Runing in speakers ???

[ian2144]

Just got myself a new HiFi from Richer Sounds.
I was told my speakers (KEF IQ5SE's) would take about 30 hours to run in, never heard this before....... Your coments please ??

[SJobson]

All hi-fi equipment apparently takes time to run in. With solid state electronics that seems to me to be rubbish; I suspect it is you getting used to the sound. However, with speakers there are at least mechanical transducers which may free up slightly in use.

Doesn't mean you need to play test tones for the next couple of days though, just use them.

[dalos260]

They will sound better as they run in; my speakers took an absolute age to sound their best.

If you want to speed up the process, you can stand them face to face (almost touching), and wire them out of phase by wiring one correctly and the other incorrectly (positive to negative and vise versa).

Or just listen to them as normal.

[R1 GTR]

My headphones came with a notice saying this too.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

It is normal.

If you want to do it old school style, stick the play out groove on side 2 of Sgt Pepper on your turntable.

[Mr E Driver]

My speakers are sounding better after a couple of months of running in.
Leaving the T/T on a runout track just wears the stylus out before the speakers are run in.
Wire the TV to the amp and leave them on low and leave the radio on when you go out.
I improved the sound with Silver High Breed cables which are excellent VFM

[grumbledoak]

dalos260 said:

If you want to speed up the process, you can stand them face to face (almost touching), and wire them out of phase by wiring one correctly and the other incorrectly (positive to negative and vise versa).

[Mag1calTrev0r]

grumbledoak said:

dalos260 said:

If you want to speed up the process, you can stand them face to face (almost touching), and wire them out of phase by wiring one correctly and the other incorrectly (positive to negative and vise versa).

Er... yep, that works + the sound from each speaker is canceled out by the other making the process quieter.

[Mr_Yogi]

Mag1calTrev0r said:

grumbledoak said:

dalos260 said:

If you want to speed up the process, you can stand them face to face (almost touching), and wire them out of phase by wiring one correctly and the other incorrectly (positive to negative and vise versa).

Er... yep, that works + the sound from each speaker is canceled out by the other making the process quieter.

Yup it means you can turn the volume up to get the drivers moving without deafening yourself. This works because the drivers are facing one another to a large extent the sound created by one driver is cancelled out by the one oposite, as they move in phase.

Chucking a deuvet the pair of speakers helps even more

[dalos260]

Mr_Yogi said:

Mag1calTrev0r said:

grumbledoak said:

dalos260 said:

If you want to speed up the process, you can stand them face to face (almost touching), and wire them out of phase by wiring one correctly and the other incorrectly (positive to negative and vise versa).

Er... yep, that works + the sound from each speaker is canceled out by the other making the process quieter.

Yup it means you can turn the volume up to get the drivers moving without deafening yourself. This works because the drivers are facing one another to a large extent the sound created by one driver is cancelled out by the one oposite, as they move in phase.

Chucking a deuvet the pair of speakers helps even more

Part of the running in period is to loosen the new rubber of the suspension and to a certain extent the glue coating of the spider of the drivers themselves. This is why different manufactures quote different run in times, as the design, thickness etc of the rubber differs.

By facing them to each other out of phase means one speaker is pushing the other at exactly the same time the other is pulling (many times a second), and means the suspension is getting a slightly greater work out, and the running in time will be reduced.

However, some people believe the run in period is no more than the listener getting used to a new sound.

[Speedracer329]

grumbledoak said:

dalos260 said:

If you want to speed up the process, you can stand them face to face (almost touching), and wire them out of phase by wiring one correctly and the other incorrectly (positive to negative and vise versa).

That would work, but a far better idea would be to repeat play a cd, as you would be eating into the life of your stylus, unless that is new & you need to run that in too.
They will sound better after this period, although should still sound acceptable to you if you choose not to run them in.
You should also check how firmly the drivers are screwed in, as most times they need a turn or two to seat them properly.

[CRACKIE]

To clarify.......the output from a pair of speakers will not cancel when they are facing each other and wired out of phase with each other ( one speaker will be pushing and one pulling whilst facing each other ). Sound will cancel, to a degree, when 2 cabinets are facing and wired in phase with each other; this gives a null where their outputs meet.

