Speakers run in time before giving some volume!

[macipod]

Hi How long shall i give my speakers before playing them with a bit of volume!

 

[idc]

How long you run speakers in for depends between manufacturers. A Spanish hifi site asked a whole load of speaker makers how long do they recommend and the answer varied from no time to weeks.

Measurements have found within minutes the diaphragm will change and that is pretty much the end of the running in period. The diaphragm will remain at its run in state if the speakers are used regularly. If the speaker rests for a few days, or even weeks, it will return to its original state and running in starts all over again.

I would say use your speakers as you wish and just avoid excessive volumes that could cause damage.

 

[Andrew Everard]

macipod:Hi

How long shall i give my speakers before playing them with a bit of volume!

You won't damage them by giving them 'a bit of volume' straight from the box.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

When I visited the ATC factory they showed me that once each driver is made they put it through various tests on a test bench one test being putting a signal of a very high level (0dB?) for quite a bit of time through the driver. This makes the driver move to the extremes of excursion, tests it and makes any defects like misalignments come out - and certainly 'breaks it in' very well.

I do not know about how other manufacturers test their drivers but it is probably similar. I would therefore not worry about any break-in periods.

 

[Chokobolt]

I once bought a pair of B&W 685's, but was pretty disappointed with them. The shop told me that they needed some burn in to perform their best, so after a week, where I played them from 8 AM to 3 PM (while i was in school) they still didn't very well, so I told the shop that I wanted to deliver them back, and then they lend me home a pair of their own 685's which had been playing in the shop for quite some time. The difference was staggering. It really was like a whole new speaker/like a thick rug had been removed. I ended up not buying the speakers anyway, but this just goes to show that some speakers do require a bit of burn in

 

[PAULCHRISTOPHER]

Hi I have recently bought a Marantz PM6004 amplifier, a CD6004 and a pair or Q Acoustics 2050i loudspeakers. I was told by the dealer that the speakers needed "running In". Generally the sound is superb. The speakers will not be fully run in yet I believe. They are connected to the amplifier by 4 meters of Van Damme Blue 2.5 sq cable for each speaker. Gold plated banana plugs in to amp. Binding posts used on speakers. I have used volumes between 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock on the control, The instructions do not mention "runnng in" but say experiment with various positions in the room at moderate volume. With a 45 watt per channel amplifier into 8 ohm (these speakers are 6 ohm therefore between 50 & 60watts) I would describe my use as moderate. No apparent distortion at higher tested volumes but put on low late at night the lower woofer on one of the floorstanders has a "fluffy" or "buzz" distortion. This apparently disappears at higher volumes or is drowned out by the other speakers. Have I got a faulty driver or might it go away with more running in? The other floorstander is as sweet as a nut however low the volume is. Paul

 

[MeanandGreen]

You can give them volume straight away. After a couple of weeks of normal use they should be ran in and sound as good as they can.

 

[bluebrazil]

sounds dodgy to me, (please check all your wiring first), one thing to try tho is to swap the speakers round to check its not a fault on the amp. if it persists on the same speaker another thing would be to check the driver screws have been tensioned correctly. if your new to this i would tho i would take the speakers back and let the dealer examine this.

 

[AEJim]

No apparent distortion at higher tested volumes but put on low late at night the lower woofer on one of the floorstanders has a "fluffy" or "buzz" distortion. This apparently disappears at higher volumes or is drowned out by the other speakers. Have I got a faulty driver or might it go away with more running in? The other floorstander is as sweet as a nut however low the volume is. Paul

That won't be to do with running-in, more likely a duff driver, easy enough to get replaced under warranty I'd expect. Any running-in changes are subtle at most and won't be the cause of any distortion or odd noises.

As others have said, opinion varies on it but from experience and the opinion of our engineer who knows about such things - running in does make a difference but all measurable changes are out of the way fairly quickly and after a few hours there are unlikely to be any more acoustic changes. If something takes hundreds of hours as some say it's more likely that you're adjusting to the sound rather than the sound itself changing.

 

[PAULCHRISTOPHER]

Thanks guys. I thought it might be my fault. I played a Manhattan Transfer CD as easy listening and to bed everything in . I have changed the speaker wires over so it is definitely the speaker not the amp or CD. Same with an LP & FM Tuner Distortion is coming from the lower woofer in one cabinet. Will check the interconnects just in case . These are I think Maplin with gold plated plugs. If you turn the volume up full with no input there is a slight hum with the turntable switched in. Very acceptable. have used the grounding lead which I had on my Tecnics Amp. Full volume with no signal switched to CD there is no hum or noise at all. I think I will have a word with the dealer in the morning. It is like or not a blob of glue wedged somewhere or a cable in the wrong place within the cabinet. Paul

 

[PAULCHRISTOPHER]

Thanks Jim our posts crossed. I think you will be right. Phoning Dealer tommorrow. Thank you all for your prompt replies Paul

I will let you know how I get on.