What is Burn-in?

Submitted by PieDiscombobulated11 t3_z8ujvu in headphones

I've put together a decent stable of Headphones and IEMs and never fully understood the need for Burn-In. Does the sound of modern day electronics really change w/ use? I thought this concept applied to tube-based electronics only?

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Qazax1337 t1_iyddcwn wrote

You will never find a controlled frequency response graph of a headphone before burn in and after burn in showing any difference, because there isn't.

What does exist:

Brain burn in - where you get used to how a headphone sounds and start to notice the intricate details it can present, or the low end that you thought was lacking but is actually just a little recessed but better quality than your previous headphones.

Pad burn in/wearing out - if you use a headphone for a long time, the pads will wear down which will change the sound of the headphones. It is not the driver itself burning in.

Changing how you wear the headphones - if you increase or reduce the clamp, start wearing glasses, have a lot of hair cut off or grow a lot of hair, these can all change how your headphones sound.

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Mr_Slimo t1_iyddfn6 wrote

It's more like your brain gets used to the sound signature of a headphone, which is why for many people it's hard to tell the difference between some headphones, especially people new to the hobby

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wireSupremacy t1_iyfa7yt wrote

Gimme a sec lemme grab my popcorn

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Impossible-Stop2243 t1_iydg9c7 wrote

for me my cans all of a sudden started sounding better one fine day , now call it what you will, its like voodoo, and im a software developer

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PieDiscombobulated11 OP t1_iydi5uo wrote

IMO we individually adapt to each headphones' sound signature. Headphones do seem to sound better as I get used to their musical presentation. The longer I listen to a pair of cans, the faster my brain is trained to recognize/adjust to its unique sound delivery.

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Ok-Change503 t1_iye6qcx wrote

Here we go again! The answer is no one knows. If it exists, it's not measurable. Is our ability to measure limited? Possibly. Is it just placebo/other factors? Possibly. Humans can't deal uncertainty.

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