at 2:02 PM Post #28 of 30
Why do believers only ever talk about burn-in and never burn-out?

You see posts saying that the earphones are totally transformed, for the better, after 30 hours, then 100 hours, then 200 hours and so on ... but I've never heard anyone say that their earphones have passed their peak performance and are now slowly declining in quality due to burn-out.

I think burn-in is a matter of perception, and it's also a game of one-upmanship for people to brag about how many hours they've spent listening to their earphones (i.e. you can't possibly enjoy your earphones unless you've spent the time and energy burning them in for at least 500 hours like I have).

Seriously, who are these people that keep an exact diary of how many hours they've stacked up?
 
Jan 15, 2010 at 2:23 PM Post #29 of 30
Shigzeo, some people would take your advice and go out and buy a $400 cable, not realizing... o.O
 
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