Cable burn in

Does the cost include popcorn so I can sit and watch the magic unfold?

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Burned in popcorn of course.

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Maybe it could be considered after (or if) burn in proven? (assuming one could get a third cable from the same batch three months after the testing started).

I wonder if it’s something the cable manufacturer would be willing to assist by providing cables (for the purpose of testing).

Would one of the hifi magazines have any interest in co-sponsoring this I wonder?

I find it hard to believe that some of these tests haven’t already been done; but maybe not in the public domain.

Audio wasn’t my industry so I can’t help with a suggestion of test labs that could be contacted- I assume others here have contacts with the test industry.

I’m not sure what the overall budget would be, but I wonder if people in the various audio forums would be willing to help with crowd funding if neither a cable manufacturer or hifi magazine wanted to be involved?

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@StephenPacker thank you for your interest and constructive comments.

I need help for Point 6. This is the part I may be unable to afford.

Point 6 would only be necessary if a difference is measured, but the probability of visible crystalline changes will surely be very close to zero, since it’s impossible to reach the needed temperatures for that…

I admire your gusto but…but if there was a set of measurements to back up these burn-in claims, manufacturers would be skywriting them over major cities. They would be out-doing each other on their stats.

It’s up to those making the claims to supply the evidence and if the brands themselves cannot do this then that tells you almost everything you need to know.

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Just to be clear about the proposed experiment protocol, which implies that:
The research question is 'are we able to measure, at this time, any changes in the electrical parameters of a cable resulting from a burn in process?
This is a surrogate question, when:
What we really want to know is if there is an audible difference in the sound resulting from the process of burn in.
Research is empowered to answer only the specific research question.
Just saying.

You would be surprised about how many crystalline changes happen because of temperature moving in the ambient realm, from 30 degrees C to -30 C.

Also many changes happen from external stress, which Naim has addressed with the cable shaker.

I had a big problem erecting boilers, because the transport from the welding workshop to the temperature treatment oven (just a few meters) caused microfisures. Also an unexpected crystalline change.

Metals age in time and change crystalline structure, even without help of temperature. Not intuitive but true.

Manufacturers are committed to growth and innovation, and burn-in is a very niche concept (it does not sell).

But this forum is very passionate, let’s just have fun.

I also have a job and a family, and may disappear from time to time. But I am committed to find an answer, with your help.

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Thank you @jlewis for keeping us sane.

Sorry, not a very good post, but I was at my third beer.

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However domestic indoor ambient is more likely to be maximum range of 20C (e.g. 10-30) and most of the time the range less than 10.

Agreed, my point is crystalline changes are not dependent on temperature only. Microvibration and external stress are important originators.

Or questions! It is often good to think around the subject to identify as many pertinent questions as possible, and then design experiments to address them all (some experiments possibly readily answering more than one question).

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Not always. Sometimes researches find something they were not trying to find.
And why only test the electric phenomena. Maybe the burn in have to be found by other tools, like atomic force microscope or scanning electron microscope ?
Of course, I am speculating on something completely unknown from me.
But I understood that the tools are already designed……

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Bet you’re fun at the Christmas party :grimacing:

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Rather than this, use a resistance bridge circuit with the raw abd cooked cabled in the known and unknown positions. Energise with a variety of different frequencies of sine waves, square waves and periodic pulse signals.

Again, don’t use an inverter, use a resistance bridge.

Not if you use a resistance bridge!

And don’t forget to ensure precisely matched source and load resistors.