Do you mean you've measured, say, newly-installed capacitors in speakers showing different results over time using REW?The problem with the psychosomatic explanations is these very noticeable changes have been mesured by people like myself. REW is free and a calibrated UMIC microphone isn't much money.
Why guess or try to explain away what you're hearing when the analysis tools are readily available?
Of course, burn-in should be distinguished from electrolytic capacitors reforming, which is a known factor. A newly-bought electrolytic cap may sit in a warehouse for years before it winds up in your hands, and could well need to reform before reaching its nominal capacity.
Electrolytic caps used in speaker crossovers are non-polarised, but they still need to be formed -- i.e., have a voltage applied to the terminals to cause formation of a dielectric oxide on the anode. A non-polarised cap is essentially two polarised electrolytic caps wired in series, -ve terminal to -ve terminal, so one acts (or undergoes forming, initially) as a capacitor whilst the other conducts. Per the wikipedia article on electrolytic capacitors in the section on bipolar caps, "On the alternate halves of the AC cycles, one of the oxides on the foil acts as a blocking dielectric, preventing reverse current from damaging the electrolyte of the other one."Caps form when they have DC applied to them, such as in a power supply filter. Is the same true for AC signals such as music? "Forming" as I understand it means the electrolyte distributes itself to plus and minus (voltage) sides of the capacitor. But they will only do that when a DC voltage is applied. Since sound is AC, polarity is actually flipping back and forth constantly, so there really is no 'forming' taking place. Unless I don't quite understand how it works, which is very possible.
it's not difficult to hear the capacitors breaking in
You are saying that girls whispering in my ear will burn in stuff faster than heavy death metal? I guess.
Electrolytic caps used in speaker crossovers are non-polarised, but they still need to be formed -- i.e., have a voltage applied to the terminals to cause formation of a dielectric oxide on the anode. A non-polarised cap is essentially two polarised electrolytic caps wired in series, -ve terminal to -ve terminal, so one acts (or undergoes forming, initially) as a capacitor whilst the other conducts. Per the wikipedia article on electrolytic capacitors in the section on bipolar caps, "On the alternate halves of the AC cycles, one of the oxides on the foil acts as a blocking dielectric, preventing reverse current from damaging the electrolyte of the other one."
My current speaker is full range with a super tweeter filtered by a cap. If that matters.
If you like pre-recapped sound better, it's probably because you naturally prefer the sound characteristics of an un-recapped speaker or amplifier. To me, an un-recapped unit tends to sound what I would describe as wooly and rolled-off, but some describe that as warmth and prefer it.
Also, note that your appreciation of sound may be influenced by mood and mindset -- is it possible that recapping the units has, at some deep emotional level, left you feeling that the units are no longer original?
If so, that may be influencing your appreciation of their sound.
Are my the only one that feels that recapping speakers that are working properly ruins the sound? I have a pair of AR3a's that were sounding wonderful. I read how recapping will make them even better. Used Clarity cap for the highs and whatever Parts Express was selling in the correct value for the other two caps. The speakers have lost some of their magic. The old caps were still within tolerance values and I am going to put the old ones back. I have given many hours for "break in". I also have a pair of AR2ax that have original caps and bought a pair that were recapped. The originals sound noticeably better. I also bought a pair of recapped KLH Model 12 on Ebay and thought they sounded like crap. Recapped a Sherwood S5500 tube amp. It totally ruined it. In fact, I have yet to hear a recapped component or speaker (that was working normally) that sounded better after the recap or sounded better when A/B comparing to an unrestored working unit. My MC60 monoblocks and Mac preamp are recapped and sound good but i've never heard unrestored ones and wonder if I'd like them better.
Are my the only one that feels that recapping speakers that are working properly ruins the sound? I have a pair of AR3a's that were sounding wonderful. I read how recapping will make them even better. Used Clarity cap for the highs and whatever Parts Express was selling in the correct value for the other two caps. The speakers have lost some of their magic. The old caps were still within tolerance values and I am going to put the old ones back. I have given many hours for "break in". I also have a pair of AR2ax that have original caps and bought a pair that were recapped. The originals sound noticeably better. I also bought a pair of recapped KLH Model 12 on Ebay and thought they sounded like crap. Recapped a Sherwood S5500 tube amp. It totally ruined it. In fact, I have yet to hear a recapped component or speaker (that was working normally) that sounded better after the recap or sounded better when A/B comparing to an unrestored working unit. My MC60 monoblocks and Mac preamp are recapped and sound good but i've never heard unrestored ones and wonder if I'd like them better.