Breaking in speakers: Fact or fiction?

[bringer of torture]

I'd be curious to hear what you guys have to say on this subject. When I first got my Legacy half stack I found the tone to be a bit bright for my liking, and rather harsh. Today, while I was playing it, I noticed that the tone had 'sweetened' considerably, to the point that I actually find it quite nice. A few weeks ago I read in one of my old (mid 90s) Guitar Worlds that new speakers need about 40-50 hours of play time to properly 'break in'. Is it psychological, or does my Legacy actually sound better?

[elcid]

I've heard about them needing to break in from a few different places. Im sure this will just turn into a debate between people that say it makes a huge difference and people who say there is no difference like everything else.

[chaos731]

Originally Posted by elcid

I've heard about them needing to break in from a few different places. Im sure this will just turn into a debate between people that say it makes a huge difference and people who say there is no difference like everything else.

It makes a huge difference. Breaking in speakers is absolutely essential. You'll never understand what your amp really sounds like until you break in your speakers for a few months. Anyone who thinks differently is fooling themselves. Which is to say, of course, that breaking in speakers makes absolutely no difference. It's a waste of time. Your amp sounds appreciably different to you after "breaking in" your speakers because you're actually damaging them. That said, I would like to formally go on record and state that there is absolutely NO cannibalism in the English Navy, and when I say "none", I mean that there is a certain amount.

*rolls eyes*

[bringer of torture]

I guess you guys just summed up the entire debate.

[jaxadam]

Coming from my car audio days, I'd say breaking in speakers is pretty essential. New speakers in a box seemed to have a "pop" to them that doesn't sound as good as a speaker that has been thrown around the magnet awhile.