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Headphones Burn-in

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BEDROCK
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Hello, just received my new pair of Audio Technica ATH-WS55 headphones and listening to my favourite style of Trance music.

I would like to know how long these type of headphones take to burn-in?

Heard it is purely subjective but as in a new pair of shoes, the mechanics loosen up in time.

eggontoast
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RE: Headphones Burn-in

Probably about......10 minutes.

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BEDROCK
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RE: Headphones Burn-in

Well I have turned the volume up to maximum and left it running by itself for a few hours to run down the battery.

Then an overnight full charge and they should be settled in a bit for tomorrow.

 

dalethorn
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RE: Headphones Burn-in

The major part of burn-in is getting your brain to accept a new signature as musical, as much as any previous signature you've accepted. Until that happens, it won't sound "right", and having the headphone burn in by itself won't help.

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eggontoast
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RE: Headphones Burn-in

BEDROCK wrote:

Well I have turned the volume up to maximum and left it running by itself for a few hours to run down the battery.

Then an overnight full charge and they should be settled in a bit for tomorrow.

 

Probably not recommended, IF you need to run them in just use normal listening levels.

I said 10 minutes because this is usually long enough to tell if you like them or not. Running them in MAY change there sound signature, whether it is audible and an improvement would be debatable.

Just stick them on you head and listen to them instead of worrying about running them in.

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bigboss
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RE: Headphones Burn-in

BEDROCK wrote:

Well I have turned the volume up to maximum and left it running by itself for a few hours to run down the battery.

Then an overnight full charge and they should be settled in a bit for tomorrow.

I suspect you'll do more harm than good.

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Cynic-al
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RE: Headphones Burn-in

Headphones definitely get better after a couple of days left playing.

I recently got some AKG K450 on the strength of the WHF review. Straight out the box they were terrible, really muddy and rolled off.

Left them running at near max volume without distorting for 2 days straight playing AC/DC.

Massive improvement.

 

 

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dalethorn
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RE: Headphones Burn-in

Cynic-al wrote:
Headphones definitely get better after a couple of days left playing. I recently got some AKG K450 on the strength of the WHF review. Straight out the box they were terrible, really muddy and rolled off. Left them running at near max volume without distorting for 2 days straight playing AC/DC. Massive improvement.

I wonder how well-made a headphone can be when it changes that much. I also wonder how it is that the change is always beneficial.

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Cynic-al
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RE: Headphones Burn-in

Only speaking as i find,the AKG's were so bad out of the box i was going to take them back.

I thought it was worth a try leaving them running in a drawer for a couple of days,and the difference was noticeable.

The treble was more extended and the bass more rounded.

They still don't approach the ATH WS55 for clarity but they are now listenable.

I didn't feel the need to do this with my other headphones but as the AKG's were so bad i had nothing to loose.

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Cabin: Rega Planet (original) Nad C340 ,Mission 773e,Pioneer PDP 428 XD

Headphones: Sennheiser HD555/PX100II,  Audio Technica ATH WS55, Pioneer HDJ500