Burn-In Debate: Pink, White, Sweeps, or just Music?

[DDRRE]

The sticky FAQ only mentions methods of burn-in.

Here we shall argue which method is the best within 1. these various methods:
Pink Noise,
White Noise,
Sine Sweeps,
Constant Sine Wave (+Which Frequency?),
or just Listening to Music.

2. the volume in which the method should be carried:
Low Volume,
Normal Hearing Volume,
Higher than Normal Volume,
Very High Volume.

and 3. what is the average time of burn-in.

Everyone please respond with your thoughts and don't skip anything!

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinali Unquestionably, I have observed the fastest and most profound break-in with alternating white and pink noise samples of about 10 seconds each at slightly above average volume. Since I use iTunes, there's a slight fade-out at the end of each sample. As the sound is pretty dense, break-in amazingly speedy, especially at slightly above average volume with a bit of extra bass. I imagine sweeps or music would achieve the same result...eventually. But since there's not quite the same sound density, it's going to take a little longer. Frankly, I lack the patience for music break-in; the white/pink noise combo is very potent. When I tried this overnight wtih the AD2000, the differences were obvious and fast. (And the ocean-like noise made it easy to sleep - the main problem wtih sweeps.) Some people say that break-in never ends. With the AD2000 and white/pink noise, overnight is sufficient to achieve most break-in effects. Check my headphone break-in site below for more info.

After reading this I decided to make a file with the pink/white noise looped.
10 seconds of each looped for ~1:30 minutes. 128kbps MP3, mono.

Click here to enter download page.
Have fun

 

[stevenkelby]

I will go first!

I'm certainly no expert but here's my thoughts:

I use full range random music to get the drivers moving at all frequencies and speeds. Play at high volume but below distortion obviously.

Loosens up the spider/suspension and the surround and also smooths out the wire in the voice coil, making it all move more smoothly, freely and quickly.

Iv'e noticed enormous, unquestionable differences with some speakers, like the DLS 6 inches in my car. Started out very muddy, boomy and flat, after 50+ hours they sounded like a different speaker.

I'm sure some drivers won't be affected by burn in though. I suspect poor quality drivers have loose suspension and coils anyway, or they will just sound bad no matter what. The more you pay, the more the sound changes with burn in.

Seems obvious to me, engines perform better after running in due to mechanical friction smoothing out rough spots between moving surfaces and creating a low friction surface, but with a good, close seal. Same thing must happen in the voice coil of a driver.

Also the surround must get softer with movement, sort of like a pair of leather shoes.

That's what I think anyway!

 

[jdimitri]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDRRE The sticky FAQ only mentions methods of burn-in. Here we shall argue which method is the best within 1. these various methods: Pink Noise, White Noise, Sine Sweeps, Constant Sine Wave (+Which Frequency?), or just Listening to Music. 2. the volume in which the method should be carried: Low Volume, Normal Hearing Volume, Higher than Normal Volume, Very High Volume. and 3. what is the average time of burn-in. Everyone please respond with your thoughts and don't skip anything!

Assuming that it's real, what burn does is loosens the drivers
So any music will do, at the volume high enough so that it won't hurt ur headphones (the louder, the more the drivers would move, i assume?)
All just assumptions, probabli made up

 

[jdimitri]

OUCH! didnt post fast enough

Lol...

 

[stevenkelby]

Your post said the same thing with much less words. Wish I was more eloquent!

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDRRE The sticky FAQ only mentions methods of burn-in. Here we shall argue which method is the best within 1. these various methods: Pink Noise, White Noise, Sine Sweeps, Constant Sine Wave (+Which Frequency?), or just Listening to Music. 2. the volume in which the method should be carried: Low Volume, Normal Hearing Volume, Higher than Normal Volume, Very High Volume. and 3. what is the average time of burn-in. Everyone please respond with your thoughts and don't skip anything!

First off, I assume we're talking headphones specifically.

Sine sweeps, preferably low frequency sweeps (20-140 Hz approx, or 20-400 Hz). At higher than normal volume, but not very high volume. IMO this is enough to greatly accelerate burn-in over simply playing music. Just a wild guess, but I'd say an hour of aforementioned bass sweeps is worth twenty hours of "normal" burn-in time, maybe more.

 

[stevenkelby]

Good point, I use an IASCA test disc that has lots of stuff including sweeps.

 

[spinali]

Unquestionably, I have observed the fastest and most profound break-in with alternating white and pink noise samples of about 10 seconds each at slightly above average volume. Since I use iTunes, there's a slight fade-out at the end of each sample. As the sound is pretty dense, break-in amazingly speedy, especially at slightly above average volume with a bit of extra bass.

I imagine sweeps or music would achieve the same result...eventually. But since there's not quite the same sound density, it's going to take a little longer. Frankly, I lack the patience for music break-in; the white/pink noise combo is very potent. When I tried this overnight wtih the AD2000, the differences were obvious and fast. (And the ocean-like noise made it easy to sleep - the main problem wtih sweeps.)

Some people say that break-in never ends. With the AD2000 and white/pink noise, overnight is sufficient to achieve most break-in effects.

Check my headphone break-in site below for more info.

 

[Solude]

1. these various methods:
Listening to Music.

2. the volume in which the method should be carried:
Higher than Normal Volume,

3. what is the average time of burn-in.
300 Hours

 

[augustwest]

Just listen to them and enjoy. . . . .If you can't be bothered with that, then buy second hand, and the break-in will have have been done for you.

- augustwest

 

[TheSloth]

What about 'does it really matter'? Of all the things one needs to worry about...

 

[kramer5150]

Music, bass heavy, dynamic range. I have also done sine sweeps.
Louder than normal volume.
Time varies with the headphone. My RS1s started to dramatically change around ~150 hours.

IMHO its not rocket science. Just leave them playing when not in use.

 

[DDRRE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinali Unquestionably, I have observed the fastest and most profound break-in with alternating white and pink noise samples of about 10 seconds each at slightly above average volume. Since I use iTunes, there's a slight fade-out at the end of each sample. As the sound is pretty dense, break-in amazingly speedy, especially at slightly above average volume with a bit of extra bass. I imagine sweeps or music would achieve the same result...eventually. But since there's not quite the same sound density, it's going to take a little longer. Frankly, I lack the patience for music break-in; the white/pink noise combo is very potent. When I tried this overnight wtih the AD2000, the differences were obvious and fast. (And the ocean-like noise made it easy to sleep - the main problem wtih sweeps.) Some people say that break-in never ends. With the AD2000 and white/pink noise, overnight is sufficient to achieve most break-in effects. Check my headphone break-in site below for more info.

Hmm... sounds nice. Expect an MP3 file containing 10 secs of pink noise, then 10 secs of white noise looped for 1-2 minutes. I'll get to it in a few.

 

[PiccoloNamek]

I don't burn in my headphones.

That being said, all of the headphones I own now sound exactly the same as they did when I bought them.

 

[EFN]

Out of curiosity I purchased a cheapo $10 Philips bud. Hooked up to my notebook using Winamp I ran two very energetic songs - "Wake" by Rage Against The Machine and "Vodoo People" by The Prodigy back to back in a loop for over 12 hours straight. One song very shrill on mids and the other has rolling bass sweeps. Volume set at 80%

What I can say is that it makes HUGE difference. That Philips bud was barely listenable out of the box, but after that 12 hours battery it is quite okay, I almost enjoyed using it

. Much better result as compared to using pure 6dB of Pink Noise burn-in.

My 2 cents....