Hi all.  Theblackbeard here.  
 
First a little about myself.  I consider myself an amateur audiophile.  I love listening to music as much as I do creating my own.  I do much of listening with an iPod Touch 4G/Porta Pros combo, but also enjoy letting my Paradigm Atoms unleash the blissful frequencies.  My gear isn't expensive or fancy, but when I listen to my lossless collection, the music takes me places!
 
I admit with all the time I've spent reading posts on Head-Fi I think I may have contracted Audiophile's disease hehe.  Must...get...another...headphone
 
In any case, I've decided to make my first post a headphone burn-in resource.  You see, I realized after spending some time reading others questions about burn-in in various other posts that the one thing missing from any informative posts or FAQ's was a good file to use when burning in.  So if you want to get right to it, see the links bellow.  
 
A big thanks to Zanth for posting the wonderful Headphone Burn-in FAQ.
 
Burn-in FAQ - All you need to know!
 
Combo burn-in wav (white, pink, brown noise) - Play, set to repeat, come back latter and enjoy awesome sounding headphones!
 
For the love of music!
 
Cheers,
TBB

Sorry for such a newbie question though, but how long should i play the burn music? or is it until i get a good burnt-in headphones? ...or am i making sense? 

Oh no, here we go again.

Hi Kenoidz.  
 
I think you'll find different people will tell you all sorts of varying amounts of time are necessary.  Some will also claim it makes no difference at all.  Some claim 50h, others might tell you 100h is best.  The Jlab audio website mentions 40h of burn-in to be about right (http://www.jlabaudio.com/burn.php).  So again, you'll find many different opinions as to how long it should be done.  Watagump knows the effectiveness of burning in headphones is greatly debated, that is why his smiley is eating popcorn as he surely waits for me to give you some BS answer.  Its all good Watagump, I've tried to give Kenoidz an answer based on my own experience, hope the popcorn tastes good though.
 
Some of the headphones I have owned in the past have indeed improved in SQ from their new state after burning them in, and I'm unlikely to be the only person on Head-Fi to tell you burn-in has improved a headphone' SQ ever slightly.  Though the effect will likely vary from one headphone model to the next, if your ears even notice any improvement at all.       
 
I have read some headphone manufacturers also burn their sets in before they leave the factory, though I could't tell you which brands do so.  Me personally, I burn-in my headphones overnight for 5 nights while I sleep.  I set the volume level just past what I would consider too loud to listen to.
 
In the end, it is up to your ears to judge whether or not burn-in will have improved any aspect of your headphone's SQ.  Though there are many posts about it to be found in the forum, so have a look around and see what others have to say too.  Plug'em in and listen to some good tunes while you do...I'm listening to a 24/96 vinyl rip of Numb by Portishead  as I write this.  
 

 
Peace,
TBB

Quote:

theblackbeard said:

Hi Kenoidz.  
 
I think you'll find different people will tell you all sorts of varying amounts of time are necessary.  Some will also claim it makes no difference at all.  Some claim 50h, others might tell you 100h is best.  The Jlab audio website mentions 40h of burn-in be about right (http://www.jlabaudio.com/burn.php).  So again, you'll find many different opinions as to how long it should be done.  Watagump knows the effectiveness of burning in headphones is greatly debated, that is why his smiley is eating popcorn as he surely waits for me to give you some BS answer.  Its all good Watagump, I've tried to give Kenoidz an answer based on my own experience, hope the popcorn tastes good though.
 
Some of the headphones I have owned in the past have indeed improved in SQ from their new state after burning them in, and I'm unlikely to be the only person on Head-Fi to tell you burn-in has improved a headphone' SQ ever slightly.  Though the effect will likely vary from one headphone model to the next, if your ears even notice any improvement at all.       
 
I have read some headphone manufacturers also burn their sets in before they leave the factory, though I could't tell you which brands do so.  Me personally, I burn-in my headphones overnight for 5 days, and I set the volume level just past what I would consider too loud to listen to.
 
In the end, it is up to your ears to judge whether or not burn-in will have improved any aspect of your headphone's SQ.  Though there are many posts about it to be found in the forum, so have a look around and see what others have to say too.  Plug'em in and listen to some good tunes as you do...I'm listening to a 24/96 vinyl rip of Numb by Portishead  as I write this.  
 

 
Peace,
TBB

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Its not about you giving a BS answer, its just already been done to death and as we both know its never going to be agreed upon whether its real or not. My popcorn was for the possible upcoming mud slinging, nothing more.

True, but my post was more about gathering links to some basics and a good file to use while burning in all in one place.  So while it is true there are many burn-in threads already, I never came across any sharing a good file to use for the purpose of doing so.  
 
If anyone wants to mud sling they will only make themselves seem foolish, and I wasn't offended by the popcorn eating at all btw.  I know its a greatly debated topic and knew right away you were expecting some mud to be thrown.  I know only what my ears can confirm.  Others can debate all they want.  Hope no one comes a trollin' though, cause if mud gets thrown at me I'll simply duck hehe.  No worries. 
 
Cheers

Brain burn in is far, far, far more important than mechanical, that means using your IEM and taking it through your musical journey, don't just blast music and white/pink noises through it and leaving it untouch for few days...that is IEM cruelty...and illegal...

Quote:

djvkool said:

Brain burn in is far, far, far more important than mechanical, that means using your IEM and taking it through your musical journey, don't just blast music and white/pink noises through it and leaving it untouch for few days...that is IEM cruelty...and illegal...

