I'm still burning in cables from the 1980's. Can't wait to hear them.

Don't forget to burn the stereo-rack too😂

I think the "cable burn in theory" came from cable manufacturers and sellers. If you don't like the product, they tell you the burn the cable... This way they hope you will change your mind and keep the product at home. Thanks not a joke, I think it's true !

One of my favorite things is hearing the capacitors I change, well, change! If I ever got anything from PSAudio I would want one fresh off the line to hear the burn in myself. It's amazing how much they change.

The issue with interconnect cable burn in isn't noticed very often because not very many people use interconnect cables in the northern hemisphere, then move them to the southern hemisphere, or vice versa. The cables become confused, and can't tell whether it's night or day. They suffer from sleep deprivation and don't know how to conduct themselves.

Thank You Paul for all you do 🙂

I read stories by cable manufacturers that speaker cables need a 500 hr burn in. And I remember one guy commenting on the "difficult listening phase between hour 150 and hour 200". I also recall the story where a loudspeaker manufacturer had forgotten his cables upon setting up at a London Hifi show. So he rushed to the next hardware store and got a Black and Decker lawnmower cable, which he cut to fit his speakers. The show attendants loved the sound of that "attractive looking orange speaker cable". Taken from "The Emperor's New Clothes"

I own the “gadet from Densen, which is a De-Mag CD, which play a sweep tone, which then “clean up” the system, and it works! I do it every 2 week or so. Cheers from Denmark

Yeah, I'm 30 years in business and last year I saw those speaker and interlink cables with arrows 😆 Thank you for sharing your great wisdom.

All great answers and done with some humor! Thanks for that because this can be a very long, drawn out conversation. But I still love talking about it after all these years lol. Folks I'll try to make this short but sweet myself. Burn-in is not warm-up; those are two different things. Interconnects and speaker cables do not require much burn-in time; only a few minutes will do. That step should be done by the manufacturer to avoid embarrassment. So any company who advises you to do burn-in is either asking you to perform their testing for them or misusing the term burn-in. Do not pay any company extra service fees for burn-in (or demagnetization). Just familiarize yourself with the applicable warranty coverage (and lemon laws) prior to purchase. All of the above applies for amps and speakers especially because they are more expensive than cables. However, warm-up time is YOUR responsibility. Only amps need to be warmed up because it induces a state of thermal stabilization inside the amp. If for some reason a significant enough DC bias has developed across the transformer in the amp's power supply section, this can be very simply eliminated by briefly powering down the amp then turning it back on.

I've had a cable burn out before, sorta. It definitely started sounding worse, turns out the jacket material had deteriorated.

I loved degaussing my pc monitor, ah the 90s were good.

Is it safe to say that anything with capacitors in it, and anything with parts that physically create sound (cartridges, speakers, headphones) have a burn-in? I never had any issues hearing burn-in, sometimes it's subtle, sometimes it's extreme (some phono cartridges really go from wooly to super shrill and pointy sounding during their burn in, even going in channel unbalance and whatnot, the Nagaoka MP200 was a crazy ride!) so it surprises me people are so quick to deny it, but is there any 'red line' as to which 'devices' have burn-in and which don't? Also, that intro; I like you, mr. McGowan :D.

The problem is: when we say “I’ve heard it”, what we’re actually (literally) saying is “I think I heard it”.

I like the chill way you approached the topic, it reminds me of that Chill Audiophiles group on FB.

How does one develop an audio product when break-in is required?

Brave soul! Really well answered. There is no question I can hear almost any capacitor burn in and even some resistors. I could imagine I can even hear a fresh solder joint burn in. But not sure I have ever heard burn in on an interconnect. I sure heard improvement with changing the RCA connectors. But no burn in.

Pitchforks !! Made me chuckle! I can just see a gang of Disgruntled audiophiles outside of Paul's office with pitchforks, and torches ! 🤣

Thanks Paul, it’s the music!

I Really enjoy your channel

Can you post up a video to where you can show a before and after graph or curve of some type that will show the differences of before and after burn-in? I am super curious as to whether or not this can be tested and actually see a difference on a scope, graph, audio analyzer, etc. If there are differences, my only issue is that the human ear probably can't hear this, and if not, then why do the "burn-in"? The only reason I would do a "burn-in" would be for quality control. Your thought's Paul?

Great video!

hey paul show us a graph on a amp wires trans port preamp on how it measure s before and after burn in i dont think theres a diffents but if thete is i like to see this prove it i dare you thanks..

