breaking in speaker connectors, myth?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=95308
Printed Date: July 04, 2025 at 7:20 AM

Topic: breaking in speaker connectors, myth?

Posted By: frans-c
Subject: breaking in speaker connectors, myth?
Date Posted: July 03, 2007 at 5:46 PM

Today I completely re-did my amps' power, ground and speaker connections, seeing that my original installation was - in my mind - a bit dodgy... I recently purchased a new, proper ratchet crimping tool, which I used today.

Well, I've heard on a South African forum that you need to allow for a certain breaking-in period for the wires and connectors. I always thought that this was bull, until today.

My sound is way different after I finished, unfortunately not for the better, the sound being a lot brighter and harsher than before. Previously, when I changed something on a single driver, I thought that it sounded a bit different afterwards, but with time it got "better", which I hope will happen again this time.

I tried a search for "myth", but couldn't find anything relevant. What's your experience on this?

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F R A N S
1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E
320 000 km / 199 000 miles
Full MB Service History

Replies:

Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: July 03, 2007 at 6:08 PM

Poor connections could be a point of oxidation, which CAN have an audible effect on the overall response. Tight connections will be a much lower impedance connection, and can change the tonal quality of a system.

I always try to make certain my connections are oxide-free, AND tight... TIGHT is important, especially in a car!

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: July 03, 2007 at 8:19 PM

Wires do not "break in." They might get warm with usage, but that's it.

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Posted By: kassdog
Date Posted: July 04, 2007 at 1:39 AM

You sure it wasn't mistaken for speaker break in. There is a really good sticky on that subject.

Posted By: frans-c
Date Posted: July 06, 2007 at 11:04 AM

Well, I decided to find the reason behind my front stage sounding like Rice Crispies (I assume you know what that is, compliments of Kellogg's posted_image

). It simply didn't make sense to me that after I improved my setup's connections, that the sound could be worse than before.

Well, here's the deal. It seems as though my front components are receiving a little more power all of a sudden, resulting in my dash grilles vibrating horribly. So I took some acoustic carpet I had left from my sub-box, and lined the speakers with it, in the hope that it would cure the problem; or at least eliminate any direct plastic to rubber contact. It worked, thank goodness! It's now back the way it was - perhaps even better than before!

One final question: is it possible that my amps are delivering a little more power after I changed the connections? My previous connections weren't terrible, but now they're absolutely 100%.

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F R A N S
1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E
320 000 km / 199 000 miles
Full MB Service History

Posted By: sarcomax
Date Posted: July 06, 2007 at 12:12 PM

As haemphyst pointed out, if there was oxidation at the connections the resistance may have been higher, and there may have been enough to cause a decrease in performance.

You are only as strong as your weakest crimp.

buyadonkey, or however you spell it...

Posted By: frans-c
Date Posted: July 06, 2007 at 12:22 PM

sarcomax wrote:

buyadonkey, or however you spell it...

You mean "baie dankie" posted_image

?

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F R A N S
1985 Mercedes-Benz 230E
320 000 km / 199 000 miles
Full MB Service History

Posted By: sarcomax
Date Posted: July 07, 2007 at 11:06 AM

Yup that's it! I have a friend from south africa that taught me that. He just never spelled it.

Now I know!