[bigshot]

woo! woo! you should see my golden ears glowing in the moonlight!

 

[krismusic]

Nice one Bigshot. Maybe the title of this thread needs changing! The Final Verdict. Not!

 

[Happytalk]

So for the lazy newbie. Can't I just let them break in naturally over time? Is there a difference between actively breaking them in for several 10's of hours in succession vs. just using them regularly for a few months?

 

[castleofargh]

So for the lazy newbie. Can't I just let them break in naturally over time? Is there a difference between actively breaking them in for several 10's of hours in succession vs. just using them regularly for a few months?

oh if you're into those stuff you can find some "special burn in records". you know like pregnant women are told to listen to classical music during pregnancy ^_^.
if you start with death metal, your gear might grow up with a rebellious mind. it's all about good education I say.

 

[SilentFrequency]

So for the lazy newbie. Can't I just let them break in naturally over time? Is there a difference between actively breaking them in for several 10's of hours in succession vs. just using them regularly for a few months?

Maybe the "lazy" way is more "organic" non forced way of breaking in headphones?

Yet, actually, how can "breaking in" headphones ever sound like a good idea?

Id like my hd800's to sound as good as they are from the day I first used them for years to come and isn't "breaking in" just another form of wear and tear?

Don't headphones conform to most things ie the lower the use the less worn/stressed they are, or "fresher"?

 

[Happytalk]

I am just curious to know if there is a different effect either way. Just using them to listen to music regularly vs. burning them in constantly for 50 hours, for example. Do the sonic results differ in the end?

 

[castleofargh]

I am just curious to know if there is a different effect either way. Just using them to listen to music regularly vs. burning them in constantly for 50 hours, for example. Do the sonic results differ in the end?

almost nobody cares, it's like asking if there is a special way of walking when you get new shoes. the reality of burn in is moderate at best and probably dependent on what the driver's membrane is made of. but a driver can do 2 things, forward and backward to vibrate some sound. so maybe using square waves at 130db loudness right out of the box will not help your headphone live long, but else it's all a little silly.
my personal opinion: just listen to your music and forget about all that.

 

[Happytalk]

Maybe the "lazy" way is more "organic" non forced way of breaking in headphones?

Yet, actually, how can "breaking in" headphones ever sound like a good idea?

Id like my hd800's to sound as good as they are from the day I first used them for years to come and isn't "breaking in" just another form of wear and tear?

Don't headphones conform to most things ie the lower the use the less worn/stressed they are, or "fresher"?

almost nobody cares, it's like asking if there is a special way of walking when you get new shoes. the reality of burn in is moderate at best and probably dependent on what the driver's membrane is made of. but a driver can do 2 things, forward and backward to vibrate some sound. so maybe using square waves at 130db loudness right out of the box will not help your headphone live long, but else it's all a little silly.
my personal opinion: just listen to your music and forget about all that.

That's what will always happen anyway. I almost prefer pre owned because I don't have to think about it. Music first. A great thing about this site is the support for over analysis. All the comparison makes it fun. I will search to see if there has been a clear comparison.

 

[SilentFrequency]

That's what will always happen anyway. I almost prefer pre owned because I don't have to think about it. Music first. A great thing about this site is the support for over analysis. All the comparison makes it fun. I will search to see if there has been a clear comparison.

Do you only buy pre-owned from people you know personally?

The only reason I ask (at the risk of sounding ocd) is the germ factor. I mean, what if the person had poor hygiene ie greasy hair etc?

I was in a store recently helping my friend buy herself some headphones that would sound good as they now think I'm a audiophile, which I guess I am even though friends think I'm a little nerdy now, lol, but whilst we were looking through the display demonstration models we noticed this guy trying every pair out in display and he just looked totally unclean, which at that point me and my friend just looked at each other then left the store.

This is something I've probably not even thought about until that experience and I'm guessing the store hopefully clean their demo headphones daily with anti bacterial wipes maybe.

Personally if I ever bought a used pair of headphones Id totally clean the ear pads fully before use, but that's just me.

 

[krismusic]

Can't beat the feeling of putting a lovely box fresh pair of 600's on IMO.

 

[theSC00BZ]

The thing is, most devices and their components for the consumer market are manufactured to tolerence. Basically, no two headphones are identical. They can argubly be very similar, but not identical. Is the difference enough to effect the sound? Sure; in some cases yes, in other cases no.
 
Then there's basic physics. Listening to sound at any given time (unless in labotatory controlled conditions) will be different than the last. Temperature, air pressure etc. are all variables. Is it enough to effect sound? Again, in some cases yes, in other cases no - but even your own tympanic membrane can be effected by this, regardless of your headphones. Even your mood effects how you 'perceive' sound.
 
Additionally, any mechnical parts (outside of lab controlled conditions), change over time. Enough to change sound? Sure.
 
All these variables change from one day to the next. Change is irrefutable. Anything else is psychology and personal preference.
 
That's my 2 cents anyway.

 

[SilentFrequency]

The thing is, most devices and their components for the consumer market are manufactured to tolerence. Basically, no two headphones are identical. They can argubly be very similar, but not identical. Is the difference enough to effect the sound? Sure; in some cases yes, in other cases no.

Then there's basic physics. Listening to sound at any given time (unless in labotatory controlled conditions) will be different than the last. Temperature, air pressure etc. are all variables. Is it enough to effect sound? Again, in some cases yes, in other cases no - but even your own tympanic membrane can be effected by this, regardless of your headphones. Even your mood effects how you 'perceive' sound.

Additionally, any mechnical parts (outside of lab controlled conditions), change over time. Enough to change sound? Sure.

All these variables change from one day to the next. Change is irrefutable. Anything else is psychology and personal preference.

That's my 2 cents anyway.

I totally agree with that and could even go further to say that sound (music) can also alter your mood (at the risk of this being obvious anyway)

 

[theSC00BZ]

I totally agree with that and could even go further to say that sound (music) can also alter your mood (at the risk of this being obvious anyway)

 
Absolutely... My headphones are also a "go-to" place when I need to chill - even elevate myself sometimes at the risk of sounding like a hippy. Whereas cranking the tunes up while driving makes me a racing lunatic 

 

 

[OddE]

Personally if I ever bought a used pair of headphones Id totally clean the ear pads fully before use, but that's just me.

-A new set of pads are surprisingly cheap for a number of brands/models. I think that would be my preferred route. (New pads for my K240s cost the equivalent of $13 or so a few months ago...)

 

[Happytalk]

I'll survive with a thorough cleaning and some carefree listening with already burned in headphones.