[kRed]

And it will just get better as you break them in.

I used to believe that break-in was BS, but my Sundara actually got better with time: a little less sharp (to the point it's not sharp anymore), a little better on the bass and a bit wider. My hd560s, on the contrary, did not change much (so I don't think it's brain burn-in).
Also my Focal Listen did not change very much. Not sure about the Beyer.

Maybe it's about the pads? The 560s has some kind of velour which did not collapse at all, while my Sundara pads changed a lot. Or maybe it's the diaphram?

 

[ezduzit2500]

I used to believe that break-in was BS, but my Sundara actually got better with time: a little less sharp (to the point it's not sharp anymore), a little better on the bass and a bit wider. My hd560s, on the contrary, did not change much (so I don't think it's brain burn-in).
Also my Focal Listen did not change very much. Not sure about the Beyer.

Maybe it's about the pads? The 560s has some kind of velour which did not collapse at all, while my Sundara pads changed a lot. Or maybe it's the diaphram?

Diaphragms get more compliant with use. Speaker surrounds have a similar process when they're brand new.

 

[morpheus69]

Diaphragms get more compliant with use. Speaker surrounds have a similar process when they're brand new.

Exactly, this is not about pixie dust crap, it's about it getting to it's intended performance in a mechanical sense.

 

[ptenorio]

Interesting, I also didn’t know if break in was a myth or not.

 

[PeterCraig]

It's a myth for some people. More of a mystery.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Exactly, this is not about pixie dust crap, it's about it getting to it's intended performance in a mechanical sense.

Speaker diaphragm performs millions of excursions in a few minutes. That's all it needs for break in, not hundreds of hours of non stop pink noise torture.

 

[ezduzit2500]

Speaker diaphragm performs millions of excursions in a few minutes. That's all it needs for break in, not hundreds of hours of non stop pink noise torture.

Still, those movements are cumulative until each driver reaches it's nominal behavior or "equilibrium" if you will. At that point it's behavoir while excited will no longer change unless of course it's grossly overdriven to the point of failure. My bookshelf speakers were wooly in the bass and muffled in the midrange until I burned them in with rather loud pink noise and music for a week or two. They had rather stiff surrounds that needed working out. Then they became more defined in the bass and much more transparent and clear in the mids. With all physical moving parts this occurs to one degree or another. Think: leather goods and car engines. My experiences, YMMV....

 

[ptenorio]

Dumb question, I heard of white noise machines used to muffle echoes and speech in an open office environment, but what exactly is pink noise?

 

[ahmonge]

but what exactly is pink noise?

All frequency sound with decreased amplitude as frequency gets higher.

 

[ptenorio]

Thanks for the video, I’ll do some googling myself since I just have more questions as to how “burn-in” will benefit from pink noise , although the video states that it’s based on how humans perceive sound so I’m assuming this is key for headphones? But why not just play actual music then, lol?

 

[ahmonge]

Thanks for the video, I’ll do some googling myself since I just have more questions as to how “burn-in” will benefit from pink noise , although the video states that it’s based on how humans perceive sound so I’m assuming this is key for headphones? But why not just play actual music then, lol?

As burn-in is one of a several hot topics in audiophilee world, there are several theories of how to do it properly. Playing music is an obvious way for me, but random noise advocates think otherwise.

 

[ezduzit2500]

Thanks for the video, I’ll do some googling myself since I just have more questions as to how “burn-in” will benefit from pink noise , although the video states that it’s based on how humans perceive sound so I’m assuming this is key for headphones? But why not just play actual music then, lol?

Pink noise excites and stresses the driver over the whole frequency range (ie: 20hz - 20khz), whereas most music doesn't. However, there's absolutely no reason to not do both - music during the day and pink noise overnights or when not listening to music (that's how I do it, btw). The purpose of using pink noise is that it usually burns in the driver much faster vs music only. Of course, whether you believe in such things or not (I and many others do, while some others don't), there's no right or wrong opinion when it comes to one's own gears. Some hps don't benefit at all but the Aryas definitely do, IMO, judging from my experiences with both the v2 and the Stealths...and various sets of speakers.

 

[ptenorio]

Thanks for the input, interesting stuff, most of my headphones I’ve bought used but it’s definitely an interesting topic that I’ve heard people mention in the past.

 

[SemiAudiophile]

Anyone try the new EF400 with the Arya yet? Trying do decide between it and the Soloist. Built in R-2R dac is appealing though.

 

[Ichos]

Anyone try the new EF400 with the Arya yet? Trying do decide between it and the Soloist. Built in R-2R dac is appealing though.

I have one incoming but it would take a while for impressions.