Cable Cooking
NZ Made Audio Distributors has recently purchased the widely acclaimed Audiodharma Cable Cooker and will be offering the first 'cable cooking' service to audio enthusiasts
(Reproduced from the manufacturers of the Cable Cooker)
Although it is not yet fully understood scientifically, the phenomenon of "cable break-in" has been experienced by many audiophiles. Interconnects, speaker cables and even power cords seem to go through a conditioning period when used in an audio/video system, and will sound better after many hours of in-system use. The sonic differences between wiring that is broken-in and wiring that is not are very audible in high quality audio systems.
The break-in process is believed to be due primarily to current flowing through the conductors of wiring components. Dielectric stress caused by a voltage difference between the conductors is also believed to be of some benefit. The fact that it takes many hours of in-system use for wiring components to break in is primarily due to the low-level nature of audio/video signals from normal program material.
As an example, let us take an interconnect used to connect the output of a preamplifier to the input of a power amplifier. The typical maximum signal level for full power output of the average power amplifier is 2 volts peak. The average signal is much less. The typical input impedance of a power amplifier will be 10k ohms at the (very) low end for consumer gear---47 to 100k ohms is typical for a solid state amplifier, while several hundred kohms is not unusual for a tube power amplifier.
Taking the (unrealistic) best-case values from the above examples, the maximum current seen is 2 volts/10k ohms = 200 micro-amperes ... and this would not be continuous current, as the voltage value is a peak value, not an rms value.
For the sake of demonstration and comparison we will describe a "use value" consisting of the current flowing through the wiring component according to the above equation, multiplied by the total time this current flows. We will refer to this use value as CTV, or "Current-Time-Value".
Playing an interconnect cable in an audio system for one week (168 hours) of continuous use would expose it to the following use value: 168 hours x 0.0002 amperes = CTV of 0.0336.
The CABLE COOKER™ was designed to produce signal levels far in excess of those seen in normal audio/video system use. Internally, the device contains a sweeping square wave oscillator that drives a very high-efficiency "H" bridge MOSFET switching circuit. The output signal consists of a square wave from below 100Hz to over 16k Hz (plus harmonics). Output voltage is 12 volts rms. The current through the wiring component is determined by the load at the input connector of the CABLE COOKER™. In the case of interconnect cables, the measured current is 120 milli-amperes.
Installing an interconnect on the CABLE COOKER™ for one week results in a CTV of: 168 hours x 0.12 Amperes = CTV of 20.16.
This is a value 600 times greater than that obtained under the most ideal of audio system conditions. The "stress" on the dielectric of the interconnect is also much higher than in normal use due to the higher output voltage. It should be readily apparent why results with the CABLE COOKER™ are often quite audible after as little as 24 hours of use.
The same powerful signal described above is also produced at the speaker cable output binding posts. The load at the speaker cable inputs, however, is designed to draw a continuous 1.88 amperes of current through the wire. With a potential of 12 volts, this is equivalent to a continuous signal level in excess of 22 watts!! It must again be emphasized that this is a continuous condition (i.e., rms).
This extreme continuous-signal level, produced in an audio system in a regular listening environment for any length of time, would force us from the room due to the highly uncomfortable and intensively-loud volume. One can now correlate the impressive signal level produced by the CABLE COOKER™ and the benefits derived by its use with the cabling in our audio/video systems.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to break-in cables?
That is dependent upon the gauge of the conductors, the number of conductors, and the amount of dielectric material. Generally, for brand new interconnects 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 days; for speaker cables 2 to 3 1/2 days (for bi-wired speaker cables 4 to 7 days) and for power cords 3 to 4 days.
Cables that have been in a system for quite some time may need less time on the Cooker to improve greatly. Doing a "periodic recharge" of a system's cabling every 3 or 4 months insures that a system will be at "it's" optimum performance level. This makes purchasing the Cable Cooker a better long-term value. Conditioning is "not" a one-time phenomenon.
Does longer conditioning time mean better performance? Can my cables be over-Cooked? Will they be damaged?
Over-Cooking can reduce the performance, at least temporarily. The characteristics of this are a reduced or diminished soundstage and a dull, lifeless quality to the music. If this situation occurs, merely letting the cables physically rest, and settle, then putting them back in the music system to play for a few hours brings them back to their optimal performance level. Over-Cooking does NOT do any damage to the cabling whatsoever.
Will cables revert back over time requiring a second burn in, or are the results permanent?
Unless cabling is completely disconnected for a long period of time, we don't think they "completely" revert back to their original, raw state. However, in our experience, break-in is a long-term, but not permanent phenomenon. Cabling seems to benefit (as does one's system) with a periodic "recharge" of 12--24 hours, every few months. Audiophiles often end up purchasing a Cable Cooker to recondition their cables every 3 or 4 months.
Which cables would benefit most from the Cable Cooker?
All cables will benefit from conditioning from the cable cooker. Cables which carry low level signals, such as digital cables and bi-wired speaker cables will probably benefit the most. Despite continuous use, some cables may never be fully 'burned in' and as such, you may not actually hearing the full potential of your system.
What improvements would I expect from cable cooking?
Fully 'burned-in' cables will allow your system to reveal its true potential. The limiting factor of your system would be the quality of each individual component. Cables merely connect one component to another. After burning in, the overall sound would be smoother with better imaging and a larger soundstage. The music will be more relaxed and flow with a greater sense of ease. The better the quality of cable, the greater the improvement after burning-in with the cable cooker.
What is the cost of getting my cables cooked?
Getting your cables burned-in with the Cable Cooker would be undoubtedly the cheapest investment to improve your system. A standard 5 day system burn-in would cost $95 (3 power cords, up to 4 pairs RCA or balanced interconnects and 1 pair of speaker cables. If you have only a few cables or a home theatre system, please e-mail NZ Made Audio for a costing.