Cable burn in

So you are certainly not impartial about this. Are you certain that it is real that, matter what the results of any experiment or test?
Why do you not think that it is psychological - given that we can easily demonstrate very similar psychological effects? Why are you certain, given that there is no evidence for it apart from anecdotes (people saying that they hear a difference)?

I really struggle to understand this. I seem to remember you studied psychology, so how can you discount those effects so easily. I’m not saying that they are psychological, but it is a plausible explanation. Now people are setting up experiments to prove it one way or another. And, let’s face it, even if it is psychological, if you prefer it a certain way, what’s the problem. Why wouldn’t you leave the option open?

Isn’t part of being an audiophile that you explore everything and always have an open mind? Otherwise we’d all be listening to low bitrate MP3’s.

I have heard differences between cables, I have heard burn-in, but am happy to accept that those results might be psychological. (I actually think that’s the most plausible explanation at this time). But am delighted at an experiment trying to prove one way or another. And will accept either result of course.

If I weren’t looking for evidence, I might also believe in Aliens or one of many religions. Yet you were insulted when @litemotiv suggested that might be no different than blindly believing in burn-in regardless of any evidence one way or another…

I would agree that anecdotal reports of perceived improvements remain in the domain of subjectivity, because unless a consensus has been reached, it could be considered to be merely subjectivity in motion. Which is real, the dream of being a butterfly or the exhausted fly on the wall that has not noticed that the window has been open all day? Trapped within the confines of our own minds could perhaps lead to the unfathomable consequences of self induced delusion without a portal into the ‘real’ world :relaxed:

Further, in that elapsed time other factors could have had an impact. We can’t be certain, even if we do perceive a difference, that the difference is exclusively a cable. The room might be a different temperature, humidity, the components might be similarly different.

A blind test could not exclude other possible influences, where measuring the cable alone potentially can.

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I would agree that measuring a cable may shed light on the matter at hand but I would also like to state that it is paramount that both cables are ‘identical’ otherwise it could be a case of comparing oranges to lemons :relaxed:

Part of the testing must be to compare the cables before one is “burnt in”, precisely to eliminate this, or if they measure differently, to establish how they both measure before one is burnt in.

Exactly and I agree, the process of elimination must preclude extraneous influences (in reference to my earlier post about apples and pears) :relaxed:

Why do I have to repeat the same always and always? Burn in is an evidence, it’s so evident that it can’t be a psychological effect.
Or, if I compare a Nap 200 and 300 dr and find the difference instantly obvious, if you think It can be also a psychological effect, then yes, it’s a psychological evidence effect.
The difference in sound between a new cable and the same cable after many hours run in is far from subtle.

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Time for me to mute this thread. It’s turning and turning around. I will check in some weeks if the test could have given some interesting results. Anyway, in all cases, it will not change my mind of course.

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I think this thread has probably run its course. I don’t think anyone in either trench is going to be swayed one way or the other. It seems that if you hear it, it exists, and if you don’t, it doesn’t…

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