Where can I order pure gold cables?

One thing I've learned about hi fi is that there is a difference between 'hearing' a difference, and there being an actual, objective, measurable change. There is so much psychology at work.

The Irish are known for their sense of humour. I’m glad you didn’t fall for it. Was it sent on 1st April by any chance?

Aesthetix sells a degausser that you can plug the outputs of your tonearm cartridge into push a button, wait 10-15 seconds and voilà it’s done. Doesn’t have to be used often. I guess it’s use is based on the number of hours on the cartridge since the last degaussing.

Hi Stephen as a subscriber of PS Audio myself and also from Drogheda, I hope one day we cross paths and have a good conversation, as you know there's not many of us here to share our passion with! Good luck with your system! 👍

I believe in Brain Burn in more. ;) Driver break in for headphones is very real. Cables? Not so much. That is just my experience though.

Fun stuff -- like walking in circles inside a henhouse while banging on a tambourine. Someone will be sure to notice your new shoes. Didn't you book this for 4/1/21?

The audiodharma 2.5 pro cable cooker burns in interconnects, I use to own one & it really works, sadly I had to sell because I went skint.

I don't know - but a mid 1990s era Australian alt rock band Deadstar album Milk seem to do a faster job in offering interconnect cable sound quality imorovements than Beck's Mellow Gold album.🤔

I concur, as someone who installs and maintains medical linear accelerators for a living, new equipment always has a period of instability where frequent adjustment is needed to keep all the signals looking like they should. Some components will have have a similar period of instability after replacement...thyratrons, klystrons ion chambers, never cables.

1:50 In that vein, I'm guessing the windings in Tesla's polyphase brushless motors also have to break in... And while your at it, don't forget to check the electron Encabulator as well. It has to be changed every 3MWh or 10,000 miles. Whichever occurs first.

Any views on the benefits of using these? Burn In CDs: Densen Audio Technologies - Densen DeMagic Sheffield Labs : XLO Test & Burn-in CD Sheffield Labs : MDMS : System Conditioning and Degaussing Stereophile's Special Burn-In Noise

Paul, that's why people ask you. They want to hear YOUR opinion. Thanks!

Good to know that you are an honest person. I have hifi friends that believe that expensive cables make a difference. Even power cables. This is just nonsense.

I am 100% agree to your explanation based on analoq circuit theory.

Interesting, I just got some new XLRs, and I have two Little Bear XLR switches. I can A/B a new and old cable, both the same brand and length - see what I can discover.

All interconnects and cables that I've owned have been plug and play. Never have I found them to need burn in or be directional.

Some little insect creature or something else truly got burned in the other day. Something had got into my dual monoblock amplifier, just one of my pieces of amplification, when I saw a puff of smoke rising up and a smell that resembled something like an anticeptic electrical smell. The protection relays keeps chattering on off to the dozen every so often. The amp is still working on both channels powering my bass drivers, but the protection relays keep activating on on to the dozen every so often. Also not sure if there is an RF, EMR, EMI radiation setting the relays off, or something else. I thought my amp had blown the right channel at first, but no it hasn't because the amp still is still passing the signal to the bass drive units on both channels from my cd player to my mid and treble amplifiers, then to my dual monoblock amplifier for the bass drive units.

The concept of something being "burned in" assumes that some physical property or property of the materials changes with time as they are used. Why should we assume that after these changes occur, it would always lead to BETTER sound? Why couldn't the physical change lead to sound that's worse? In audio equipment, we're talking about a lot of different materials with different properties. For instance, in the musical instrument world, it's generally acknowledged that violins get better with age, and become more resonant. OTOH, it's generally acknowledged that grand pianos get worse with age, and they are at their peak when they are brand new (it has to do with the tremendous tension on the crown of the soundboard which decreases over time, leading to an instrument with less sustain and volume).

We audiophiles call it nimble chop-chop sear in technique. This method will shorten the burn in time of interconnects from hours to seconds. So how is this done, first disconnect the speakers cable and reconnect your interconnect cable between the amp and the speaker, next set the volume on full once you see the cable smoking quickly lower the volume and let it smoke for few seconds

Demagnetization of the system is very real and can make a big improvement.

Man, all those houses I wired in the last 20+ years and not one of them did we “burn in” the wires! Can I be held liable? How do I sleep at night?

Buy XLR, you can use them only in one direction........

"Burn in" is just a marketing term for your brain getting used to the nature of the sound you're hearing. Same thing as a radio station playing the same song over and over until you think you like it.

