Having just acquired a spankin' new pair of monitors for my home studio, I'm currently in the process of "breaking them in".
Being an inquisitive mind, I started wondering: what is the purpose of this?
For those who aren't familiar with the term: "breaking-in" speakers is simplicity itself and consists in playing music over them for some time - typically 10-20 hours. This period of adjustment in order for the speakers to settle into their optimal working state, that will affect their sound, is recommended by manufacturers and reviewers alike.
Examples:
NOTE - The studio monitors will take break-in time to achieve optimum sonic performance. Under moderate use, play a favorite album between 15 to 25 hours.
Source: KRK Systems ROKIT G3 Series Manual
After setting the filters for my room and an extensive break-in period, they became both punchy and percussive in the low end, as well as fast and “airy” in the upper end of the frequency response.
Source: Neumann KH 120A Studio Monitors Review @ Mix Online
Is this really the case? And, if so: how does it work?
An ideal answer will address the physics involved: does the break-in period affect electronics, the speaker cones, the cabinet, all of the above; as well as the expected changes in sonic qualities following the break-in period. What differences can we expect to hear?
If any studies have been performed, references would be appreciated.
A negative answer ("break-in is a myth", as some claim) would ideally reference studies that demonstrate no measurable difference between "unbroken" and "broken-in" speakers.