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Sound generators for breaking in speakers

Stephen

Stephen

Apr 12, 2005
2,402
851
Seattle
#1
I will be getting a new high end cabinet [ TC12AC ] soon.

I gig only a couple times a month and generally in quieter settings.

I have heard that speakers sound better after a break in period, which for me, could take years LOL !!

I had read about someone connecting a " sound generator " to their rig and letting it play on for some hours to speed up the break in process.

Can anyone tell me what the easiest way to do this would be?

Thanks!
 
#4
the prophet said:
Forget about it..
Speakers sound just the way they are supposed to when they leave the factory.
Click to expand...

You are pretty much just wrong here. It's been documented that speakers change parameters as they're broken in (ask Bill).

What's true is the breakin seems to occur naturally over time but you can accelerate the process (and rule out driver issues) using a sine wave generator. Very easy.
 
#7
There is a cheap iPhone app called sound check that useful. It can generate sine waves, sweeps, white and pink noise, check phase in a stereo configuration. I use it a lot for home audio, but I'm sure it could be useful. I would use white noise to break in a speaker though, hit it with all the frequencies.
 
#8
the prophet said:
Forget about it..
Speakers sound just the way they are supposed to when they leave the factory.
Click to expand...
And shoes and jeans fit perfectly the day you buy them. :rollno:

Laptop and a ministereo to 1/4" jack. and this:
Tone Generator Software - Audio Test Tone and Sound Frequency Generator

30hz sine wave will break stuff right in. Just keep it at a reasonable volume (No audible distortion).
Click to expand...
+1.
I would use white noise to break in a speaker though, hit it with all the frequencies.
Click to expand...
-1. The cone needs to move as far as possible with the least amount of power applied, which means 20 to 30Hz. There's no reason for higher frequencies to be used, all that would accomplish is to make a lot more noise.
 
#9
lokikallas said:
There is a cheap iPhone app called sound check that useful. It can generate sine waves, sweeps, white and pink noise, check phase in a stereo configuration. I use it a lot for home audio, but I'm sure it could be useful. I would use white noise to break in a speaker though, hit it with all the frequencies.
Click to expand...

Very cool !! Downloaded the free one first. Works great. However, only generates one tone.
 
#10
billfitzmaurice said:
And shoes and jeans fit perfectly the day you buy them. :rollno:

+1.
-1. The cone needs to move as far as possible with the least amount of power applied, which means 20 to 30Hz. There's no reason for higher frequencies to be used, all that would accomplish is to make a lot more noise.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill. Great to hear your opinion !!!!

How many hours would be good for general breaking in?

Here is the app [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#15
Audacity is a fine piece of open source software. The current Beta will create noise, tones & sweeps. Save a file, load it on repeat on your favorite player, and you can free up your laptop for more fun stuff.

Audacity is also useful for pitch shifting songs for practice in the other key that your singer prefers, or slowing down a passage and keeping the pitch the same, for working out that 4 bar 32nd note run :hiding:

Truly the audio Swiss army knife, useful for testing, playing, servicing.

No, I'm not affiliated. Wish I were.
 
#18
I have just got my Barefaced Super Twelve T and am running a 25hz sine wave through it, I have to say I am disappointed, I thought the sine wave would be loud and annoy the wife, I am sure she will find something else to complain about :D
 
#19
:DGreetings...first let me state my qualificatios: more than 40-years as a professional electronic repair technician, same period of time playing my bass, past member of Audio Engineering Society (San Diego), many years selling and using HIGH END audio, Bowers & Wilkins, Thiel, et cetera...and I'm here to tell you that ALL electronic devices have a "break-in" period.:cool: Some of the Thiel loudspeakers have break-in periods exceeding 400-hours! Using a tone generator only addresses one frequency, (and therefore driver(s)) at a time. If you're using bass frequencies ONLY, a tone generator may be helpful. ;) HOWEVER, you must play the rig at a 'realistic' volume. This can be very annoying...hearing pure tones continuously...so consider breaking your speaker(s) in in the garage or some other isolated location.:bassist:
 

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