Power cables and speaker cables perhaps, due to the higher loads compared to interconnects.

Well basic physics says not at all no. That metal just isn't going to get anywhere near hot enough with audio signals to do anything significant.

seriously? again this is what keeps people up at night.... embarrassed to call myself an Audiophile due to these questions... JUST ENJOY THE MUSIC

Some dudes may say that even tip-toes need burn-in.

Come on Paul everyone knows the moon is made of cheese! I read it on the Internet. LOL I can’t say I always agree with everything you say, But I do appreciate your candor. All the best my friend!

Hi Paul, I like your comment about the internet. That one can come up with everything and one will get backup from someone. This is so true. I love your short videos and your opinions on contrary things. Keep on going :-) BTW: I love your Audiophile guide. I'm still in setting up my Monitor Audio Gold 200s with your help. Thanks!

I have witnessed interconnect burn in. I purchased a Chord Company Clearway coax cable, the first 30 minutes was super bright and too crisp, after an hour burn in the cable balanced out very well

Cables do experience a break-in period... they become softer and more flexible the more you play around with your system.

Cables make a difference, theres no doubt about it! Honestly though I have a hard time understanding how a set of cables can command prices into the thousands however. When I get to building a DIY amp in coming months, I think ill also opt into giving DIY cable making a shot as well. If I can make a CAT5/6 ethernet cable, im SURE I can handle some speaker wire : D

Always buy used interlinks. A they're cheaper, B no need to burn them in. But beware! if they were used for heavy metal and you listen to classical it will sound horrible!

It happens all the times when I buy a new computer. After a couple of weeks of burn in it goes a lot faster! It's the capacitors! Wifi connection is faster too, the air needs burn it. Too bad that whan I open the windows to change air, I have to start back again... Just joking, of course. Thanks for your work, I may be skeptical on some topic, but for sure I learned a lot.

Speakers, transistors, tubes and capacitors all take time to get to know themselves and their neighbors and make good sound. Wires... not so much ;-)

The easiest way is use a car battery. One end of cable on the positive the other end on the negative. This will burn in and creates polarisation of the cable. Give it a go , just hold on for 15 seconds, wait 30 seconds and repeat for 30 minutes.

lol ,,, really? Yep I can see how it may be controversial . Soon we will all be heading back to the little tin foil stick on arrows that '' help'' with cable performance.

Zu Audio had a 20% decline in returns when they started burning in their speakers before shipping them out. The drivers benefit some, but most of the benefit of burn in is attributed to the wires and the crossovers.

These kind of questions (differences in cable sound, burn in of cables/components, differences in DAC‘s/ CD-players...) probably will never die...because some people who are interested in Hifi are never going to learn or experience... What can you do?? -> Ignore those ignorants, Paul McGowan 🤷🏻

He's right as usual.

In a transmission line (interconnect cable), there is a positive travelling electromagnetic wave, always propagating from source to load (let's neglect the reflected wave), while the magnetic field and electric field vectors (which are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of wave propagation) constantly change their directions (audio signal is AC). Can any physicist explain how a cable insulation could be sensitive to the direction of electromagnetic wave propagation...? (Keep in mind the el. and mag. vectors constantly change their directions...)

And make sure the labels on vinyl records are demagnetized - only on Side B. And then apply a blast of air from a demagnetized air hose at no more than 30psi. Wait 23 minutes before playing.

As an Irish person, Drogheda in Ireland is pronounced draw-he-da, not dro-gay-da. But I appreciate the try 😅

Those 'MTG Space Lasers' are keeping my cables from burning in properly.

Part 1: Simple question - burn-in? Simple answer - no. Part 2 - nuanced, but still no. Great response by Paul.

When I bought my new speaker cables and hooked them up, I thought they sounded beautiful. I didn't notice the "directional arrow" on them when I installed them. Well one cable was correct and the other was backwards. Naturally, I spun the other cable in the right direction, and WOW!! Holy crap!! What a difference!! April fools! I couldn't tell ANY difference.

I got one of those CD's and it demagnetized my speakers. 🤦

Kenji shows directionality in his tests here

Здравейте! Търся звук, който да прегаря кабелите и аудиосистемата като цяло, по-бързо от обикновения. Има такава машина, която работи със специфични честоти, но не знам дали просто някой не е записал звука ѝ и просто да го изтегля.

