Exposure amp: should I turn it off when I don't listen to music?

[ludovico]

Hi.

I use an Exposure XX integrated amp (built in 1994). Should I leave the amp always powered up (like Naim stuff) or should I turn it off after listening to music?

I don't own the amp user's manual but I think there should be some advice from Exposure...

[ludovico]

Edit, I have just found the answer in a manual I found online. http://www.exposurehifi.com/images/p...Amplifiers.pdf

For Exposure preamps:

Typically, full performance conditions are reached within 24 hours. We, therefore recommend leaving the preamplifier’s power supply switched on continuously. There are no associated penalties with regard to reliability or longevity (indeed, electronic components generally have longer lives when powered up continuously), and this practice ensures optimum musical performance whenever you wish to enjoy music on your system.

For Exposure power amps & integrated:

Power amplifiers typically reach stable operating conditions more quickly than preamplifiers (Usually less than an hour), hence the desirability of keeping them continuously powered up is a bit less than with preamplifiers. There is little reason that the power amplifier may not be left on continuously, but would point out that prudence would dictate switching the power amplifier off when one is leaving one’s residence for long periods of time (e.g. a holiday). Electrical storms or catastrophic mains faults can occur without one’s knowledge while one is away with potentially tragic results for one’s amplifier and loudspeakers.

[Audio Al]

I turn all my hifi OFF when not it use

[Scooby]

Turn it off. It only takes a few minutes to come on song anyway.

[Gordon Steadman]

I think I must have been deaf for my entire lifetime.

Apart from the Leak, all my amps are transistor and I have never left any of them switched on, even through the mad snake oily times in the 70s and 80s. By the time I've loaded up the TT/CDP/Tape machine whatever, I have never noticed any change in sound thereafter.

All part of the mystique I reckon. I can sort of buy into the switching on and off is bad for components bit but sound....nah! The standing current may well be tiny but it is still using power which over a long time, adds up. Cupfulls of water would eventually fill the sea and all that.

The only stuff that has needed repair during the last 50 years is the very old stuff which you would expect to be showing signs of wear anyway. Maybe I've just been lucky.

[OD1]

I used to own a 2010s integrated amp, and the manual stated it took 30 mins from switch on to fully warm up, so I always switched off when not playing.

[Gomers]

My 1010 amp gets switched off after listening. Powered up prior to some listening with a bit of signal through it to warm the innards. In the days when I used to live at my parents, I may have left stuff on for a days at a time but paying for my own energy needs nowadays, these things change

Have you ever had the XX serviced ?

[struth]

Might be well to check with your insurance company as to doing that. They may say no. It can be dangerous, especially power amps, or anything with valves in. I also disagree re components lasting longer in general. Capacitors for instance have an hr life, and using them 24/7 is going to use that up.

[DSJR]

Back in the dark days of bad transistor matching and caps run within an inch of their lives (on many UK made models anyway), the circuit would take an age to stabilise and then have a short service life before sometimes expensive attention was necessary... Even Quad weren't immune, as I have owned two 405's in the past, no more than eleven years old at the time and both had physically leaky supply caps and one of them was NEVER thrashed! These days, transistors are apparently better made and match better from stock, caps last longer and it's better understood how to over-spec them for even longer life as they're relatively cheaper now, so *hopefully,* you won't have amps with 'temperament' any more, unless it'[s a hair-shirt design with design quirks - in my opinion.

[Arkless Electronics]

Switch off when not in use. The manual is wrong.