Wylie Williams wrote:
Steve,
Actually I didn't use the words "bad" or "better" so quotes are not
inappropriate. I said that "I found that some speakers sounded
disappointingly harsh and thin when new". Nowhere did I say that that I
expected them to sound that way. I found that out by listening.
Did the speakers change, or was it just my attitude? I always thought it
was the speakers that changed, but then nobody knows the depths of their own
mind. I may mention that many of my independent minded argumentative young
salesmen who loved to have a contrary opinion heard the same thing. Or
maybe their attitude changed.

It is a known fact that the human mind will work like an equalizer on
sound input and listen a bit harder for certain areas and detune for others
once we get enough exposure to the sound.

Case in point - people who have a grandfather clock. I had one growing
up and to this day still walk all around my parents house and cannot
hear the thing chiming - I have permanently tuned it out.

People also tune out airplanes and freeway noise.

They also tune in specifics like their kids crying and TV programs
in a noisy environment.

Break-in is very real. The source of it is your mind and not the
hardware.