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Just got a AQ Carbon USB and doing some serious listening. Does a USB cable require breakin-in? Just wondering. Thank you for your input in advance.
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I did not notice a significant change when using either a 1 meter Supra USB or a couple of the IFi Gemini USB cables... but when I first installed a PPA dual 1.8M - WOW - it nearly ripped my head off - I was really disappointed since it was expensive and I was expecting audio heaven due to the good reviews.... but after about a week everything balanced out nicely and the cable now a few years later just seems neutral and passing all the details without any particular sound signature...
This is really not on-topic, but I suggest you think a bit before upgrading from the Carbon.
Not on topic? I'm sorry it makes no sense either. He just got the AQ Carbon.
I am guessing here, but I think you were implying that the Carbon is a very good cable. I agree with that.
I recently replaced a 3m AQ Cinnamon with first a 1.5m Cinnamon I already had, and then with a 1.5m of Carbon.
I heard a real improvement just going to the shorter cable. The Carbon was used but had not been in use for a while, and I made some other changes, so I really couldn't do a real comparison of the Cinnamon vs Carbon, but the system as a whole sounds good to me.
Think before he upgrades. That was the msg i intended. It wasn't relevant to the topic. However, i just wanted to make the point because he has the carbon cables.
I have an AQ Carbon USB cable and although I believe that in general all cables require break in I have to say that I didn't notice any significant changes to the Carbon.
This is unlike my silver Artisan USB cable which had an absence of upper bass for the first 36 hours, thereafter a sudden change to everything being there and in the right place. Not a gradual alteration at all - a clear step change. I have other digital cables of similar construction from the same manufacturer which behaved in exactly the same manner.
like Audio Research who actually listen to products agree as well. In their case, it has to do with coupling capacitors which also have dielectric properties like cables.
ARC recommends 600 hours for their top end preamps due to the teflon caps.
Yes, most benefit from break-in.
Q. DO AUDIOQUEST CABLES REQUIRE A BREAK-IN PERIOD?
A. Yes. In fact, all cables require a break-in period - even so-called "lampcord" cables that are often supplied with speakers. "Break in" is a misnomer. What's really happening is that the insulation (or dielectric to give it its proper name) is being "formed". This "forming" is caused by the dielectric absorbing energy from the conductor when a signal is present (i.e. when current is flowing). Every cable requires something to separate the negative conductors from the positive conductors - a dielectric. However, because the dielectric is in direct contact with the conductor, it will interact with the conductor whenever a current flows, absorbing energy from the conductor. What the dielectric does with that energy once absorbed depends upon its quality. PVC releases the energy back into the conductor a split second later, causing a kind of "smearing" of the signal. In contrast, Teflon absorbs significantly less energy in the first place, turns most of the energy into heat, and whatever energy remains is released back into the conductor virtually instantaneously. This causes significantly less damage to the signal which is why - all things being equal - a cable with Teflon insulation will sound better than the same cable using a lesser dielectric. This absorption of energy causes the molecules in the dielectric to be rearranged from a random order into a uniform order. Once the molecules are fully rearranged, the cable is said to be "broken in". The dielectric will now absorb less energy from the conductor, causing less harm, and improving performance. To ensure that the cable stays "broken-in", there must be a signal present in the cable at all times. It's obviously not practical to have your system playing 24 hours a day every day, but you can at least leave the components switched on. Even when there is no music playing (i.e. there is no current flowing down the cable), there is a potential present. This will ensure that your cables (as well as your components) remain at the peak of their performance. However - and this is the important bit - if there is no signal present in the cable at all (i.e. if the all the components are switched off, or if the cable is disconnected), the molecules will rearrange themselves back into their random order. In other words, the cable is almost like new again!
Edits: 09/14/16
;-)
. . . you can at least leave the components switched on. Even when there is no music playing (i.e. there is no current flowing down the cable), there is a potential present.
I'm not sure I understood that bit.
D
I agree with you Dave concerning this. Maybe, AudioQuest is suggesting the need for their dialectic bias system.
dialectic bias system
Should that not be "dielectric bias"? "Dialectic bias" suggests a medieval philosopher with fixed ideas.
Hmmmm. We'd never get types like that in here . . .
D
Absolutely correct. We do have some folks that fit that description here :-)
IMO... No.
Don't believe any cables require any break in. Don't expect nor necessarily want conductors to change properties over time! That would likely be a bad thing.
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Archimago's Musings : A 'more objective' audiophile blog.
Cables are not just made up of conductors. You are also dealing with dielectric materials. Thank you for your opinion.
Edits: 09/15/16
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