AKG K702 'Burn-in'

russell664

russell664

russell664

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Hi guys,

I will soon have some lovely AKG K702's coming my way, I have a
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD USB Audio System with Phono Preamp ready for them.

I would like to ask about all this 'Burn-in' business.

Is it needed, and if so for how long with these cans?
Also, it probably seems daft, but how do I burn them in? Using white noise or something like that? :confused:
 
Generally speaking burn-in is more myth than fact but I wouldn't discount it either - some headphone do exhibit changes - I usually just leave em playing the kind of music I listen to for a couple of days while I'm at work - seems to do the trick if its needed at all. Generally from my experience its more the exception rather than the rule - some headphones are better able to reproduce lower frequency sound after 50-100 hours of "burn-in" and other than that not a lot changes.
 
'Burn in' if it does indeed exist, is really only going to make a very small difference.

Those that do believe in it, will say that new headphones and speakers are stiff; usage will loosen them up, changing the sound from what you hear with new headphones/speakers, to what you hear after X many hours and the sound changes.

Really, for the most part, it is you that is changing, or adjusting to the new sound, would be a better way to put it.
 
There is a lot of snake oil out there where some manufacturers recommend burning in speaker cables and even offer a burn-in service for a price!! Speakers and maybe even headphones could be different as they have actual moving mechanical parts which may sound different over a period of time once they are more worked in.
 
I can understand a slight change due to bedding in and loosening up over the first hour or so but some of the claims are ludicrous. The AKG K702 apparently needs some 300 hours to be fully "burned in" according to some, which is utter drivel - The only appreciable change in mine was when I removed the sticky pads covering the bass tuning ports and these have probably had well over a thousand hours of use so far.
 
It was very noticeable on the hd598 but happened within 5 secs of using them as it's just the moving parts loosening up. Anything other than that is your imagination. Same as when people say they can hear sounds they've never heard before, unless it's a higher or lower note than previous headphones could manage then it's more than likely just because you're listening more closely.
 
I guess the only real way to test this is have two identical products and a blind test with your mates. One which is 'burnt in' and a band new one. Then flip between the two asking your mates which one sounds better. But who can be bother to do that?
 
Problem with comparing AKG's is the drivers are not always consistent. Apart from the Annie, every AKG has had difference is sound although they all share the same response. I've had some slightly grainy and sharper than others. I wouldnt say the differences are a problem like the Audeze headphones but there's for sure obvious production variation.

Don't believe what you read on headfi. The place is a joke.
 
UKMach said:
I guess the only real way to test this is have two identical products and a blind test with your mates. One which is 'burnt in' and a band new one. Then flip between the two asking your mates which one sounds better. But who can be bother to do that?
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still wouldn't be fair as the one you hear first will sound more different than the others,

You can litterally do it yourself and even then you will be subject to your own ideas.

Example buy a pair, use them do you like them? If no. put them away come back to them a few days later use them again do they sound better? If not burn them in for a day or so, then try again do they sound better? Eventually your brain will tell you yes :D
 
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Ryanr1987 said:
Don't believe what you read on headfi. The place is a joke.
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The op amp thread on there has me in stitches - having now tried a lot of stuff for myself - its obvious there are 1-2 knowledgable people (probably smirking to themselves while leading others on) and loads of people perpetuating the common myths. (That isn't to say there aren't some good posts in that thread).

EDIT: That isn't to say I'm not guilty of it myself to a degree as I don't have a background in the subject and my knowledge comes from dabbling and trial and error.
 
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The forum is just all about sponsors for Jude, agree there's some sound people on there but but the rest are pretty much sheep who follow the heard. I got banned on there sometime in like 2013 because I wrote an M100 review about how poorly made it was an that the drivers are not consistent enough and the quality control is bad..it was a sponsor at the time so that didn't sit well with them.

since then me and some buddies just post controversial post just for the amusement, childish, I know but it passes the time when I'm at work lol

But yeah I find it hard to really be honest on headfi and it's hard to pick out the hyper from the the actual case unless you try stuff yourself.
 
i'm wary of most enthusiast forums this is one of the few i enjoy using even if i don't like some of the commenters :D I tend to lurk more than participate in other forums.
 
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Agree with darreny, if there is any physical change in the sound, it's going to happen very soon after use. Any change after is going to be purely in the mind which in itself can be pretty drastic. You can clearly hear this "mental burn in" when using new headphones that have a different sound signature to that of your previous headphones. I've been using my Hifiman HE400i for a few days now, didn't like them initially but the sound has been gradually improving over time, treble sounds less bright and mids/bass sound more upfront. Went back to listen to my trusty Sennheiser HD650 today and lo and behold they sounded horrid. Muffled treble and overbearing midbass and mids, i.e. nothing like I remember them sounding like just a few days ago. Continued to use the HD650 for a few hours and slowly sound started to return to normal and now the HE400i sound like crap again. :p
 
TwsT said:
still wouldn't be fair as the one you hear first will sound more different than the others,

You can litterally do it yourself and even then you will be subject to your own ideas.

Example buy a pair, use them do you like them? If no. put them away come back to them a few days later use them again do they sound better? If not burn them in for a day or so, then try again do they sound better? Eventually your brain will tell you yes :D
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yeah ive had a couple of experiences of where I have moved house and on setting up my hifi have been disgusted with the sound in its new environment. Im well aware the room has the biggest effect on how a hifi sounds, but after a 'none' honeymoon period and a couple of weeks later Im then thinking that my hifi sounds great again. Whats changed in that two to three weeks? Nothing, other than my own subjective experience. You could almost believe that the hifi has to settle in, but its more that I have to settle into the new sound in the new room.
 
Don't forget, if at some point you want a bit more bass, the port mod is extremely easy and reversible and produces around 5db extra gain down low (below 100Hz).

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