How to Properly Break In Headphones (Burn-In)
How to Break In Headphones
Beginners often ask after buying desired headphones: "Do I need to burn them in?", "How should I burn these in?", "What music is best?", "Any recommended burn-in tracks?". Honestly, there's no definitive answer. Burn-in is necessary for many headphones, accelerating the maturation process to unleash their inherent sound signature.
Is Burn-In Necessary?
First, understand "burn-in," its principles, and methods. After reading, you'll grasp it well and know how to proceed.
Why Burn In?
Burn-in applies not just to headphones but to audio equipment in general. However, speakers might not be within the average young consumer's budget, appealing more to niche audiophiles. Headphones are more mainstream, as everyone needs them for music. While methods and theory are similar, we'll focus on headphones.
How to Break In Headphones
Headphone Driver Diaphragm
As mentioned, new audio equipment has fresh internal components. Unoptimized, sound performance is immature. Burn-in essentially accelerates aging to a stable state. Headphones lack the numerous transistors, ICs, and capacitors of speaker systems; primarily, it's about burning in the surround of the driver diaphragm, making the principle simpler.
Headphone diaphragms and voice coils use highly compliant materials. Their internal structure isn't stable initially; compliance is low (stiff). Prolonged use stretches molecular distances, distributing them more evenly, increasing compliance. New headphones have stiff surrounds, causing higher distortion: shallow bass extension, weak bass, harsh mids, rough/peaky highs.
Headphone Voice Coil
Over time, compliance improves, distortion reduces to reasonable levels, and sound becomes more relaxed. Theoretically, burn-in is beneficial, stabilizing sound faster to its intended level. It's understandable why beginners ask about burn-in.
Burn-In Isn't a Major Sound Quality Booster
Burn-in artificially accelerates diaphragm aging via non-normal use (continuous operation). Without this, maturation happens naturally over months. Many impatiently accelerate this, making burn-in their "ripening" method. Another view: only new headphones need burn-in, mostly done then; rarely are used headphones burned. Headphones need a warm-up period (~15 mins) even after burn-in, like athletes pre-competition, to reach optimal state.
High-Quality Headphones Benefit More
Not all headphones sound outstanding after burn-in. Some change slightly; others show minimal effect – normal. Burn-in aims to accelerate physical stabilization. Believing it vastly improves sound is bordering on mysticism. Good sound depends on source, etc., not just accelerating physical maturation.
Burn-In Steps
Widely accepted burn-in steps:
1. Loosen Up: Drive headphones at 1/3 normal volume for 12 hours (100-1500Hz/5s sweep signal preferred).
2. Activate: Drive at 2/3 normal volume for 12 hours (50-1800Hz/3s sweep preferred).
3. Exercise: Drive at normal volume for 72 hours (20-2000Hz/2s sweep preferred).
4. Stress Test: Drive at 4/3 normal volume for 24 hours (18-2200Hz/1s sweep preferred).
5. Ready: Normal use phase. Note: Don't burn continuously. Limit sessions; let headphones rest. Heat from resistance can damage voice coils. Start with moderate volume; driver diaphragms are fragile. High volume extends voice coil travel, risking detachment, deformation, or tearing. Volume during burn-in is crucial. Excessive volume can cause physical damage (e.g., power overload, excessive amplitude damaging surrounds) – difficult to repair. Moderate volume is essential.
Burn-In Music Considerations
MP3s are unsuitable for burn-in. Compression strips highs/lows – precisely what burn-in aims to optimize. Use CD, APE, FLAC, or other lossless formats.
Music choice matters. Start with soft, soothing music. Avoid large dynamic swings or stimulating music (rock, electronic). Modern electronic music has strong bass; high-sensitivity headphones risk overload. We won't recommend specific tracks.
Some use pink noise from radios. Tune to a dead frequency for "hiss". This method seems less effective. Software methods exist, but playing music naturally might be best.
Burn-in accelerates stabilization for optimal performance, supported by science and methods. But it doesn't vastly improve sound quality. If expecting major gains, results might disappoint. Approach burn-in rationally. If not urgent, listen normally. Using burn-in methods is fine, but avoid mystifying a normal process.
