Speaker Break in, some interesting data.

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blackba

blackba

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In a debate on TGP forum about speaker break in. Some are claim it is a myth. I posted the following. Thought you guys might find it interesting.


PA, studio Monitors, and Hi-Fi Home speakers all do break in. On Page 155 of Vance Dickason's 'Loud Speaker Design Cookbook (Sixth Edition)' it talks about this. Please note the 7th edition is out. http://www.mfr-eng.com/ldc.htm

My Dickason says this at the start: "Prior to testing , all cone speakers should be broken in." Basically you don't want a speaker changing as you are validating the design, so manufacturers will test the speakers broken in to make sure their box design is good (Talking about PA and HiFi speakers here). He describes a 'loosening' of the speaker suspension system in the first five to ten hours of play. Here is the data from a peerless 6.5inch driver new and after 12 hours of break in with a since wave generator at 25Hz. All this info is out of Mr. Dickason's book referenced above.

Table 8.1
Before break in
F0: 49.9Hz
Qms: 2.11
Qes: 0.44
Qts: 0.37
Vas: 16.8 ltr

After break in
F0: 44.5Hz
Qms: 1.97
Qes: 0.39
Qts: 0.33
Vas: 21.6 ltr

They have a really nice graph in the book showing the frequency response difference. F0 is the peak low frequency, notice how it has shifte slightly lower, this is the more bass people may or may not be hearing.
Qms is the driver mechanical Q
Qes is the driver electrical Q
Qts is the drier total Q
Vas is the volume of air equal to the driver compliance

Mr. Dickason's book is a standard in the speaker designing industry. He does not manufacture speakers, so he has nothing to gain by 'inventing' speaker break in.

I have heard speaker break in myself both with guitar speakers and home stereo speakers. Its nice to see some of the science behind it in Vance Dickason's book.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... 668&page=3
 
Worthy post, thanks for this...

I know break-in is key, I've seen the waveforms change on my DAW from one month to the next using a new cabinet while laying down the same tracks with same mic position, EQ, everything. It's just neat to see. But to me, it's tangible truth that speakers definitely soften and smooth out with time and use.

I have to say, the only speaker thus far that's sounded consistent from the time it was installed to a 100 hours later has been my Celestion Gold Alnico 50W drivers. They're wicked - perfection straight outta da box.

Peace,
V.
 
moltenmetalburn":1nogebsn said:
These people claiming it's a myth are deaf.
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Some times you don't realize your going deaf til its too late
 
I've had some speakers that sound very good out of the box, and even being a believer in break-in I'd have a hard time telling you if they actually changed or not over the normal break in period.

Other speakers have sounded absolutely horrendous out of the box, to the point where I thought I'd made a mistake and nearly threw them out. The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that there was a light at the end of the 5-7 hour tunnel, after which they changed dramatically and are quite nice speakers to this day.

Most have fallen somewhere in the middle. The basic tonality is there, but they sound stiff, weak, and lacking in bottom end compared to a similar cab that's broken in.
 
My Scumbacks started off a little stiff. Somewhat boxy, a little too much fizz. Now? They're by far the best speakers I've ever played through!
 
So what's the trick tp breaking them in quickly withing getting murdered by my lady for 10 hours strait of guitar? Is there anything to avoid during the "break in" period?
 
JDinSC":2atlqsvc said:
So what's the trick tp breaking them in quickly withing getting murdered by my lady for 10 hours strait of guitar? Is there anything to avoid during the "break in" period?
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No trick, keep witnesses away while you break them in, whether you just play them in, or if you use a variac.

Avoid overpowering them.

That's about it.
 
some dude":3bewiaxb said:
I've had some speakers that sound very good out of the box, and even being a believer in break-in I'd have a hard time telling you if they actually changed or not over the normal break in period.

Other speakers have sounded absolutely horrendous out of the box, to the point where I thought I'd made a mistake and nearly threw them out. The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that there was a light at the end of the 5-7 hour tunnel, after which they changed dramatically and are quite nice speakers to this day.

Most have fallen somewhere in the middle. The basic tonality is there, but they sound stiff, weak, and lacking in bottom end compared to a similar cab that's broken in.
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Great post, this is what I have found too. All speakers are different, most like you have found fall into the middle.
 
Celestions don't take that long to break in with a variac. More goop or dope, the stuffer they will be and require a longer break in time. When the hum drops in pitch, stop. You can usually hear a difference in hum after 20-30 minutes. I wouldn't fully break them down, just get them started is all you really need for celestions and playing will take care of the rest.
 
Yup, very unpleasant, brittle highs until the speakers settle in.
I could actually tell/hear when a recent Weber 1230 broke in. It was on a gig a few weeks ago, I finally noticed it was there. Now I can turn the treble and presence on my amp up a bit more and it sounds pleasing.
 
It's cool when you hear the drop!! Hey, what do we know, this is fools gold right: )
 
MotorCityPickUps":1tzz7icc said:
It's cool when you hear the drop!! Hey, what do we know, this is fools gold right: )
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I was quite happy...it sounds a lot better now. I'm still waiting for the Mesa 90 speaker to break-in in my Electra Dyne combo, it's still in that brittle highs stage. Being a higher wattage speaker it's gonna take a while.

I remember posting a clip using a new Celestion Blue and several people pointed out that it sounded brittle (not right) in the highs...I pounded on it for a few weeks and it smoothed right out eventually. It's quite easy to hear when a speaker breaks in.
 
I'm breaking in some V30s currently and I can already hear a difference after about 8 hours of play time. :thumbsup:
 
Randy Van Sykes":1xrk3gx3 said:
MotorCityPickUps":1xrk3gx3 said:
It's cool when you hear the drop!! Hey, what do we know, this is fools gold right: )
Click to expand...
I was quite happy...it sounds a lot better now. I'm still waiting for the Mesa 90 speaker to break-in in my Electra Dyne combo, it's still in that brittle highs stage. Being a higher wattage speaker it's gonna take a while.

I remember posting a clip using a new Celestion Blue and several people pointed out that it sounded brittle (not right) in the highs...I pounded on it for a few weeks and it smoothed right out eventually. It's quite easy to hear when a speaker breaks in.
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May be a misconception on what and how to break them in. I use a variac for about a half hr for celestions, then let them get played for the next few weeks and they fall into place- There is a drop in the hum frequency. You'll hear it in about 20-30 minutes. Its fast and you can miss it
 
killertone":12waa5rt said:
I'm breaking in some V30s currently and I can already hear a difference after about 8 hours of play time. :thumbsup:
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LOL, are you playing them,. or using a variac? V 30's are sweet when they break in...
 
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