Quote Originally Posted by nightflier
The physics of this example disprove your point. A lightbulb will measurably change over time. I suppose that this is true of tubes for the same reason. So for example, the bulb will have less brightness after x number of hours, and likewise the tube will have less edge to it after x number of hours as well. While the bulb loosing brightness is typically considered "deterioration", the tube loosing its edge is typically called "burn-in". In both cases, it's downhill from there, but for an audiophile, that may be an audibly acceptable, maybe even preferable. It's just a function of the equipment being worn over time. Just as there's no debate (at least I hope there isn't) over a phono cartridge being worn down by use, there shouldn't be any debate over the lightbulb or tube being worn down either.

Now whether this is true for cables, and whether that is audible, I doubt it. I have a hard time even hearing differences between cables to begin with. Nonetheless, I wouldn't be surprised if a certain highly sensitive measurement was found that would indeed change in a cable over time, although I would still have a hard time believing that it was audible. I've been told that different materials like silver, affect the sound, and while I've never heard it, I don't have any reason to believe otherwise. With that in mind, different materials have very different properties (and as someone mentioned, half-lifes), so it follows that the sound of these could very well change over time as well. But, I've never heard this.

In any case, if it isn't audible to me or any one else, then why split hairs over that? And if emaidel hears a difference, then that's all fine for him. The physics support the theory that sound can change in a component, even a CD player. Whether this is audible is impossible to debate since we will never know without actually being inside the brain of someone who does hear it, and that is physically impossible. To borrow from my college logic class: I know that it is possible, but I have yet to experience it and I could very well never experience it. However, that does not mean it's impossible.
Hmmm... interesting theory and it actually seems plausible.... I'm interpreting your comments to mean that burn in is not actually the improvement in performance of a component over time, but is actually a deterioration due to normal wear and tear that is often preferred by audiophiles...

So kind of like buying a new pair of shoes... at first they may feel too stiff and uncomfortable, but with regular use they deteriorate first to the point of being extremely comfortable and eventually until they are useless..