Hello every one

[soundseeker]

In my case the break-in was quite audible. For my Sierra center I hooked it up and started listening to U2 360 Blu-ray in DTS-HD. Something wasn't quite right. It sounded different, not the way I had expected it to, somewhat flat. I rechecked all the settings (they were correct) and sat and listened to about half the concert (thru Elevation) before I was interrupted. I came back the following afternoon to see if I could figure out what was going on. I decided to listen to the entire concert, write down my thoughts, and then start tweaking. The second time around while playing the "Magnificent" track I heard the change in sound about 20 seconds before the end of the track. All of a sudden the sound bacame much fuller, had much more depth. It was the provberbial "blanket lifted from the speakers". I let the song finish while trying to figure out if I accidentally hit something on the remote. Maybe I inadvertanty changed some setting. No. I went back to the beginning and the full sound came through from the start. No settings were changed, my positioning was the same. I could only attribute it to a break-in of the woofer. Its been audio bliss ever since.

[hearing specialist]

Great for you! I'm that guy that is a cheerleader of the calibration programs because of what you just experienced. It makes a difference to the ear! Enjoy your many hours of listening. Do you have any reference listening discs like Cheskys Ultimate Demo disc? This will really let your Ascend products shine!!

reference:http://www.chesky.com/core/details.c...ctcategoryid=1

[soundseeker]

^^ Thank you for the suggestion. I don't have any of the reference discs mentioned in your link. However, there is a thread in this forum and another on AVF that mentions excellent source material for listening. My 2-channel faves include The Best of Diana Krall, Long Road out of Eden by the Eagles, and a number of tracks on Sleep Through The Static by Jack Johnson.

edit: Here is the thread in this forum:http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/showthread.php?t=3158

[curtis]

Because I'm in constant improving stage, my enclosures and matching up drivers in hopes of molding the sound physically (enclosure mods like adding 50lbs of non drying modeling clay to internal walls for each tower/main) before letting my receiver shape it digitally, my greatest change in signal came around this past holiday season when I couldn't mess with my stuff due to family in town. I went from 1st calibration session in which it set the level for each tower at 75%. Now, this is with the older titanium tweets and Morel drivers and that sensitivity was suppose to be 91db at initial build. I thought hmmm, i've never had my receiver ever set anything up that strong and the output was not blow you out of the water crazy loud either. After the first 40hrs and a 2nd calibration, the signal dropped to about 45% from 75% and it was night and day, huge difference. Beit I never ran pink noise, white noise or anything crazy through them and the titanium tweets were supposedly already broke in and matched. Output was louder and of course the definition was huge.

Reference: Yamaha RX-V465
System: 4.2 (Tang Band and Morel Drivers)
Mains: Tower TWW (I will be a future Ascend tower buyer)
Rears: Tower MTM (what he said ^)
Subs: Stereo 10" subs (I will be a future owner of Rythmic products)
Mains: 60" apart and 10.5' to my ear canals sitting at reference listening position

Got it...but that was the first 40 hours. What about now?

[curtis]

In my case the break-in was quite audible. For my Sierra center I hooked it up and started listening to U2 360 Blu-ray in DTS-HD. Something wasn't quite right. It sounded different, not the way I had expected it to, somewhat flat. I rechecked all the settings (they were correct) and sat and listened to about half the concert (thru Elevation) before I was interrupted. I came back the following afternoon to see if I could figure out what was going on. I decided to listen to the entire concert, write down my thoughts, and then start tweaking. The second time around while playing the "Magnificent" track I heard the change in sound about 20 seconds before the end of the track. All of a sudden the sound bacame much fuller, had much more depth. It was the provberbial "blanket lifted from the speakers". I let the song finish while trying to figure out if I accidentally hit something on the remote. Maybe I inadvertanty changed some setting. No. I went back to the beginning and the full sound came through from the start. No settings were changed, my positioning was the same. I could only attribute it to a break-in of the woofer. Its been audio bliss ever since.

So how long was the break-in period?

[kma100]

The other aspect of break-in is that it never gets worse, only better! And it keeps getting better to a certain point, after which it holds its "best" state :-)

I have always wondered if one was *told* the speaker was broken in, it would sound better to the listener.

Anyway...as long as it sounds good to the listener.

[hearing specialist]

Good morning everyone!!!

Curtis, right now it always sets my mains to about 40%. The sensitivity seems on the hot side even at 40% and of course the extension always goes deeper at said 40% "Level" using YPAO "Front" calibration program. When I use "Flat" calibration program it sets the level around 30% for reference test levels. I can reach THX reference levels using this "Flat" calibration program with the "levels" set to 75% and that level sir is not wifey friendly. It's safe to say my drivers are broke in at this point as I monitor the calibration levels.

I'm adding an additional 3/4" baffle to both the fronts and rear of my towers and going crazy with additional bracing so I will let you know the calibration scheme and results when finished modifying them further.

[curtis]

HS....I was/am specifically wondering about your statement about continual "break-in" and re-calibration every 40 hours.

How long have you had your speakers? Do they still continue to change, and to what degree?

[hearing specialist]

My newest Tang Band drivers were purchased at the end of November 2010. I'm very methodical about my measurements and please also understand that as my newest drivers are being broken in i'm also doing enclosure mods. I really provide critical listening and as i'm ready or rested to do more things I do mods to my towers. Pretty much alternating. I'm focusing on listening to each modification to see if any difference trying not to confuse the two.

I currently spent all day today tearing one tower apart and adding additional baffles to the front and rear adding up to 1 3/4" f&R as well as experimenting with ceiling tile/acoustic tile with angled internal channels or baffles. I'm painting tomorrow and tearing the other tower apart to also install new crossovers in each and install the additional baffles. I cannot wait to finish and re-calibrate!!! Come on over and i'll order pizza!

[curtis]

I am just really interested in the changes that happen every 40 hours.