Some audiophiles hold that speakers need time and money invested into them to sound at their peak performance. This process, known as “burning in”, may improve performance by making the speaker more flexible – an issue hotly debated within the audio world, as many want to know whether investing in speakers requiring break-in periods is worthwhile or not.
Yes, warming up speakers can improve their sound quality. Just like muscles, speakers’ components perform better after a brief warm-up period, ensuring optimal audio performance.
A speaker is a small device designed to produce sounds in your ears. It consists of a diaphragm made from materials like paper, plastic or aramid fiber; coils on its base and spider help it respond quickly to input signals; voice coils inside its diaphragm are what give a speaker its dynamic responsiveness; new voice coils may be stiff and brittle when first installed but as movement occurs heat production occurs which warms the diaphragm up, helping it respond accordingly.
Voice coils feature variable impedances that determine their resistance to electric current, an integral aspect of quality sound reproduction and crucial to matching its output to your music’s frequency range. As they warm up, voice coils have lower impedances which allow them to respond more quickly when receiving signals.
Speakers typically take longer to warm up and reach their maximum performance compared to other audio equipment, due to a complex process involving voice coils gradually decreasing their impedance until reaching a lowest point upon initial power up of their amplifiers. Therefore, it’s wise to allow at least an hour or so for them to warm up prior to listening for extended periods.
Although a speaker can function without needing a break-in period, this approach may not be optimal. Much like how singers must warm up before performing, speakers who go directly onstage and start shouting can strain muscles surrounding their larynx which causes swelling and pain; their vocal cords may swell leading to difficulty speaking clearly as well as frequent clearing of throat or difficulty speaking clearly which could potentially result in them losing the attention of their audience.
Hydrating before any speech or presentation is also key for successful communication, helping your voice remain strong and fluid, essential elements for effective delivery of speeches and presentations. As the saying goes, “preparation is never wasted time”, meaning this strategy could also prevent having to use voice warmers or vaporizers during your presentation and enable you to keep speaking for as long as necessary.