do iem,s burn in? - Page 5

Updates on my experiment,

At 75hrs of music, still able to differentiate my pairs in a blind test, although getting harder sonically.  

I them put them on 24 hrs of pink noise this weekend, and I'm still able to differentiate, however, it's predominantly based on noise / noise floor at the moment.   The sound signature is about the same, however, the new ones still have a lot more noise floor.  I'd also almost swear that the older ones have > sensitivity / volume for the same setting.

I'll keep them going to see if I finally get to the point where I can't tell them apart. 

Nice, just as was suspected.  Keep burning them in.  The myth about BA burnin is pretty much busted (we'll wait for final results to call them busted).  Now we have to figure out why it happens :p

This is enough data to conclude that burn in does exist, the reason is still not known.  You don't need reason to know something exists/happens, just enough observational data.  Just look at dark energy... :p

Get two sets of IEMs with detachable cables.

Burn in one, and do not burn in another.  Now detach side of the burned in headsets, and attach a non burned in headset, now play a pure tone through the headsets and see if they create a null....   if so....   no burn in....

Would this experiment work?

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullCircle 

Get two sets of IEMs with detachable cables.

 

Burn in one, and do not burn in another.  Now detach side of the burned in headsets, and attach a non burned in headset, now play a pure tone through the headsets and see if they create a null....   if so....   no burn in....

 

Would this experiment work?

Create a null?  Sorry, I program a lot so null = termination = destruction of headphones :p

Actually, your experiment will work.  Make sure the IEMs are exactly the same (use universals with the same tips).  Burn in one, leave the other alone.  A tone works, what works better are multiple tones.  You can also use music as the signature flavors the music in a sense.  Make sure you burn in for at least a total of 200+ hours and test every 25-50 hours with a single tone.  Record your results.  Even further, when you are done burning in one, you burn in another. 

If you don't hear a difference, since you isolated a cable, it could actually be the cable that burns in (not the drivers) which is a big discovery none the less.  Then you'd have to test that, get a new cable and test it against the used one. 

The whole reason I want to do tests is to put the darn thing to rest, why are some hearing burn in while others don't (and does it truly exist).  What is the sole cause of burn in. 

cable burn in?

never ends

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullCircle 

cable burn in?

 

never ends

If you isolate out the cable, then yes, it is possible iff there is no change in sound.  If you test two different cables (of different dimensions), you'll get your conclusions.  If you hear differences, then it isn't the cable.

Experimentation will never end.  You can always expand upon it and find out more.

Interesting idea on isolating which piece needs the burn in.  Unfortunately, my hfs don't have a detachable cable, so it's all or nothing.

I'm also not saying the I have concluded that all BA iems need burn in.   My UM Miracles sounded great out of the box.  If they are improving or are yet to improve I will be very pleasantly surprised (although others have reported burn in improvements)  However, I have nothing to compare them against so I won't be able to do much conclusive.  However, I picked up my Miracles with a beat audio iphone cable, and have the stock cable which I haven't even tried yet.  I suppose I can a/b the stock cable with the beat audio, but it will be a challenge to do that in a blind comparison

Also, as to the point on swapping cables and testing, again, hard to do a singlehanded blind test there.  You would need a helper ...

I'm skeptical of burn in, but my personal experience points to it being real.

Sennheiser recently sent me some CX880s to replace my CX400s that broke under warranty. I couldn't get them to stay sealed, so I burned them in with pink noise for 100+ hours then set them aside and sort of forgot about them. When I first listened, the sibilance was unbearable... even with the treble EQd down, there was an overbearing amount of harsh treble presence. After checking them out again yesterday for the first time since burning them in, the sibilance is gone. 

I find it unlikely that I'd ever get used to such a ridiculous level of treble, especially considering that I've barely listened to them for more than a couple hours since I got them. They seem to have physically changed from the pink noise.

Updates on my experiment:

so after about 200 hrs I've determined that I actually have a problem with the right side driver.  I'm going to have to send them back to Ety under warranty, and get a new pair and start the experiment again :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronrad 

Updates on my experiment:

 

so after about 200 hrs I've determined that I actually have a problem with the right side driver.  I'm going to have to send them back to Ety under warranty, and get a new pair and start the experiment again :(

 

 

Darn, what happened to your right driver?  :(

OT: I have a pair of HF2s coming today :)
 

The HF2s that I picked up have always had the issue, however, since I had heard something similar in my original set, and it had gone away when I changed the filter out and over time, I was wondering if it was a burn in issue, and / or filter issue. 

With 200 hrs on 'em I swapped the filter and then contacted Ety and they said what I was hearing was likely a driver issue (it's also only on 1 channel)  So back they go :(

Congrats on yours, the sound will grow on you :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronrad 

The HF2s that I picked up have always had the issue, however, since I had heard something similar in my original set, and it had gone away when I changed the filter out and over time, I was wondering if it was a burn in issue, and / or filter issue. 

 

With 200 hrs on 'em I swapped the filter and then contacted Ety and they said what I was hearing was likely a driver issue (it's also only on 1 channel)  So back they go :(

 

Congrats on yours, the sound will grow on you :)

That really stinks.  Well, at least they're swapping it for you. 

The sound has already grown on me...  Bass got more thumpy (which I like) and treble settled down :)

I do believe in moving parts needs some work to loose or relax, so yeah call it burn in, but cables? ... what's next, plugs?

I'm burning in my sofa while reading this thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesMcProgger 

I do believe in moving parts needs some work to loose or relax, so yeah call it burn in, but cables? ... what's next, plugs?

 

 

I'm burning in my sofa while reading this thread.

You actually can break in a sofa (so long as it's new).  When you first get some sofas, the cushions are way to stiff...  You gotta' break them in.  Cables and plugs do corrode over time, but it's unknown if this makes a big impact on sound.  I don't think it does, but am open to see some information that proves otherwise.

Ok, so I finally received my replacement pair of HF2s for the version that had a bad driver, so I can start my experiment again.   At initial I was again 4/ 4 on pegging new vs. old, although the difference wasn't quite as dramatic as I remember the original comparison, and while the new ones sound a little flatter in comparison and a little less detailed, the good news is the vibration on bass hits that I experienced in the original pair is gone. 

Time to start some burn in and report back :)