Loudspeakers do not break in but listeners adapt to new sound

Evidence

I have noticed this effect when I return home after a trip. I turn my system on and it may sound a little “different.” It doesn’t last long, and in a few minutes I am back in the familiar context. Nothing has “broken in”; it was me readapting. This is the common situation of product reviewers noting differences in sound of a new product introduced into their listening room, but over time adapting to its characteristics. Apart from tiny changes in woofer resonance frequency, loudspeakers do not “break in”—that is a physical fact—but listeners certainly do. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 134

Categorization

• XREF: The perception-vs-physics split echoes the earlier soundscape material on how listeners normalize ambient conditions they habituate to. — connects to: Room differences dominate loudspeaker differences when listeners cannot adapt — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 547; Listeners adapt to flawed speakers yet recognize superior ones; Listeners adapt to loudspeaker flaws and still enjoy reproduced sound (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Stereo and multichannel listening make listeners more forgiving of loudspeaker flaws #corroborates (0.85) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 467