Turning off amps

dr1978

I have been going back and forth with keeping my amps on all the time or turning them off after use. I've been turning them off lately, but after a few instances of having to troubleshoot sound issues over the phone with my wife and kids I'm wondering if just keeping them on is the answer.

So two questions...

Would keeping them on all of the time reduce their useful life?

Would they use a noticeable amount of electricity?

I've read that some amps don't really get going until they've been on for a while. It's quite common that I'll only listen to music for a half hour or so. So in addition to avoiding the "Why can't I hear anything?" questions, keeping them on might improve performance. Although I'm not sure if that applies to all amps, or just certain types. I'm running a B&K 4420 and AMC 2100.

Appreciate any comments or advice!

mhardy6647

Keeping them on removes one set of stressors (transients -- surges of power into the component) at the expense of another (the cumulative effects of heat, even at idle).

As to how much juice you'll waste consume leaving a component idle -- it's gonna depend on the component. A Class A power amplifier will consume essentially full power all the time; its output devices are always on. Power not invested in generating music will be wasted as heat. Such a device is probably best turned off when not in use. A "Class D" (switching) amplifier will consume very little power at idle. A "normal" Class AB power amp will be somewhere in between. Most solid state stereo (power) amplifiers with Class AB outputs don't consume much power at all at idle.

Get yourself a Kill-a-Watt and measure the idling power consumption of your component(s) of interest yourself!

http://www.p3international.com/products/p4400.html

dr1978

Thanks for the knowledge, and suggestion! I just ordered one (on amazon, a bit cheaper). That will be helpful in other areas of the house as well.

One more question. I'm using an AV Receiver as a pre-amp. I wasn't planning on keeping it on since it's tied to my remote, which the family has grown accustomed to, and it gets very hot. But will it cause any issues if the amps stay on while the AVR goes on and off? I know that the sequence of turning components on and off can matter, but I'm thinking that the important thing is to have the AVR on while I turn the amp off, so that wouldn't be a problem.

mhardy6647

I'll let someone else weigh in on your second question -- I also hope you get more feedback on your original question!

scubalab

I wouldn't think that leaving the amp on at all times and powering the pre-amp (AVR in your case) on and off would hurt anything.

In fact, in my HT, I leave my B&K 200.7 on at all times and the Marantz processor is powered off when not in use. No problems at all here.

The only downside I could think of would be if your AVR does not have a soft startup (not sure if that's the technical term). I have a 2 channel setup that I was using an older Denon AVR as a pre-amp. I have a B&K 125.2 in that setup (that I also leave powered on at all times) and when I would power the Denon on and off or switch inputs, I would get a very loud thump.

SCompRacer

I don't leave my amp on. There are online electrical calculators that show what it would cost you once you enter amperage/cost numbers.

rooftop59

I am like Al, except in the bedroom I have a little audiosource amp. The auto on function isn't sensitive enough, so I just leave in on. It doesn't get hot (even warm really) but I do have a small fan on it. The marantz gets turned on and off, haven't experienced a problem.

If you're worried about heat, these are awesome: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G05A2MU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 or https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LW6CYEC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

motorhead43026

I don't leave my amps on either. Unless the manufacture recommends leaving on, I would think it is too be turned off. If I turn it on anytime during the day it stays on all that day whether I am listing to it or not, until I am sure I am done with it.

cfrizz

Receiver off, leave amp on. It's not like it's going to use up a ton of power if left on. And if your electric bill goes so far up, then you have other problems besides an amp.

Most newer equipment goes into standby mode anyway so there is no need to shut it off.

dr1978

Really appreciate all of the responses from everyone. I guess I wasn't crazy for being on the fence, looks like opinions are pretty varied.

Clipdat

Better solution, they can use this when you aren't home and leave daddy's gear alone.

tonyb

I don't think your problem is whether or not to leave the amp on. More so...teaching the wife and kids how to operate the system for specific needs.

I ran into the same thing when I had my 2 channel and HT combined into one system. I made it so easy too, they had 2 components to turn on....too much to ask I guess.

So I wound up taking the hit on the 2 channel and separating the 2 systems. Now they just have a receiver to turn on.....and believe it or not it's still a challenge to watch a movie or listen to music. Inputs....whats that ?

rooftop59

Two words:

Harmony Remote.

Done.

dr1978

I did take the plunge on a Harmony a few months ago and it's one of the best things I've ever purchased. So aside from the amp situation it is as simple as pushing one button.

I guess the underlying motivation to make it as simple as possible for everyone to use is that I've spent way way more money on this system than I ever planned, and I've received little to no gruff about it. So considering I do have some young and technically challenged individuals in my house, I feel it's the least I can do to try to make it seemless.

rooftop59

Does the back of yours look like this: If so, can you use the control module to auto power on when the receiver powers on?

marvda1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3-z2grAmP8

dr1978

rooftop59 wrote: »

Does the back of yours look like this: If so, can you use the control module to auto power on when the receiver powers on?

Nope, it's an older model.

dr1978

I think I'm going to leave the amps on, monitor their heat, check the amperage used once my Kill A Watt comes in, and reassess from there.

motorstereo

Good idea on checking it with the Kill a watt first. I was very surprised at how little my 1200 wpc mono blocks use when I checked them with a kill a watt. Surprisingly it doesn't take much more electricity to go from background to uncomfortable levels. Standby mode as expected draws next to nothing. It's also good to know from Paul McGowan's video that standby mode does serve a purpose.