How long do you have to break in headphones?

[iamme]

How long does it take? Also, what's the best way to do it (what types of songs)?

 

[MC]

overnight i would say.

I used song with some decent amount of bass.

 

[CraigRT]

i don't break 'em in
just plug and play 😀
in all reality.. probably a week before they are working optimally (playing music most of that time)

 

[iamme]

ic, thanks

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: iamme
ic, thanks

Admittedly, I'm not an audiophile, but I didn't know headphones needed to be broken in. Can someone explain to me why this is needed? I'm assuming it only needs to be done on high end headphones, right?

 

[FenrisUlf]

Originally posted by: jemcam

Originally posted by: iamme
ic, thanks

Admittedly, I'm not an audiophile, but I didn't know headphones needed to be broken in. Can someone explain to me why this is needed? I'm assuming it only needs to be done on high end headphones, right?

It does work best on higher end headphones. The reason is because the materials used to make the drivers are stiff coming from the factory. Playing them moves the membranes/spiders/etc (whatever sound producing electromechanical driver your headphone is based on) and gets them used to moving, making them more flexible and responsive. Kind of like getting the stiffness out of new clothes. Bass is usually best because it causes larger movements at slower speeds. The same holds true with any kind of speaker system. Depending on loudness and other factors, I think 12-24 hours should be enough, but there may still be minor "breaking-in" happening for up to a week.

 

[jaeger66]

$29 Sonys don't need to be broken in. $350 Sennheisers do. I just leave them on at a comfortably high level for 2 days or so looping a CD.