Cable Conditioning

[MikeCh]

I recently created a page on my web site describing the "how and why" of audio cable conditioning / burn in. (link to home page is in my signature, then click on the cable conditioning page link)

I'm curious if any of you guys have seen it and if you have, what you think of the description? Too technical? Not technical enough? Mumbo Jumbo / VooDoo / "I don't believe in Cable Burn in"?

During the period where my Dad and I were designing and building my custom cable conditioner-appliance, I was furiously taking notes each time we spoke as he was spewing technical terms, processes and engineering design ideas. After the build was complete and our combined notes were summarized, he wrote the final "descriptive" draft for me. I then tweaked it a little, added some additional information, etc. and the end description is what's shown on the web page.

Please let me know what you think. Is it a helpful step to understanding cable break-in.....or not?

 

[Myles B. Astor]

I recently created a page on my web site describing the "how and why" of audio cable conditioning / burn in. (link to home page is in my signature, then click on the cable conditioning page link)

I'm curious if any of you guys have seen it and if you have, what you think of the description? Too technical? Not technical enough? Mumbo Jumbo / VooDoo / "I don't believe in Cable Burn in"?

During the period where my Dad and I were designing and building my custom cable conditioner-appliance, I was furiously taking notes each time we spoke as he was spewing technical terms, processes and engineering design ideas. After the build was complete and our combined notes were summarized, he wrote the final "descriptive" draft for me. I then tweaked it a little, added some additional information, etc. and the end description is what's shown on the web page.

Please let me know what you think. Is it a helpful step to understanding cable break-in.....or not?

I find that interesting and having played with Alan's Cable Cooker in line with his work and my experience. (note: I've played with many cable break in devices starting with the Duotech, then Tony's G&D Transforms (the first one that thought worked) to the Audiodharma.)

The one thing that I've tried to write about for years (and almost had one of the leading cable companies on board with this idea) is to actually talk about and show the changes that occur in the measurements of the cable with time. You seem to intimate that you've done these measurements and seen some changes. Could you comment more?

Also what drives me nuts is that disturbing/moving a broken-in cable affects the sound for around 24 hrs. Any comment?

Lastly, does all of this also apply to PCs? PC are weird in that they're more hit or miss than IC or speaker cables. And no matter the cable--and how long it's broken in for--the PC always seems to need to be broken-in again when you swap them to a different component. No matter what, these broken-in cables always seem to be bright for say 24 hours of playing after which they settle in. One explanation that I've heard proferred is that the power supply caps always need to re-break in when you change the PC????

 

[MikeCh]

The one thing that I've tried to write about for years (and almost had one of the leading cable companies on board with this idea) is to actually talk about and show the changes that occur in the measurements of the cable with time. You seem to intimate that you've done these measurements and seen some changes. Could you comment more?

Being such a small fish in this business, I haven't the funding or time to make these measurements myself....yet. I'd love to be the little fish that proves the point but it appears to be a very tall mountain to climb considering the big guys haven't done so yet either. Regardless, I am a believer in known electrical characteristics and principles and by applying the signal bandwidth and amplitudes at the voltages and power levels that our conditioner outputs we're providing a stabilization of the cable dielectric in a manner that otherwise would take far more time to attain if simply hooked up "cold" in a typical stereo system.

Also what drives me nuts is that disturbing/moving a broken-in cable affects the sound for around 24 hrs. Any comment?

I can't speculate as to why this would happen, I've not noticed this myself with moving cables around that are already run-in and hooked up.

Lastly, does all of this also apply to PCs? PC are weird in that they're more hit or miss than IC or speaker cables. And no matter the cable--and how long it's broken in for--the PC always seems to need to be broken-in again when you swap them to a different component. No matter what, these broken-in cables always seem to be bright for say 24 hours of playing after which they settle in. One explanation that I've heard proferred is that the power supply caps always need to re-break in when you change the PC????

PC's are a different breed I agree. I can't say that I've noticed a new break-in period required when quick swapping a PC to a different component like you've stated. What I have noticed is that the PC's do seem to benefit from a double-cycle on the cable conditioner. Perhaps it's because of the heavier duty insulation / dielectrics compared to IC's or speaker cables.