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ATH-W3000ANV Effects of Burn-In? BS or Not?

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Marvey:
So over on HF, there were a couple of reports indicating increased bass weight on the W3000ANV as a result of burn-in:  http://www.head-fi.org/t/575725/new-flagship-from-audio-technica-ath-w3000anv-50th-anniversary-headphones/195#post_7904107

I myself even kinda of felt the same way. One of the first things I did when I got the W3000 in was the measure them. Now about a month later, I re-measured them again. Note that this isn't scientific at all, but I was just curious to see if to see if there was anything in the measurements that would indicate an increase in bass. So here is goes.

The blue line is the measurement as of 12-28-2011, the yellow is the measurement after 5 minutes of music after I first got them at the end of November.

LEFT CHANNEL:



RIGHT CHANNEL:


I don't know. Seems to close to call. If anything, the treble is slightly more peaky. The thing I've always wondered is why burn-in never results in less desirable sonic traits - that is why does burn-in never seem to result in something that sounds more shitty. It's interesting that in the pro-audio world, burn-in, or at least changes in frequency response over-time is considered bad, or at the very least, not good.

While I do admit that I feel that these cans have increased in bass since when I first got them, I think it's really a matter of me adjusting to their sound over time (and also realizing these cans have a significant mid-bass hump.) The brain does a lot funny things.

LFF:
Burn in = ears adjusting  :-\

rhythmdevils:

--- Quote from: purrin on December 29, 2011, 07:59:42 AM ---The thing I've always wondered is why burn-in never results in less desirable sonic traits - that is why does burn-in never seem to result in something that sounds more shitty.

--- End quote ---

I've had the same thought.  There's no way that something lacking any kind of measureable or scientific understanding could always have predictably good results while doing different things to every headphone.  If a headphone has too much treble, it gets toned down, if it lacks bass, it gets more bass, if the bass is bloated, the bass gets tighter, if the upper mids are shouty, they get less shouty, if they're recessed/cloudy, they get more prominent and clear, etc. 

That being said, the one time I heard burn in, it was pretty noticeable and I'm not sure I can say it was my mind getting used to the sound.  When I first listened to the HF2 they sounded quite shoutty, strident in the upper mids, almost kind of screachy.  I put them down pretty quick and then left them playing overnight.  The next day I didn't hear much of this anymore.  So I didn't really have time to "get used to them" plus I haven't really noticed myself getting used to odd sound signatures, if anything, they get more annoying to me over time.  But it was a brief listen before I put them down, so who knows maybe I was in a bad mood.   ;D

RexAeterna:
also interesting thing. sound changes on your mood, the amount of rest your body had the night before,ect. all affects the auditory system and your mind. things like alcohol, drugs and pulling an all nighter will give different perception of sound due to an increase of dopamine production in the brain. that's why things that sounded bad(k701 anyone? j/k, j/k) will sound glorious drunk or tired to hell. tons of other cool things as well can happen with the human mind(sorry i don't watch tv much but when i do, it's always the science,discovery or history channel and i like reading stuff online sometimes) as well. many things can happen without us knowing. even,me, myself am never sure on things that i hear or do. that's why i try to stay open minded cause i can never be right and need correction on my faults.

Marvey:

--- Quote from: rhythmdevils on December 29, 2011, 06:06:15 PM ---
That being said, the one time I heard burn in, it was pretty noticeable and I'm not sure I can say it was my mind getting used to the sound.  When I first listened to the HF2 they sounded quite shoutty, strident in the upper mids, almost kind of screachy.  I put them down pretty quick and then left them playing overnight.  The next day I didn't hear much of this anymore.  So I didn't really have time to "get used to them" plus I haven't really noticed myself getting used to odd sound signatures, if anything, they get more annoying to me over time.  But it was a brief listen before I put them down, so who knows maybe I was in a bad mood.   ;D

--- End quote ---

LOL, I think your brain adjusted to their sound while you were sleeping/dreaming.

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