Question about burning in Sennheiser headphones

[mindmaniac]

Do any of you audiophiles know if it really is neccesary to burn in new headphones? Tomorrow I'm getting my Sennheiser HD-280 Pros and I've seen a lot of people recomending that you burn them in. Also if it is neccesary do you have any tips for how?

 

[drag]

Burning in?

I don't know what it is, but it realy sounds like not-a-good-idea. What is it? Like overdriving them to loosen them up or something?


I'd probably follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the use of the headphone.

Now I know this may not be hot for regular headphones (or any normal consumer joe-sixpack audio stuff) you'd get from any store, but if they are high(er)-end devices then the manufacture generally REALY REALY knows their stuff and it's best to follow their advice.

But then again, I don't know what burning in headphones mean anyways.

 

[mindmaniac]

From the posts that I read on amazon, and some acoustic websites they have recommended that for this type I run music on them for a few day to loosen up the coils. For people that can tell, probably not me would notice they sound bad in the beginning but get better after they are burnt in. Thanks for the concern

 

[dkozloski]

Electronic parts of all kinds are run through a "burn-in" process as part of quality control, not to improve or stabilize operation but to weed out the early failures. You can bet that any high end product like you are talking about has been throughly tested and inspected and is ready to go at peak performance as it comes out of the box. I think you are the victim of an "urban legend" or a BS artist.

 

[LucJoe]

It's not an urban legend, you're just asking in the wrong forum. A lot of higher end headphones open up more as you use them. Some people say you have to play music with a lot of bass LOUD for 30+ hours to break them in. I say just use them. But remember, you will probably notice better sound after using them for a while.

Check out other forums like http://www.head-fi.org/forums/ for more information.

 

[screw3d]

For electronics it might be BS to burn-in.. but for headphones it's definitely not BS. There's definitely a difference from the first time I heard my relatively low-end Senn HD497 compared to after a few days of using it.

 

[Auric]

Yes, they will improve after an initial break-in period. I would think more cones and dungarees than coils and electronics.

 

[nineball9]

Originally posted by: Auric
Yes, they will improve after an initial break-in period. I would think more cones and dungarees than coils and electronics.

exactly!

 

[mindmaniac]

Thanks everyone, do any of you know where I can find recordings of pink noise? Some audio forums have recomended playing that through them. Today I've been running classical music through them just at a little higher level than I would.

 

[quikah]

There are a number of pink noise generators on the web, just do a search. Here is a bunch of different files:
http://www.dogstar.dantimax.dk/testwavs/

 

[Dreadogg]

run prime95 on them that'll get um. just kiddin

 

[FishTankX]

Burning in is just an audiophile term for letting the drivers in the earpieces loosen up, through some noise. Some earphones don't sound their best right out of the box. It might take 20-40 hours of use.

 

[dkozloski]

It's amazing what the power of suggestion will do to a pliant mind.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: dkozloski
It's amazing what the power of suggestion will do to a pliant mind.

Please elaborate.

 

[FishTankX]

Many people are doubtful about the ability for 'Burn in' to alter the sound of a headphone.


Many think that it's the brain adjusting to the headphone, instead of actual changes to a headphone.

It's a highly controversial topic.

 

[pennylane]

Just play them normally. They'll burn in by themselves. If you want you can try playing at slightly louder than normal volumes with the bass pumped up (till not too loud. and its best to start off at lower volumes and work your way up). Most headphone people (on the head-fi forums) believe in it at least with headphones/speakers, though people disagree on the extent of its benefit (headphones/speakers because of the loosening of the diaphragm and such as I've come to understand). Just be patient withe 280Pros. Apparently it takes a long time (100+ hours I've heard) before the they open up and sound their best.

 

[Auric]

What's with the tourettes-like repetition of the totally inappropriate term "burn-in"? The part in question is mechanical, and moreover is flexible. Say "break-in" with now like I know you can.

 

[0roo0roo]

eh, loud music in general, played at volume slightly louder then what u'd want on your head would break in stuff after 30 hrs..a good round number i've seen used many times.. my 497['s sound pretty good right now, but its not as if i have a scientific test to back that up, could be in my head losening up the drive units sounds reasonable though.