Dave Rat - Headphone Burn-in Test

http://www.ratsound.com Dave Rat does some testing to see if burning in headphones makes any difference. Do headphones really change so much that they need to be exposed to music for long periods of time before they become listenable?

Category:

Science & Technology

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• AH-D2000
• Burn
• In
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• The
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• Headphone
• Quest
• Ultrasone
• Pro900
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• burnin
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[PreFabMedia]

Okay, I just watched the 5 headphone vids so I guess you already answered my question :D

Great job, thanks Dave! 

[www73171]

@PreFabMedia Cool cool, Thank you!

[DoctaCosmos]

I'm all about logic,.......but i have "embraced" this burn-in theory and to me it's night and day. COMPLETELY WITHOUT A DOUBT HAS WORKED FOR ME.

[www73171]

@DoctaCosmos There is not a question that materials fatigue over time as the materials fatigue, the resonance and compliance of the driver will change altering the sound a bit. But, are complex burnin procedures anything but voodoo? Do you really want headphones that the sound changes drastically over time? Do you want headphones that sound bad and then later sound good? Do they just get better and better or do they go past good to bad again? Buy good sounding headphones that stay sounding good.

[LilJimyG]

Can anyone tell me how much effect the choice of mic would have on this test? I would think as the mic is consistent throughout the test the purpose is served... however would it not have an affect?

[www73171]

@LilJimyG Since the tests were done using pure comparison, and the mic is the same for all comparisons, the mic choice is factored out.

[www73171]

@ElectricDjango86 "Pink noise can be damaging?" I dont buy it. At least not more than music can be damaging. Headphones have drivers made of plastic, wire, magnets and glue. And none of those things know the difference between Sonic Youth, Pink Noise and the Beatles. To attribute mystical qualities to headphones is no different than voodoo. Which is fine to believe in, it just has no basis in reality.

[www73171]

@slimjoel14 Well, seems your three video of you playing songs has combined views of about 650 and my whacky useless headphone test has nearly 10,000 views, so I would say that whomever gives a fuck is a heck of a lot more people than give a fuck about the tunes you are rocking. That has to be frustrating! but keep at it as at least you are doing something you enjoy.

[mkygod]

I think the truth lies somewhere in between. Sonic changes can occur with headphones even if the frequency response remains the same. A sound signature of a headphone cannot be fully analyzed by response chart. It is impossible to prove true/false as it is based on subjectivity and cannot be measured by any device aside from the human ear.

[mkygod]

@DudeImWayBetter I have the MDR-v6 also. Based on your issue, I think it comes down to defective headphones, source material, or something with your iPhone output. Try the headphones on a different device with different songs and see if it still happens.

[DudeImWayBetter]

I would really appreciate it if someone answers my question. So I bought a pair of Sony mdr-v6 headphones and on all the songs I play on my iPhone and computer the left side is louder and more clear on the high notes and treble but the right side has more bass, are headphones supposed to be like this? I switched the left headphones in my right ear and vise versa so I'm sure it's not my ears.

[finalfantasy10892]

I had a Koss DJ100. 38ohm. Should I use burninsolfware and let it run until 100 hours constantly

[simplyalif]

Quick Question? Does God exist??? or is that Voodoo?

[yousellouts]

That's a lot of leak...

[PreFabMedia]

Dave, you said you tested about 30 pairs of high end phones, do you have a list of recommendations (aside from the Denon and Shure), did you rank them in any kind of order?

[bassrob2]

Thanks for this, mate. Just stumbled upon your video, trying to find out whether or not the "Burn In" theory had any sort of credence. I appreciate you breaking it down to pure visual fact. No dissertations to read, no complex charts and graphs. Just simple, effective proof.

Well done, my man.