Do the Denon D5000's smooth out/ change some with burn-in?

[tim3320070]

Just aquired these new ($372 shipped from Comet Supply) and really like them out of the box. The treble is just a touch harsh with a little bit of grain (not much), as compared to my HD650's.

Does this change or mellow with use?
What other improvements are noticed with burn-in?
Thanks

 

[tim3320070]

Someone?

 

[lucky]

Burn-in is all in your head. Either pretend you like them until you do, or sell them and find phones you're fine with.

 

[tim3320070]

Thanks dad.
Anyone have some info to share?

 

[mitsu763]

Mine are still a little bright after about 100 hours. Not sure if it's supposed to change or not. Slightly less bright after switching from SS to tubes. Maybe it's the source?

 

[tim3320070]

I'll give it another week. Thanks.

 

[twylight]

I burned mine in thoroughly as the treble was too much for me.

It got better.

I enjoy them now on all music - I did not enjoy them for the first day of listening.

Note that I burned them in off my head for days at a time - my ears did not adjust to the sound - it settled down. It really took off when I upgraded my DAC a few weeks ago.

I dont believe in the burn in thing either and scoff at the notion - something changed is all I can tell you and the treble isnt so ear piercing anymore.

 

[ph0rk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twylight /img/forum/go_quote.gif Note that I burned them in off my head for days at a time - my ears did not adjust to the sound - it settled down. It really took off when I upgraded my DAC a few weeks ago. I dont believe in the burn in thing either and scoff at the notion - something changed is all I can tell you and the treble isnt so ear piercing anymore.

This is not exactly what I'd call strong evidence in favor of burn-in.

To the OP - even most of the strident advocates of burn-in will agree that the fundamental nature of a headphone's sound signature won't change with burn in - if the treble is tipped up to your ears, then they'll likely remain that way to your ears.

Don't miss the return window waiting for them to get better.

 

[twylight]

Ph0rk,

What I trying to say is this:

Day 1 - I would have returned them in a instant - I hated them.

I tried the burn in (leaving music or pink noise on for a few days)

Day 5 - I like them alot more, wasnt totally happy.

I had no reason to like or dislike them - FOTM headphones have a high resale value and I can dump them at anytime.

I would leave them cranked for a week and try again - if you dont like them, return them.

 

[subtle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucky /img/forum/go_quote.gif Burn-in is all in your head. Either pretend you like them until you do, or sell them and find phones you're fine with.

The idea that burn-in is all in your head is all in your head.

 

[taso89]

If what you mean by grain is sibilance, then no it doesn't go away. The Denons unfortunately suffer from sibilance no matter how long you play them, it's a quality of the headphone, not something that burn-in will magically fix. That was one of the reasons I enjoy Senns more sometimes.

 

[nlaudio]

You need to run them with loud music for 300 hours or so. Just put them in a cardboard box filled with pillows and turn it up for a couple weeks.

 

[pataburd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by taso89 /img/forum/go_quote.gif If what you mean by grain is sibilance, then no it doesn't go away. The Denons unfortunately suffer from sibilance no matter how long you play them, it's a quality of the headphone, not something that burn-in will magically fix. That was one of the reasons I enjoy Senns more sometimes.

I respectfully, but adamantly, disagree. IMHE, undue sibilance can be traced to upstream gear with the D5000, particularly the amp. Properly amped, I've never heard an overly sibilant character to the D5000; on the contrary, the treble is smooth and can even be forgiving with older recordings. What amp are you (the OP) driving the D5000 with? And what amp(s) were you (taso89) driving the D5000 with?

As for burn-in, I gave the D5000 about 300 or so hours before they settled down, smoothed out and tightened up.

Waiver: to my ears, anyway. : )

 

[twylight]

They dont have any sibilance at all. pre or post burn in - I think you might have a gear problem upstream.

Well except a crappy David Lee Roth song at 128kps, but thats not fair it makes my dog howl on a loudspeaker.

 

[tim3320070]

I don't hear what I would call sibilance (I heard this with my Musiland MD-10 and HD595 phones, which is why I don't have them anymore). See my equipment below, BTW. The treble is not overly harsh, just slightly more in relation to the Senn 650's I have. What kind of bothers me more is the boomy bass. I am going to alo try a partial markl modification- just line the wood cups and see if that attenuates it some.
I also feel the hd650's have a bit better fine detail resolution. I do like these though, they have a very involving sound. I have about 90-100 hours on them so far.
Thanks.