Click to expand...

The funny thing is, is how do you differentiate between the two? Seems like a very fine line.

Where do you get that I'm blasting anything for days at a time from?  I rarely bother burning in iem's, since it doesn't seem to yield and noticeable benefit as far as my ears tell me.  I burn-in my cans using this process whenever I get a new pair though.  Never changes them into HD800's miraculously, but sometimes improves bass response and or smooths out initial sibilance.
 
I burn-in my newest cans using this method by playing the WPB noise for 6-7 hours through the night over a few nights, then listen to them many hours through the day in order to enjoy them.  When I wear them, listening to lossless tracks, I am always on a musical journey.  Very high bitrate rips bring audio richness to my nubs, something that seems lost to most simple cd rips where the current trend seems to be increased loudness over quality.  Lets not even get into 128kbps mp3's.  No itunes tracks for me.
 
Seriously, how can anyone have a $300+ PMP, buy 300+ Dre. Beats and think they are the bomb listening to 128-256kbps soul devoid modern recordings.  BOOM BOOM BOOM YUCK!  Now those are real FART CANNONS for ya.
 
Not sure how burning in some cans is illegal in any way?
 
TBB 

I have an old and a new pair of (dynamic) Sony NC-020's, the newer ones predictably have tighter bass and I could tell you which ones I was listening to with an ABX test, if thats mechanical burn in then yeah fair enough but I don't find either to be 'better' than the other.
 
As mentioned above I also believe its the brain that 'burns in' or slowly adjusts over time to a new IEM or new DAPs sound flavour and is the far more dominant factor.

Quote:

djvkool said:

Brain burn in is far, far, far more important than mechanical, that means using your IEM and taking it through your musical journey, don't just blast music and white/pink noises through it and leaving it untouch for few days...that is IEM cruelty...and illegal...

Click to expand...

I am also a believer in brain burn in. Here is some food for thought, it was stated that some companies burn in their headphones before they leave the factory. If that is the case, then how can the buyer tell if mechanical burn in is real. Bottom line is your bodies adjusts to things, this is true for hearing and eyesight. A new monitor might not look good at first, but after a while you adjust and then voila, hey this thing looks great. Any set of headphones I have gotten simply just get used, I don't go through any process other than that. Playing music is going to exercise the drivers so to say, just as using pink noise white noise etc etc. Quit over thinking things, get some headphones you like and ENJOY them.

I can't deny brain burn-in may take place.  Since I base my result strictly on what my ears tell me, or if you wish how my brain interprets the sounds, your point makes sense to me.  The fact that I use the above method to burn-in my phones still won't compare to how much time I'll spend in an average week actually listening to them.  Burning-in headphones doesn't cost me anything and if I seem to perceive any change, that's what counts to me.
 
As for brain burn-in or traditional methods by playing music through a pair of headphones, on or off your head, people are welcome to go about things how they wish.  In regards to whether or not manufacturers ever burn-in at factory, I imagine if its done, it would likely be for models well past my more budget oriented price range.    
 
As I look through the hardware lists some people here have I start wishing I could sample such quality gear and let myself experience some high-end brain burn-in that's for sure...ahh to dream.
 
The brain is a subjective thing isn't it, but whatever our individual routines may be I'm certain we can all keep on listening to those sweet sonic vibrations with a smile, burn-in or not.
 
TBB 

Brain non-burnin can exist as well. It can influence a presumption on either side of an issue so whatever. That discussion is for the sound science forum. As for the files supplied. I don't care for them on mechanical devices. They don't allow enough rest as most music files will. Something like Nellyville is a great breakin album. Good energy with quiet staggered speaking passages and a large range of frequency and dynamics.

As for a large range of frequency and dynamics, my music provides them as I listen throughout the days.  As a computer technician I spend a little too much time plugged in, so the tunes help me relax as I work.
 
No one is forced to download the file, just sharing it for those who feel like giving it a try.  So in the end if it isn't something worth your time and consideration, nothing lost.  Those who wish to let burn-in take place as they listen may do so, or use pink only, or white only, or frequency sweeps, or simply buy higher quality headphones if nothing else.
 
@Goodvibes, I'm not familiar with that album?  Can you tell me more about it.  In fact, to anyone who may wish to comment on any good tracks to allow for a listener to experience great music that unleashes the true colors of a headphone please feel free to suggest some.  
 
I admit being so revolted by popular music these days that any tips on good listening albums will always be welcome.  I'll listen to anything at least a few times.
 
TBB

 
P.S.  The local Futureshop here has set up a kiosk for listening to a few premium Sennheiser sets, but the music choice and quality is so poor the result is completely unimpressive no matter model I tried.  You'd think Sennheiser's promotions and marketing department would know better!   I just don't understand why they don't provide a much higher quality track to let their demo headphones shine?  In fact have yet to find a demo kiosk that does use quality tracks.  What a shame.  I wish we had a few smaller audio shops around my city to let a person properly demo some new headphones.  As it is I have to buy them, try them and return them if they truly don't hold up.
 
 

The way I see burn in is this: it doesn't hurt anything or cost anything. If adding an extra 40 hours of time shortens the headphones life span there are bigger problems. I am pretty sure I've heard burn in differences but since I have no way to measure I won't call it fact. When I get a new set of cans I just leave them run overnight a few days. If nothing else, its free peace of mind