EL70 Break-in

[cogitech]

I have searched for info on breaking in the EL70 and I have only been able to find reference to the time it takes (gets better and better up to about 500 hours, seems to be the consensus).

What I am wondering is "how" to break them in. In other words, is there a technique that I should use? Something like: start off with easy listening at low volumes for the first little while, move on to medium volumes and more diverse/complex music, and then finally into rocking to the Rush and Dire Straits?

Or, can I just jump right into YES's "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (not one of my favourite songs, but one of my favourite songs to judge a sound system) and wrap the knob to "11"? (This is an exaggeration, of course. I do not want to blow my new drivers )

Basically, how "gentle" should I be, and for how long?

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by cogitech

I have searched for info on breaking in the EL70 and I have only been able to find reference to the time it takes (gets better and better up to about 500 hours, seems to be the consensus).

What I am wondering is "how" to break them in. In other words, is there a technique that I should use? Something like: start off with easy listening at low volumes for the first little while, move on to medium volumes and more diverse/complex music, and then finally into rocking to the Rush and Dire Straits?

Or, can I just jump right into YES's "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (not one of my favourite songs, but one of my favourite songs to judge a sound system) and wrap the knob to "11"? (This is an exaggeration, of course. I do not want to blow my new drivers )

Basically, how "gentle" should I be, and for how long?

Mark used to have a sticky note on his forum re break-in procedures for Alpairs - the short answer to your first jest above is "no, don't ride em hard and put em up wet" and even when fully conditioned, remember these are not auditorium PA speakers, or THX certified sub-woofers.

On average I'd guess than my EL70 Castles never see past 80dB SPL in a 3200ft^3 open space.

[cogitech]

Originally Posted by chrisb

Mark used to have a sticky note on his forum re break-in procedures for Alpairs - the short answer to your first jest above is "no, don't ride em hard and put em up wet" and even when fully conditioned, remember these are not auditorium PA speakers, or THX certified sub-woofers.

On average I'd guess than my EL70 Castles never see past 80dB SPL in a 3200ft^3 open space.

I appreciate the reply. I do not think in terms of dB very well, so I find it hard to try to estimate how loud I usually have it. When my wife is around, I am sure I am easily within reasonable limits, but when I am alone I find I tend to like it fairly loud... Not painful, but "solid" or "stout".

[cogitech]

I found a decibel chart which provides descriptions of sounds and decibel values. I probably creep up to the 85-90db range (with my PSBs) on occasion, but generally around 70 to 75 due to WAF.

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by cogitech

I found a decibel chart which provides descriptions of sounds and decibel values. I probably creep up to the 85-90db range (with my PSBs) on occasion, but generally around 70 to 75 due to WAF.

do yourself a favor and buy a cheapie SPL meter - the old Radio Shack used to have a great little one for $40 or so - or maybe an app for your smartphone ( I have a couple of SPL and RTA on my iPhone - it's very interesting to see how loud things are or aren't)

It's amazing just how loud 80dB average with 10-15dB peaks really is.


ps: remember hearing deterioration is inevitable, but not necessarily predictable, and the kinder you are to your ears throughout your listening career, the more you'll be rewarded in your golden years, sonny

[planet10]

Originally Posted by chrisb

On average I'd guess than my EL70 Castles never see past 80dB SPL in a 3200ft^3 open space.

The Mar-Kel in my ~9,000 ft^3 open space have, and i suspect at least that loud when they did their thing outside during diyFEST. Still, important to remember thay are 4".

You want to start them up gentle, and work your way to the 9" Nails.

dave

[planet10]

Originally Posted by cogitech

I do not think in terms of dB very well

If you have an iPhone, Touch or iPad, there is a $15 ap called AudioTools that provides an SPL meter as part of its functionality. Everytime i use it to encourage the godson to turn down the 'puter it pays for itself ("Tysen, when the numbers get up over 85 dB you are causing hearing damage" -- i only have to hold the meter in front of him now)

AudioTools | Studio Six Digital

dave

[cogitech]

Dave, thanks for the input. I will certainly baby them for the first 100 hours or so, and then make sure to keep things at a sane level beyond that.

I do not have any Apple products (just not my taste) but I might take Chris' advice and grab an SPL meter from "the Source".

By the way, I half-a$$ed assembled one of the towers last night and had a listen to it. I only had pink fibre-glass on the back panel and one side panel, the front panel was held on with two quick clamps, and the baffle plate was not installed (to bring the driver flush).

I was quite impressed with the sound, considering the extended burn-in that these drivers typically require. Bass was much weaker than expected, but I assume a sealed cabinet and the right balance of stuffing will go a long way to improve that, and then the drivers themselves will produce loads more bass as burn-in progresses (according to a few posts here that I have read).

Either way, it can only get better and I am very excited.

[zman01]

Cogitech,

IIRC Mark Fenlon said in one of the posts to keep the drivers at "musak" sort of levels for first 150 hours. No "heavy" music at first - start gentle and as Dave has advised, and slowly introduce more rhythmic music that has more bass.

I did 150+ hours on my EL-70s before putting on some techno.

Good drivers they are.

-Zia