For testing purposes, I connected my DIY Chi-Fi speakers to my NAD 3130 Integrated amplifier. Right away, I noticed the difference. The sound was clearer, more alive, and more immersive than ever before. It was as though the music was filling the room in a way that my previous setup couldn’t match.
These speakers have truly shone when listening to jazz music with a vacuum tube amplifier. After a hectic day at work, there’s nothing better than sitting back on the couch, relaxing, and enjoying some smooth jazz. The vocals come through crystal clear, and the instrument separation adds depth to the overall experience. It’s the kind of sound that makes you feel connected to the music, almost as if the instruments are playing right in front of you.
For vinyl listening, these DIY speakers punch above their size. These DIY Chi-Fi bookshelf speakers suit my small vinyl listening setup in the apartment. I recently swapped in a budget-friendly, high-quality RCA cable, and when I dropped the needle on Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and Japanese Jazz Naomi Akimoto’s One Night Stand, I finally got to hear the clean, full-range sound I’ve been wanting. Honestly, with this vinyl setup, I love the flat, analogue sound.
Since the speakers are still new, they need some time to break in before reaching their full potential. Speaker break-in, also known as burn-in, is a process where the components—like the driver’s cone, suspension, and surround—become more flexible with use. Initially, the sound may feel slightly stiff or lacking in warmth, but after several hours of playtime, the audio quality improves as the components settle into place.
During this period, I’ve been playing a mix of genres to help the drivers adjust evenly across the frequency range. From mellow jazz to upbeat rock, each session brings out more clarity and depth in the sound. For most full-range drivers, it typically takes anywhere from 50 to 100 hours of playtime for the break-in process to complete. It’s a small investment of time for a noticeable improvement in sound quality, and I’m excited to hear how these DIY Chi-Fi speakers will evolve as they break in fully.
