Speaker cable = theory or mitos

hi all...

Just want to get your opinion about Speaker Cable. I visit Hifi shop to survey speaker cable. i meet with mr teh (not real name.. hehehe) and discus about speaker cable.

I remember what he say. "New Speaker cable need to run at least 100 hours (not one time) to get real sound quality just like warming up the cable". i very confuse this statement because i dont have experience own new speaker cable.

Then i decide to DIY bi-wire 24AWG pure cooper 3m length using Canare speaker cable and i done to twist from 2 core to 4 core and welding gold plated spade in one day. (big n heavy cable). then i test to connect to my amplifier.

1st time i listen the sound i fell a bit disappointed because i spend a lot of money. the result is high freq. dark and i need to increase volume. but Mid sound good with deep bass. i continuously listening music using that cable.

after one week using that cable i can hear the difference. High freq. become clear and no need to increase volume. i can feel the different then i remember what mr teh say "New Speaker cable need to run at least 100 hours (not one time) to get real sound quality just like warming up the cable".

Just want to know either mr teh theory is true or just play-play.. hehehehe...

I really hope Otai2 out there can give your opinions regarding this theory.

TQ.

Most everywhere i read, cable burn in seems to be real. Some thing to do with the di-electric more than anything else. If you look at 'anticables' website, they say their speaker cables don't need too long to break in as it has very little di-electric. Makes sense to me.

By the way, do you mind sharing where you found Canare wire in Malaysia?

Many thanks.
Bal.

In my case it's true! Power cords too! and when you don't use a certain cable for some time you need to run it in again but not for as long as the initial run in period.

Some detractors have said that this phenomenon of cable break-in is just our ears getting used to the sound over time. It's been said that the ears are highly adaptable to what seems like unpleasant sounds initially - exposed to say something jarring like people singing through a megaphone often enough and we don't even hear it anymore while we go about our daily lives.

Yours, just reporting what they said, moderneagle

Hi Sham...

I would concur with Bimmerman....on my DIY Interconnects / Power cable...there was a burn in period.

Approximately 2 weeks of 2 hour listening session, the volume knob is at 10, "SQ" much more mellowed, jaggered edges are being rounded off compared to the initial stage, "ouch" to my ears. After putting in the hours, the "SQ" is detailed and soothing to my ears.

I was never a believer in all this until i tried it myself.

cheers

Yeah Wingman, me too. I remember reading What Hifi back in the 1980s and totally skipping any reviews on power cords and speaker cables because to me, the very suggestion that power cords had any effect on sound was just totally ridiculous. Would you believe I only accepted upgrading of power cords around 3 years ago. I am a believer now.

What about the connectors? Talking about the IEC, 3-pin plug, Spade, banana and such.... Mainly this is on the power cord and interconnect side.
The wire/cord normally need to run in due to di-electric and settling-in/burn-in, but do connectors need to be run in as theoritically its still metal cover in insulation?

Anyway, different material and better quality material/workmanship/contact point do influence the sound, also not forgetting the design of the item such as twisting/sheilding that come into play. Its not as simple as electron transfer only.

JS...

Different viscosity of materials play different roles. On the inert's of it I won't be able to answer, not that savy on such matters.

It's similar to mounting you CD player of spikes, squash balls, acrylic platforms, wood base or solid base.I know for a fact that my TT placed on a 1 inch thick Acrylic platform with spikes ...is much better sounding compared to without the acrylic platform.

I trust that these materials play a part on the different sound signatures thats being derived from the equipment.

cheers

I read that solder settling down also needs a run in period, so even tho a cable has been run in, if you were to change termination (spades, banana plugs, rca's), and used solder, there would be a further run in required.

when i was playing around with different capacitors for speaker crossovers, i found that caps take like forever to break in. My V caps in my car almost made my ears bleed when new, me wondering what the hell i spent so much money on them to make me go deaf... but 2 months later, they are sweet as honey.

That taught me, that this hobby/obsession/life blood of ours, must really have patience, cannot judge things too quickly.


Bal.

Alamak!! TNB changed old wires to new insulated twisted wires from the subs station to all the houses.

Dielah, how long must wait for burn in? That wire some more thick oh..

Like 1.5 inci for TNB. My Amp fuse is only 0.3mm..how to fight??

wingman wrote:Hi Sham...

I would concur with Bimmerman....on my DIY Interconnects / Power cable...there was a burn in period.

Approximately 2 weeks of 2 hour listening session, the volume knob is at 10, "SQ" much more mellowed, jaggered edges are being rounded off compared to the initial stage, "ouch" to my ears. After putting in the hours, the "SQ" is detailed and soothing to my ears.

I was never a believer in all this until i tried it myself.

cheers

Hi wingman...

I also fell same situation with you. for the first time listening my volume knob is at 4 and sound a bit dark. after 1 week volume knob just at 2 but same loud ad 4 before. it was surprising me and i believe mr teh theory is absolutely acceptable.

bal wrote:Most everywhere i read, cable burn in seems to be real. Some thing to do with the di-electric more than anything else. If you look at 'anticables' website, they say their speaker cables don't need too long to break in as it has very little di-electric. Makes sense to me.

By the way, do you mind sharing where you found Canare wire in Malaysia?

Many thanks.
Bal.

Yeah Bal... Canare cable still available. just let me know if you want some. NOS with cheap price....

Me too. Initially I thought it was a myth until I started experimenting and as always got sucked into it. I always thought wires are wires until I was introduced to Furutech (entry level only)...what a world I went into. Now I am scare to explore the higher range because it will never end. Anyway my poisonous friend is going to let me try his Wireworld Eclipse and hopefully it is not suitable to my system or else.....pocket kena bakar again.

Speaker cables do make differences upon listening and it is highly depends on personal taste.

Hi all. Here i give pic 2 core DIY canare speaker cable. My recent DIY Canare cable is 2 core twisted to 4 core cable enable bi-wire. big and heavy but deliver light sound.

Those want to DIY this cable let me know. cable still available some.



Cheer

hi Syam, sad to hear that your house and your hifi is burn,
but what important is your family is safe.
hope that you can start it again..
we here will support you in many ways..