by Mudd » Sun Apr 25, 2004 9:19 pm
Break in on speakers - ANY speakers - is a tried and proven concept. It's like any engine (or motor, if you will). As it moves it wears in, creates it's groves and such, granting "easier" excursion (if you will), both for the motor assembly (the voice coil around the pole piece) as well as whatever surround the cone of the speaker has. Some of the better speakers are broken in at the factory. This is typically done with a sine wave, or pink noise. But in general, most people really hear their speakers open up and sound much warmer and smoother once given proper break-in.
I've been in the audio biz for MANY moons, and that's one thing I've learned. Break-in helps prevent distortion at some higher thresholds, and can also help from blowing the sub (since distortion, or non-linear movement, is what actually blows speakers).
I can reference a half-dozen publications on car and home audio loudspeaker design and construction if any of you need actual proof, (I'd have to dig them out and scan them) but honestly, is it THAT hard to go easy on it for a week or so before really launching your new subs?
For reference, a typical and accepted break-in is roughly 8-20 hours of a variety of music (that's pretty much opinion and varies wildly on what music to break them in with - I used classical on my home theater speakers, and trance on the car speakers) at roughly half to two-thirds volume.
Just an FYI.