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As most know here I'm not very technically orientated, I know what sounds correct or right, but as to the actual reasons why it sounds correct is often beyond my technical abilities to explain. This notion will probably be ridiculed as more subjectivist "drivel" by the lunatic fringe amongst the objectivists here but I'd like to know why audio equipment ---{virtually all tubed and many of solid state components}--- "sounds better" after 20-60 mins of being warmed up or playing? It's my belief that this is a result of ---{and I may be incorrect in believing so}--- that all parts be they inductors, resistors, capacitors and/or transformers need to "form." By needing to form I mean the parts, due to their thermal activity expand ---{when the circuit they're in is turned on}--- & later collapse or shrink ---{when the circiut they're in is turned off}.Now I want to be perfectly clear in stating I understand that inductors, resistors and/or transformers DO NOT form in the same sense that the word form is used when speaking about capacitors! I fully realize that forming a capacitor is required because, for example; in electrolytic capacitors the two conductors are different materials. One is just a piece of metal ---{often aluminum}--- - and the other is a liquid electrolyte. When a voltage is applied between them a layer of oxide forms on the metal. New capacitors don't have the layer of oxide: it's formed the first time the capacitor is charged. I know this doesn't occur with resistors, inductors and/or transformers. I also fully understand this is what is meant when a person speaks about a capacitor forming, I understand that concept completely.
What I speaking about is essentially the thermal stabilization of the parts! I believe in time the degree to which these parts expand & collapse gets less and less as they finally "form" or get to a point where the degree to which the expansion & collapsing due to thermal activity is minimal. However I don't believe it ever ceases to happen completely and hence I believe this is one ---{I'm sure there are others}--- of the reasons why almost all tubed equipment and many solid state equipment sounds better after 20-60mins warm up time, i.e., until the part fully expands as a result of the thermal activity that occurs when it's turned on! Perhaps this should just be refered to as thermal stabilization?
I read somewhere a long time ago that transformers are perhaps the slowest of all audio parts to fully form or stabilize. The article I read said a transformer will achieve approx 60% of it's forming in the first 5 years. It will do another 30% over the next 10-15 years and that last 10% takes over 20 years to even start obtaining! This was given as being one of the main reasons why older Marantzs, McIntoshes, Western Electrics, Dynacos sound so good, i.e., their transformers have finally formed/stabilized/broke in!
Again formed may not be the technically correct word to use but I believe it illustrates the principle meaning of what I'm saying. The author insisted that these older tubed components weren't simply better as opposed to today's audio components. But rather their superior sound was a direct result of one of their key sonic influencing parts {transformers} having fully broken in, stabilized or formed.
Any thoughts. suggestions, criticisims?
Thetubeguy1954
A Rational Subjectivist
Edits: 05/02/08Follow Ups:
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