The hole in my wallet is still burning

Im going to say, burn in is not a thing in interconnects. I have found that cables that transmit the best impulse response / frequency response sound the best. Even in a blind test. Though with speaker cables there are some factors i have not been able to measure but can hear, not break in though... basically, more research is needed

The only thing, that I believe needs burning in, is speakers as they are mechanical and need to loosen up. I have proven this to myself many times.

Dude, this CD can demagnetize your high purity OCC copper cable...

If burn in is a thing, how can companies manufacture high fidelity equipment if it's sound is going to change after x amount of time once they've sold it? Look at it another way, manufacturers of scientific equipment like MRI scanners or super accurate atomic clocks, are they saying yeah, the scan will be better once it's burnt in or the atomic clock will be more accurate once the cables/components are burnt in? Cable burn in sounds like snake oil. Lets consider what happens during the time period known by some as 'burn in'. You're getting used to the sound of your new system. I changed my speakers from KEF LS50's to ATC SCM40's and it took me some weeks to get 'used' to the change. They sound very different, you could never confuse one with the other but I like the way both sound. The ATC just seems to cope better with rock music at higher volumes than the KEF's did.

ah cables.... well, to that viewer, give it a shot... if it feels to you that it sounds better then your win. Same for direction, plug them one way, listen to them, take notes. Then reverse plug them, and listen again, if it feels to you that one way sounds better, there you go. Do it that way. It's your cables, your system so use it the way you feel it brings you the best sound and you'll be happy. On speaker cables, I'm really split because when you open a speaker and see what kind of thin basic cables they use in there (most of the times, I'm sure some manufacturers use very high quality cables inside their speakers), it makes you wonder what was the point of spending a ton on a cable from the amp to the speaker if once inside the speaker the same quality is not there... Yet the speakers sound very good.. Again no matter what, what matters is that you're happy with the sound you get from your system.

If you play music with a lot of deep bass too loudly, your wires will retain a directional charge. When this happens, store them in your car's boot just in case someone's battery needs a jump.

By the time my cassette tapes were burned in, they were worn out.

Cable burn in can be accomplished in a standard kitchen oven set to 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. Flip the cable halfway through. No - wait a minute, that's the heating instructions for my tater tots! Please people - there are far more bigger things to worry about in this world!

Thumbs up if you are binge watching "Ask Paul" video's!

5:23 The auto-generated subs actually got it without me turning the vol up. interesting.

Just bought a small box for usb to SP/dif conversion. Only digital. I was completely bumped out becouse it sounded horible. 5 days later i was in heaven. Burn in is real

weeks of breakin, on audio home hi fi, what is this guy on?

The term "snake oil" comes to mind....

Well obviously the moon is made of cheese 😂 😂

If the interconnects needed burn in, then the intraconnects would, too.

Thing is, the audio world could be really simple. If the music really was the priority the need for endless boxes, tweaks of all kinds and ridiculous disproportionate spending would all fade into obscurity. Interestingly, none of the recording studios I've ever worked in considered this kind of unscientific rubbish. They worry about important things like microphone placement.

Some retailers us “Burn-in” as a general deflection and delay tactic to get a customer to continue using equipment and defer returning for a refund - especially for highly expensive cables and interconnects - hence the prevalence of this meme. Not PS Audio who have a generous return policy. (Edited to better reflect meaning)

alternative facts

I just completed Burning In my el-cheapo interconnects and now they sound like a million dollar interconnects from my el-cheapo speakers! sriously!

I don't understand these questions. He is basically asking whether any of this makes a difference. Well, if it does, you can hear it, no need to ask Paul. If it supposedly does, but you cannot hear it, it doesn't matter to you. And if it doesn't, well, it just doesn't. Either way, there is no point in asking Paul whether YOU can hear something, or not...

there are those who think the Missouri river empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

The only process I can imagine that could give a sense of 'burn in' on cables is changes in any oxidised layer that may exist on the contacts. When first connected, any oxide coating will be disturbed/removed, which would theoretically impact upon the impedance of the system, but only in an exceptionally negligible way. Over the course of time, the oxide will begin to return, but again any effect would be tiny.

A CD only sounds right after 400 hours of burn-in!

The earth is absolutely round, but mars is flat.

Cables no, other items yes

Ohhh brother! burn in for X product only matters for his product. Burn in should only matter if you are trying to eliminate any chance of failed component or design. Pretty much capacitors, silicon devices and items that really heat up, change after a long time due to use and environment. Copper, Iron, gold, silver... behaves the same 1second and 1year later.