Beginners often ask after buying desired headphones: "Do I need to burn them in?", "How should I burn these in?", "What music is best?", "Any recommended burn-in tracks?". Honestly, there's no definitive answer. Burn-in is necessary for many headphones, accelerating the maturation process to unleash their inherent sound signature.
Is Burn-In Necessary?
First, understand "burn-in," its principles, and methods. After reading, you'll grasp it well and know how to proceed.
Why Burn In?
Burn-in applies not just to headphones but to audio equipment in general. However, speakers might not be within the average young consumer's budget, appealing more to niche audiophiles. Headphones are more mainstream, as everyone needs them for music. While methods and theory are similar, we'll focus on headphones.
How to Break In Headphones
Headphone Driver Diaphragm
As mentioned, new audio equipment has fresh internal components. Unoptimized, sound performance is immature. Burn-in essentially accelerates aging to a stable state. Headphones lack the numerous transistors, ICs, and capacitors of speaker systems; primarily, it's about burning in the surround of the driver diaphragm, making the principle simpler.
Headphone diaphragms and voice coils use highly compliant materials. Their internal structure isn't stable initially; compliance is low (stiff). Prolonged use stretches molecular distances, distributing them more evenly, increasing compliance. New headphones have stiff surrounds, causing higher distortion: shallow bass extension, weak bass, harsh mids, rough/peaky highs.
Headphone Voice Coil
Over time, compliance improves, distortion reduces to reasonable levels, and sound becomes more relaxed. Theoretically, burn-in is beneficial, stabilizing sound faster to its intended level. It's understandable why beginners ask about burn-in.
Burn-In Isn't a Major Sound Quality Booster
Burn-in artificially accelerates diaphragm aging via non-normal use (continuous operation). Without this, maturation happens naturally over months. Many impatiently accelerate this, making burn-in their "ripening" method. Another view: only new headphones need burn-in, mostly done then; rarely are used headphones burned. Headphones need a warm-up period (~15 mins) even after burn-in, like athletes pre-competition, to reach optimal state.
High-Quality Headphones Benefit More
Not all headphones sound outstanding after burn-in. Some change slightly; others show minimal effect – normal. Burn-in aims to accelerate physical stabilization. Believing it vastly improves sound is bordering on mysticism. Good sound depends on source, etc., not just accelerating physical maturation.
Burn-In Steps
Widely accepted burn-in steps:
1. Loosen Up: Drive headphones at 1/3 normal volume for 12 hours (100-1500Hz/5s sweep signal preferred).
2. Activate: Drive at 2/3 normal volume for 12 hours (50-1800Hz/3s sweep preferred).
3. Exercise: Drive at normal volume for 72 hours (20-2000Hz/2s sweep preferred).
4. Stress Test: Drive at 4/3 normal volume for 24 hours (18-2200Hz/1s sweep preferred).
5. Ready: Normal use phase. Note: Don't burn continuously. Limit sessions; let headphones rest. Heat from resistance can damage voice coils. Start with moderate volume; driver diaphragms are fragile. High volume extends voice coil travel, risking detachment, deformation, or tearing. Volume during burn-in is crucial. Excessive volume can cause physical damage (e.g., power overload, excessive amplitude damaging surrounds) – difficult to repair. Moderate volume is essential.
Burn-In Music Considerations
MP3s are unsuitable for burn-in. Compression strips highs/lows – precisely what burn-in aims to optimize. Use CD, APE, FLAC, or other lossless formats.
Music choice matters. Start with soft, soothing music. Avoid large dynamic swings or stimulating music (rock, electronic). Modern electronic music has strong bass; high-sensitivity headphones risk overload. We won't recommend specific tracks.
Some use pink noise from radios. Tune to a dead frequency for "hiss". This method seems less effective. Software methods exist, but playing music naturally might be best.
Burn-in accelerates stabilization for optimal performance, supported by science and methods. But it doesn't vastly improve sound quality. If expecting major gains, results might disappoint. Approach burn-in rationally. If not urgent, listen normally. Using burn-in methods is fine, but avoid mystifying a normal process.