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Cab break in, myth or might actually be a bit true?

baxter_x

baxter_x

Nov 27, 2013
4,997
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EU
www.hellofaride.fr
#1
...I am asking as I bought two Hartke HL410 cabs last week new. I also own a Hartke HX410 bought used a several months ago. The HX is prabbaly 10 years old.
I feel there is a little difference between the HL and the HX. The HX sounds slightly deeper and slightly more massive. It's impossible to notice of not played side by side.
To match the HX I need to push the gain a bit harder on the HL.

Could it be some speaker break in/wear out, or simply some different design?
 
#4
Wasnex said:
There can be some (small) truth to drivers breaking in. I don't think that's what is going on here. You are comparing two different models. I wouldn't expect them to sound the same.
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Agreed, driver break-in is mostly, but entirely a myth with modern bass drivers.

Differences due to a different cabinet design is not a myth however.
 
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#8
agedhorse said:
Agreed, driver break-in is mostly, but entirely a myth with modern bass drivers.

Differences due to a different cabinet design is not a myth however.
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It's what I think too, but on the other hand, the idea that there might be a structural change (the surround loosening, glues "settling", etc.) doesn't seem far fetched. What I think is that break-in, if there is some, will probably happen basically within the first hour of using a speaker.
 
#9
baxter_x said:
...I am asking as I bought two Hartke HL410 cabs last week new. I also own a Hartke HX410 bought used a several months ago. The HX is prabbaly 10 years old.
I feel there is a little difference between the HL and the HX. The HX sounds slightly deeper and slightly more massive. It's impossible to notice of not played side by side.
To match the HX I need to push the gain a bit harder on the HL.

Could it be some speaker break in/wear out, or simply some different design?
Click to expand...
With the Eden and DNA gear David Nordschow (founder of both companies) recommended 10-hours of use before using it in a high volume situation. Since David designed all of his own speakers, I'd follow that advise at least on Eden and DNA speaker cabs. Of course if you are buying used, it shouldn't be a worry.

Below is the quote from page 7 of the 2005 Eden D-series speaker cabs manual (full manual attached below) regarding speaker cab break-in period:


BREAK-IN PERIOD
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We recommend that you use your D Series cabinet at low to moderate volume levels for approximately ten hours before using it in a high volume situation. This will allow the suspension components to “seat” themselves and the speaker to break in. This is very similar in concept to breaking in the engine of a new car. It will actually take about 24 to 50 hours of total playing time to fully break in your speaker system. If desired, you can plug a CD player into your amplifier and play a CD through your enclosure to accomplish this break-in."
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I personally did the 10-hour break-in at normal listening levels with my Eden and DNA cabs using a CD hooked through my amp.
 

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#10
Clark Westfield said:
Proper break in is to never put the knob on 11,,,,,,,,,,EVER!
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Yes, and there is a huge difference between breaking-in and just plain breaking it.

Boneless said:
It's what I think too, but on the other hand, the idea that there might be a structural change (the surround loosening, glues "settling", etc.) doesn't seem far fetched. What I think is that break-in, if there is some, will probably happen basically within the first hour of using a speaker.
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That's exactly what makes the myth plausible, and in fact there can be small changes but they are smaller than the basic parameter manufacturing tolerances. There's more changes in your ears over 1 hour of higher level listening IME.

That said, there are some speakers, mostly lower powered guitar speakers, that use very different suspension components, adhesives and cone compositions. These speakers can change more significantly as these components change with use.
 
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#11
I know speaker break in is a real thing for car speakers. Those are lower diameter, and lower power. It depends on the speaker construction. It was very noticeable change in the frequency response of my car speakers after they broke in.
 
#12
To me, "break-in" applies to mechanical parts in direct contact that wear during use due to friction contact, and speakers should not have any parts that meet that criterion. Like many things, they are the "best they'll ever be" when they first leave the production line, and it's only downhill from there.... ;)
 
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#13
WRM said:
To me, "break-in" applies to mechanical parts in direct contact that wear during use due to friction contact, and speakers should not have any parts that meet that criterion. Like many things, they are the "best they'll ever be" when they first leave the production line, and it's only downhill from there.... ;)
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There are suspension components that have a very mild aging component, but these days and with high performance speakers, they are designed to be as stable as possible. You are correct, it does have a "mechanical friction" component though, it's the slight breaking down of the adhesives and fibers in the spider, surround and cone materials that soften them up SLIGHTLY.

SOME guitar speakers are an exception.
 
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#14
agedhorse said:
There are suspension components that have a very mild aging component, but these days and with high performance speakers, they are designed to be as stable as possible. You are correct, it does have a "mechanical friction" component though, it's the slight breaking down of the adhesives and fibers in the spider, surround and cone materials that soften them up SLIGHTLY.

SOME guitar speakers are an exception.
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I did consider the "spring rate" of the surround, and that's the only thing that involves friction - on a microscopic level? Maybe that "settles in", but I don't care much for any springs that change rates/degrade? ;)
 
#15
Boneless said:
It's what I think too, but on the other hand, the idea that there might be a structural change (the surround loosening, glues "settling", etc.) doesn't seem far fetched. What I think is that break-in, if there is some, will probably happen basically within the first hour of using a speaker.
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Probably a better term is fatigue.
"Breaking in" a speaker is just causing material fatigue from the new, pristine state. The term break in more acceptable to the proud owner of a new speaker compared to calling it material fatigue.

If it sounds better or not is a moot point, because it will gradually change over the lifetime of the driver, whether you like it or not.
 
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#16
I believe it to be myth.

I’ve been through a couple of dozen, maybe more, user guides for pro audio concert speakers and never once have I read anything pertaining to a break-in period for any of the drivers or other components.

Nor when replacing drivers has there been any info provided on breaking in speakers, new or reconed.

I’ve treated my bass cabinet speakers the same.
 
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#17
WRM said:
I did consider the "spring rate" of the surround, and that's the only thing that involves friction - on a microscopic level? Maybe that "settles in", but I don't care much for any springs that change rates/degrade? ;)
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The spider has even more of the spring effect, and the binders in the cone material pulp also self-adjust as the small number of divers that are either under tension or sheer break with vibration.
 
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#18
byacey said:
Probably a better term is fatigue.
"Breaking in" a speaker is just causing material fatigue from the new, pristine state. The term break in more acceptable to the proud owner of a new speaker compared to calling it material fatigue.

If it sounds better or not is a moot point, because it will gradually change over the lifetime of the driver, whether you like it or not.
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It is a form of early fatigue, but not true fatigue changes. This is where definitions tend to blur.
 
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#19
Geri O said:
I believe it to be myth.

I’ve been through a couple of dozen, maybe more, user guides for pro audio concert speakers and never once have I read anything pertaining to a break-in period for any of the drivers or other components.

Nor when replacing drivers has there been any info provided on breaking in speakers, new or reconed.

I’ve treated my bass cabinet speakers the same.
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Like bass speakers, quality pro audio speakers try to minimize this effect through the selection of materials and design.
 
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