[The Quality Guru]

To be totally honest, I have been reluctant to let my ATH-W100's break in because I am worried that cans burned-in from better equipment will sound better in the end (and I don't, at this point, have wonderful equipment for these headphones). What I mean is: Would ATH-W100's that were burned-in with an earmax pro (versus plugging them into the radio) result in better sound in the end?

Or is it just a matter of 'loosening up' the drivers inside the earcups and not a matter of how they were loosened up, and the aforementioned concept is not true?

(BTW, I posted this as a reply to somebody's thread once, but I wanted to make it a thread of its own, because I think it would be inportant info for everybody).


Thanks for any sort of help or suggestions!

Regards, Luke

 

[kwkarth]

Equipment used for breaking in your cans will not make a difference, so don't worry, just let them break in and ENJOY!

Quote:

Or is it just a matter of 'loosening up' the drivers inside the earcups and not a matter of how they were loosened up, and the aforementioned concept is not true?

That's most of the break in phenom for headphones.

Have fun!

 

[Nick Dangerous]

Did you know that if you drive a new car over roads in high crime neighborhoods it will be broken-in much faster?

Sorry... couldn't resist.

 

[dhwilkin]

Did you know that if you hit your headphones w/ a sledgehammer, they will break-in almost instantly? But that method probably won't sound as good as letting them burn-in in a cast-iron frying pan on the stove. Keep heat at simmer for the best sound, good things take time.

In all seriousness, don't worry about the associated equipment used for burn-in, it's not a big deal.

 

[dngl]

Just use 'em. as long as you get 20hz-20kz responses in there, they'll break in fine. My Sennheisers broke in again once I got them properly amped... that was strange.

Nick- nice one.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Do a search on the forums. It's past my bedtime, otherwise I would find it myself, but the thread is similarly titled. I posted a CD that does seem to make a difference. On, otherwise, the exact same equipment. So the extrapolation of this has got to be that the burn-in would make a difference, too, though I have to admit, I've never heard a difference. Perhaps distortion would be bad, burning "out" a driver element in one way, while burning in in the proper way...?

 

[Mic]

I wouldn't imagine so.

 

[The Quality Guru]

Thanks, all. I can now listen without 'bad burn in paranoia!' Yay!