Speakers need to be
burned in to break-in their suspensions to finalize and stabilize
their sound and improve their low frequency response. Other parts and
components also benefit from Burn-in. Below is an inexpensive way to
generate a burn-in fixture that generates broad band noise to achieve
this effect. This will put 3/4 of a watt of noise into 8 ohms at
low frequencies and the applied power drops off as the frequency
increases.
Just make sure that
when you are using this, you don't reverse bias parts that don't like
to be reverse biased. One example of a part that doesn't like negative
voltages is electrolytic (aluminum) capacitors.
Notice that 2 diodes in series increases the noise delivered at 2.5kHz, 4kHz and 6 kHz.
Ideas for speaker and cable burn-in:
- Use a distorted 50/60 Hz sinewave for the burn-in source and let the line noise generate the high frequencies.
- If you want more harmonics (high frequencies) double the number of diodes in series.
- Run the speakers out of phase facing each other to reduce the noise generated in the house.
- At 3/4W of loss in each speaker, it will be relatively safe to throw a beach towel over the pair of speakers facing each other to muffle the high frequency noise. The towel is not to touch the drivers themselves.
Don't forget to fuse
the power to the wall socket..
A fancier option
would be to use the "Pink Fries Modified" Hagerman noise generator
feeding a power amp to feed the speakers or the cable. If feeding a
shorted cable from the power amp, remember to add a power resistor in
series with the "hot (red)" wire from the amp to the cable
input. Link to
the Pink Fries Noise Generator Mod.
First Version 3-Sep-2000, Last change 7-Aug-24.
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