top wireless speakers for audiophiles require a break-in phase. Therefore, refrain from returning your newly purchased speakers or opting for a pricier model simply because they don’t yet deliver perfect sound.
In a YouTube interview with Steve Guttenberg, former ELAC loudspeaker designer Andrew Jones detailed the break-in (or burn-in) phenomenon associated with speakers. The woofer of a speaker features a suspension system, termed a spider, crafted from a flexible material that permits the woofer cone to oscillate while keeping the coil centered. As per Jones, spiders are prone to a phenomenon known as creep, which causes the spider to adjust to a new position after extensive use. Speakers are engineered with this creep taken into account. Initially, the spider is purposefully rigid to ensure it settles into the ideal position following the expected creep.
Jones elaborates that the break-in procedure can influence a speaker’s potential frequency by up to 10 Hz, which is significant in the sub-bass range, where frequencies only go from 20 to 60 Hz. The break-in of speakers is genuinely a reality, and its impact is particularly evident when listening to bass-intensive music.