Re: [ARSCLIST] headphones "break-in"?

[Robert J Hodge <rjhodge@xxxxxxx>]

Sounds like audiophoolery. Do speakers need a break in period? I don't
believe so. Unless you're addressing a foamed surround in which case the
break in period ends when the foam breaks down and they need to be
re-edged.

Partially kidding..

BH

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:14 AM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ARSCLIST] headphones "break-in"?

Hi All:

Do professional headphones work optimally if one allows a "break-in"
period or is this 
audiophoolery? I don't know enough about headphone driver design to know
if a new pair benefits from 
playing relatively loud radio content or pink noise for a few hours to
loosen up the mechanics. 
Based on the fact that I listen to headphones at ear-healthy low levels,
this "break-in" would 
probably be as much "exercise" as the drivers would get, but if they are
indeed "stiff" when new, it 
might be beneficial, too, for low-level listening (ie potential better
dynamics response, better 
sensitivity for low-level bass, etc)??

-- Tom Fine