Running in works because the a moving coil driver's compliant parts such as cone surround, spider suspension, driver lead out wires and to some degree the diapragms themselves all settle or bed in during use. Speaker designers will often run in their protptype's drivers by playing continuous high level signals, at or near the drivers resonant frequency, to make sure their development drivers behave like the drivers end users will experience in practice. Some call it running in, some burning in and some soak testing, I'm sure there are other terms. The resonant frequency of a speaker's bass unit is likely to be a few hertz lower after running than when it left the assembly line. Not a huge difference but measurable and audible by some.

Total running in period depends on what is being played and how loudly. High level dance music works well 'cos there is usually loads of signal level at the frequency extremes; play as loud as you dare with without the bass drivers bottoming out. Don't play at high volume for too long becuase you may overheat driver coils; 5 mins at a time is plenty with the right track. Do this once a day for a week and running in should be sorted. Playing music at low volume or playing limited bandwidth material such as vocal tracks will contribute little to 'running in' your speakers.

Speedracer329 is spot on regarding checking drive unit screws are tight.

Edited by CRACKIE on Tuesday 16th February 08:50

[dalos260]

CRACKIE said:

Speedracer329 is spot on regarding checking drive unit screws are tight.

+1. 'tis a good tip.

[ian2144]

Thanks for the info guys.

Did not know speakers had become so technical. My choice of music is classic rock/prog rock. Floyd, ELP,Yes etc

Will continue running them on a light throttle for an other week or two.

Cheers,

Ian........

[CRACKIE]

ian2144 said:

Thanks for the info guys.

Did not know speakers had become so technical. My choice of music is classic rock/prog rock. Floyd, ELP,Yes etc

Will continue running them on a light throttle for an other week or two.

Cheers,

Ian........

Try DSOTM on repeat ~ turn it up for the heartbeats at the start and your KEFs will have a proper workout.

Edited by CRACKIE on Monday 15th February 16:22

[ian2144]

CRACKIE said:

ian2144 said:

Thanks for the info guys.

Did not know speakers had become so technical. My choice of music is classic rock/prog rock. Floyd, ELP,Yes etc

Will continue running them on a light throttle for an other week or two.

Cheers,

Ian........

Try DSOTM on repeat ~ turn it up for the heartbeats at the start and your KEFs will have a proper workout.

Edited by CRACKIE on Monday 15th February 16:22

Sounds like a good idea, but not while the mother-in-law is here !!

[rhinochopig]

My Gallo's claim 50 hours. I'll be dead by the time they're run in properly.

[grumbledoak]

CRACKIE said:

To clarify.......the output from a pair of speakers will not cancel when they are facing each other and wired out of phase with each other ( one speaker will be pushing and one pulling whilst facing each other ). Sound will cancel, to a degree, when 2 cabinets are facing and wired in phase with each other; this gives a null where their outputs meet.

Please forgive my giggling; CRACKIE is much closer, but you won't achieve noise cancelling. The duvet will muffle it better.

[rhinochopig]

grumbledoak said:

CRACKIE said:

To clarify.......the output from a pair of speakers will not cancel when they are facing each other and wired out of phase with each other ( one speaker will be pushing and one pulling whilst facing each other ). Sound will cancel, to a degree, when 2 cabinets are facing and wired in phase with each other; this gives a null where their outputs meet.

Please forgive my giggling; CRACKIE is much closer, but you won't achieve noise cancelling. The duvet will muffle it better.

+1 The duvet muffled my wife's screams when I tried to suffocate her.

[CRACKIE]

grumbledoak said:

CRACKIE said:

To clarify.......the output from a pair of speakers will not cancel when they are facing each other and wired out of phase with each other ( one speaker will be pushing and one pulling whilst facing each other ). Sound will cancel, to a degree, when 2 cabinets are facing and wired in phase with each other; this gives a null where their outputs meet.

Please forgive my giggling; CRACKIE is much closer, but you won't achieve noise cancelling. The duvet will muffle it better.

"Sound will reduce, but not cancel completely, when 2 cabinets are facing and wired in phase with each other; this gives a null where their outputs meet."

EFA