Do my new headphones need a burn in period before they are at optimum sound?

Ben_Fisher · 08-05-2014, 07:55

I want the best out of them, is this a myth or does it hold any weight?

What are peoples thoughts on a process to burn in.

JasonWatkins · 08-05-2014, 08:45

I can only relate from my personal experience with a pair of the in-ear "Xtreme Xplosive" headphones and the fact that they did improve in quality after a period of time.

There's an interesting article here about it ..

http://www.tested.com/tech/accessori...ng-headphones/

It doesn't really give any definitive answers either way, but worth a read.

soulboy77 · 08-05-2014, 08:49

The answer is yes but 90% of us will not actually be able to perceive the difference.

Sid Law · 08-05-2014, 12:40

It is certainly the case that some high end hi-fi speakers sound much better after a good "running in".

Common changes to the sound are a sweetening of the mid and treble (less harsh) and the bass sounding more open and airy.

These changes obviously vary from model to model, and from listener to listener, but I have heard them for myself over the years.

A hi-shop in Edinburgh used to offer to "run in" new speakers for you so that when you got them home, they would sound like the demo ones you heard in the shop.

As the transducers in headphones are essentially minature versions of what you would find in a hi-fi speaker, the same might be true except that if you are listening to mp3's and/or in a less than perfect environment, or the music is (like almost everything that is released these days) highly compressed, it is very unlikely that you would be able to tell the difference.

GasMark · 08-05-2014, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWatkins

I can only relate from my personal experience with a pair of the in-ear "Xtreme Xplosive" headphones and the fact that they did improve in quality after a period of time.

There's an interesting article here about it ..

http://www.tested.com/tech/accessori...ng-headphones/

It doesn't really give any definitive answers either way, but worth a read.

I was lucky enough for the headphones I am using right now to be at their best quality right out of the box. Might be down to the magic of Japanese manufacturing, (it stated on the packages they were made in Japan, and the brand of the headphones is Maxell).

diablo · 08-05-2014, 19:32

My Beyer DT990 Pro headphones got better after a few hours use, the bass got stronger and clearer. I think they use some greasy stuff when they assemble the drivers and that takes a while to get settled.

Those are over-the-ear types though - no idea about in-ear ones which are so popular nowadays.

Lidtop2013 · 08-05-2014, 21:48

Im pretty sure the bass in my Sony in-ear earphones improved after a few hours use(i rate Sony earphones, very good sound)

08-05-2014, 07:55	#1
Ben_Fisher Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lincoln Posts: 577	Do my new headphones need a burn in period before they are at optimum sound? I want the best out of them, is this a myth or does it hold any weight? What are peoples thoughts on a process to burn in.

08-05-2014, 08:45	#2
JasonWatkins Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 53,670	I can only relate from my personal experience with a pair of the in-ear "Xtreme Xplosive" headphones and the fact that they did improve in quality after a period of time. There's an interesting article here about it .. http://www.tested.com/tech/accessori...ng-headphones/ It doesn't really give any definitive answers either way, but worth a read.

08-05-2014, 08:49	#3
soulboy77 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Herts Posts: 17,005	The answer is yes but 90% of us will not actually be able to perceive the difference.

08-05-2014, 12:40	#4
Sid Law Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: East Perthshire Posts: 1,599	It is certainly the case that some high end hi-fi speakers sound much better after a good "running in". Common changes to the sound are a sweetening of the mid and treble (less harsh) and the bass sounding more open and airy. These changes obviously vary from model to model, and from listener to listener, but I have heard them for myself over the years. A hi-shop in Edinburgh used to offer to "run in" new speakers for you so that when you got them home, they would sound like the demo ones you heard in the shop. As the transducers in headphones are essentially minature versions of what you would find in a hi-fi speaker, the same might be true except that if you are listening to mp3's and/or in a less than perfect environment, or the music is (like almost everything that is released these days) highly compressed, it is very unlikely that you would be able to tell the difference.

08-05-2014, 17:14	#5
GasMark Inactive Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 57	Quote: Originally Posted by JasonWatkins I can only relate from my personal experience with a pair of the in-ear "Xtreme Xplosive" headphones and the fact that they did improve in quality after a period of time. There's an interesting article here about it .. http://www.tested.com/tech/accessori...ng-headphones/ It doesn't really give any definitive answers either way, but worth a read. I was lucky enough for the headphones I am using right now to be at their best quality right out of the box. Might be down to the magic of Japanese manufacturing, (it stated on the packages they were made in Japan, and the brand of the headphones is Maxell).

08-05-2014, 19:32	#6
diablo Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fylde Coast Posts: 8,103	My Beyer DT990 Pro headphones got better after a few hours use, the bass got stronger and clearer. I think they use some greasy stuff when they assemble the drivers and that takes a while to get settled. Those are over-the-ear types though - no idea about in-ear ones which are so popular nowadays.

08-05-2014, 21:48	#7
Lidtop2013 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: West Midlands Posts: 2,450	Im pretty sure the bass in my Sony in-ear earphones improved after a few hours use(i rate Sony earphones, very good sound)

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Do my new headphones need a burn in period before they are at optimum sound?