Do amps have a break in period?

notreligus · 04-15-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metropolis4

Except in this case the speaker isn't a factor. Like I said, I've been using the same speakers that were well broken in before I even got this amp

I am sorry that I just completely missed your comment about your speaker already having been well-used.

I am an audio enthusiast and have been one since long before audio became a video accessory. I know, for example, that I leave my preamp on all of the time. It is designed to be that way and the manufactuerer ( B &K) designed to be on all the time and they tell you to not plug it into a power strip, for example, and turn it off. I know of guys who have bought new phono preamps and couldn't stand the sound of them when they first used them but they came back to them 24 hours later and claimed that they sounded different as night is to day. I was reading a comment this morning at an audio discussion forum and in this discussion one guy was disagreeing with the gentleman here who worked for a capacitor manufacturer. I know the function of caps in power supplies and in filters but I don't know that much about how their physical and chemical properties change as they are re-charged; but the guy at the audio forum compared them to batteries being charged and re-charged. He said that they don't fully settle in until they have been charged and re-charged a number of times.

Being a newbie I think I held back a bit on my opinions on the subject. I fear that I'm already approaching being put in the doghouse with some of my comments in the Theology section. I am a person of strong opinions, just like some others here. I am beginning to feel like I'm walking on eggs.

Stratopastor · 04-15-2010, 10:19 AM

notreligus - I love your point about audio being a video accessory! However Your point about an amp being left continuously powered up is a different issue to the OP's question. And a B+K preamp probably depends on some cap values in a different way to a guitar amp. But, yes., if Metropolis4 left his Dr.Z on all the time it would sound a little different to what it sounded like immediately after warming up.

Metropolis 4 - dying batteries aren'r really analogous. What's happening there is the voltage falling off and something-I--don't-understand happening to the battery's internal resistance. Many pedals have a 'sweet spot' for voltage and some users hunt for that. Finally from me (not the same as the Last Word on the subject) is, IMO the answer to your thread title ("do amps have a break in period?") is 'No'. However your most recent post seems to address the question "do amps, along with strings and magnets, age?" and the answer has got to be 'Yes'. If something (e.g. a tube) in your Dr.Z has aged in a way that you like. then be happy, and I hope it stays that way for a long time! :-)

Stratopastor · 04-15-2010, 11:05 AM

(OK, I know I said I'd finished, but this occurred to me during my walk home...)

wait a minute! I've been looking at this in a TOTALLY WRONG WAY! I've been thinking technically, and it would have been quicker to think commercially.

If amp break-in were anywhere near a reality, someone would have tried to turn it to commercial advantage by now. Consider;

(amp manufacturer) "All our amps are supplied fully broken-in!"
(salesman) "If you think it sounds great now, just wait 'till it's broken in!"
(amp tech) "Yeah, I know it still doesn't sound quite right, but it'll be fine once it's broken in..."

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 04-15-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratopastor

(OK, I know I said I'd finished, but this occurred to me during my walk home...)

wait a minute! I've been looking at this in a TOTALLY WRONG WAY! I've been thinking technically, and it would have been quicker to think commercially.

If amp break-in were anywhere near a reality, someone would have tried to turn it to commercial advantage by now. Consider;

(amp manufacturer) "All our amps are supplied fully broken-in!"
(salesman) "If you think it sounds great now, just wait 'till it's broken in!"
(amp tech) "Yeah, I know it still doesn't sound quite right, but it'll be fine once it's broken in..."

What you may not realize, is that this is done.

metropolis4 · 04-15-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratopastor

notreligus - I love your point about audio being a video accessory! However Your point about an amp being left continuously powered up is a different issue to the OP's question. And a B+K preamp probably depends on some cap values in a different way to a guitar amp. But, yes., if Metropolis4 left his Dr.Z on all the time it would sound a little different to what it sounded like immediately after warming up.

Metropolis 4 - dying batteries aren'r really analogous. What's happening there is the voltage falling off and something-I--don't-understand happening to the battery's internal resistance. Many pedals have a 'sweet spot' for voltage and some users hunt for that. Finally from me (not the same as the Last Word on the subject) is, IMO the answer to your thread title ("do amps have a break in period?") is 'No'. However your most recent post seems to address the question "do amps, along with strings and magnets, age?" and the answer has got to be 'Yes'. If something (e.g. a tube) in your Dr.Z has aged in a way that you like. then be happy, and I hope it stays that way for a long time! :-)

Ok, you're addressing one of the examples I used, but you're still not seeing my point I think. I'm not asking if amps age, of course they do.
And the battery is completely appropriate in the context of the example that I gave. A battery losing it's power is the performance of that component degrading and altering the tone of the pedal as it continues to degrade. It seems analogous to me...

The point here is this: We can agree that components like tubes and caps performance and functionality change gradually over time right? If they didn't we wouldn't have to replace them over time. We know that tubes start to change in tone when they get older right? Caps need to be replaced eventually so I can only assume that their performance changes over time correct? (otherwise they wouldn't need to be replaced). So agreeing on that we can see that as components degrade over time and their performance subtly changse those changes are going to result in subtle changes in the tone of the amp. Any subtle shift in tone could be perceived as either good or bad to the listener.

Given that it seems entirely plausible to me that caps and tubes are going to change the tone of the amp as they age and wear.

jthomas1600 · 04-15-2010, 02:34 PM

The original question was "do amps break in, or are my ears just getting acclimated". OK, that's kind of a paraphrase. Anyway, I have a third option....another explanation if you will as to why you're liking the sound better. Maybe it's really two other things. First of all is it possible that the longer you have the amp the easier it is to dial in a good tone? The better you know the amp and how it reacts to different guitars and peddles etc. the easier it is to get the tone you like? Secondly, I wonder if you don't notice the amp reacts differently to different aspects of your playing style and you make tiny adjustments to bring out the best in the amp. Perhaps where you strum the strings in relation to the bridge, how aggressive you dig in, small alterations in pressure etc. with your fret hand? Maybe I'm just reaching here, but I wonder if these things could be applicable to your liking the tone better as time goes on.

metropolis4 · 04-16-2010, 07:17 AM

Interesting thoughts... I think those sound very possible. That amp is very sensitive to even minor tweaks and I think I probably have gotten better at dialing it in. I'm not as sure about changing my playing style; It doesn't feel like I've consciously changed; but it does seem possible I may have sub-consciously made small changes as I go.