Hows long has your SS amp been left switched on for ?

[RobbieGong]

Curious as i know some never switch their amps off.

Mines remained on for the past few weeks or so......

[tapid]

Any improvement on sound ?. Few years ago I left my conc droplet cd player on for a week and thought it was a fair bit better, Bit nervous for safety reasons to do it now though ?

[hifinutt]

have a look at this video from ps audio ...

https://youtu.be/BDBa3asBm2I

actually my bel canto ref 500s specifically says its designed to be left on all day but i still turn it off , runs fairly warm and i just feel happier for safety reasons .

[andyrlb]

I often wonder if I should leave my all hybrid gear switched on [emoji848]


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[tapid]

If its a Bose, leave it off....... all the time !

[Stratmangler]

Best part of 17/18 years.
It does have standby on it, and it gets put in standby when not in use.

[hornucopia]

Impossible to tell (improvement). Aural memory subjective.

[hifinutt]

I often wonder if I should leave my all hybrid gear switched on [emoji848]


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not if its got valves , even paul in that video would not advise that

[andyrlb]

not if its got valves , even paul in that video would not advise that

Nice to know I’m doing something right then [emoji16]

Cheers Phil and I hope you are well.


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[Pharos]

Earlier when using a Nelson-Jones 10+10, I always switched off, it ran hot enough to almost burn hands, and there was quite a thump on switch-on.

With a class A/B amp I have always put them in standby, (ATC SIA 150, SPA 150), but the quiescent wattage was not very high in the latter, probably 10 to 15W per channel, and with the former a lot higher, probably 20 to 30W.

The power consumption is a factor to consider, but component reliability is enhanced by not being subjected to the transient pulses associated with switch-ons, though the SPA2 had 'soft' switching.

Currently I am using class D, much more efficient, and I leave them fully on all the time, not even going into standby, they probably dissipate about 10W per side.

[Barry]

All preamps and phonostages are left on all the time (they are all SS). All CDPs are put into standby mode when not in use. All power amplifiers (also SS) are switched off when not in use.

With the exception of a couple of moves in location and the very occasional power cut, my electrostatic speakers have been powered up for the last forty five years. :)

[dave2010]

Currently I am using class D, much more efficient, and I leave them fully on all the time, not even going into standby, they probably dissipate about 10W per side.That's interesting. I'm surprised that Class D even uses that much, but I'm not an expert on that. I have a few similar style amps. Have you tried measuring the consumption? Not a big deal, really - just curious.

[Pharos]

No I haven't Dave, but I usually do having bought many years ago a Maplin plug-in measurer, and I write all the values in the handbooks.

I am also surprised at the amount, but I guessed it from the temperature of the14" square heatsink (plate), by hand.

They are 1.55kW each, but since I do not listen above about 75dB, the speakers will only be dissipating around 0.05W. (Max Headroom?)

[Scorps]

I used to leave my kit always switched on way ive been brought up with hifi. Of late though i've started switching amps off especially as they generate that much heat i come into room in a morning and it like stepping into a sauna. Do think should always be on though so always warmed up ready to play.

[Macca]

Can't leave mine on all the time as it's 100 watts class A. I think it does sound a little better after 30 minutes or so to warm up but it's so slight a difference it may be my imagination. I always switch everything off when I'm done with it including the CD player. I'm with the camp that believes switching off extends component life anyway.

[Pharos]

Class A is about 45% efficient maximally, and so I empathise with your position Martin, my Nelson Jones 10+10 used to be very hot, uncomfortable to the hand, but nice in winter in my bedsit.

Also there is a tendency nowadays to have a 'soft' switch-on, and avoid the massive thumps we used to get, as I did with the NJ amp.

[Macca]

Class A is about 45% efficient maximally, and so I empathise with your position Martin, my Nelson Jones 10+10 used to be very hot, uncomfortable to the hand, but nice in winter in my bedsit.

Also there is a tendency nowadays to have a 'soft' switch-on, and avoid the massive thumps we used to get, as I did with the NJ amp.

The amp is fan cooled - there are two fans as it's dual mono. So the case only gets slightly warm to the touch. The fans blow the heat upwards so in the winter you can stand over the top of it to get a warm whilst selecting something to listen to :)

[chris@panteg]

As I use a valve based system and a solid state system, valves off when not in use and solid state in standby, never leave on continously, waste of time and energy.

[sailor]

I leave everything on all the time including my DIY valve linestage. My standby switch disconnects B+ and reduces filament voltage to 60% to avoid cathode poisoning. At power-up I allow the filaments to come up to nominal voltage by delaying B+ for about 12 seconds. This soft start is very kind to the valves and they will last for a long long time. :D

If you consider the old-fashioned incandescent lightbulb, failure normally occurred at switch on.

When switching off the component that has now warmed up it will cool down causing condensation. There is also expansion and contraction resulting from the thermal delta in the presence of moisture from condensation. All the ingredients for shortening the life of your precious components.