external amps on or off when not in use?

danger boy
danger boy Posts: 15,722
edited September 2004 in Electronics
those of you that use external amps..... do you leave them on all the time.. or do you turn them off after use?

I turn mine off after movie watching or music listening... but if i just run to the store for more beer (about 15 mins) i'll just leave it all powered up.

Will leaving the amps on alot. will that shorten the lifespan of it? Please don't tell me that turning it on and off will shorten the lifespan.. i don't turn them off and on every 10 mins.

But will prolonged power up burn out anything? other than my electricity bill?
i'm running 3 125wpc mono amps, and 1 125wpc stereo amp.
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
Post edited by danger boy on
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  • marcpam
    marcpam Posts: 228
    edited September 2004
    mine goes into standby mode when i turn off my processor. I never turn it off completely. I am sure your amp has standby also.
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  • 2+2
    2+2 Posts: 546
    edited September 2004
    Danger boy, that is a question that I would be interested in also. I have been turing on and off my new Rotel. Everytime I turn it off, all of the protection circuits lights light up and then fade to nothing....making me wonder if turning it off is a bad thing.
    System 1: Martin Logan Vantage, Rotel RC 1070, B&K Reference 200.2, Music Hall DAC 15.2, Yamaha 2300

    System 2: LSi15 w/db840, Marantz SR8400, Rotel 1080, RM6800 (C&S), Sony X2020ES

    System 3: LSi7, Yamaha SW215, Music Hall Maven, Music Hall MMF CD25 w/627opamps

    System 4: RTi100, Harman Kardon AVR 230, Panasonic DVD
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited September 2004
    The power surge when turning on is more detrimental than leaving it on most of the time. Kind of like a lightbulb. Anyone ever have a bulb burn out while it is on? Probably not. They always burn out when you turn them on. Of course a light bulb is a little different because the resistance lowers when it is cold but you get my point. Many audiophiles leave their equipment on because it takes a few hours to come up to standard. My preamp takes 36 hours and you can tell when it has only been on for a few hours. Of course for piece of mind you better make sure that the area around the amp is safe no matter what might happen. I do however turn off the tube amps when not in use just because of the heat factor, otherwise my AC would run continously. No a problem with the SS stuff though.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited September 2004
    my amps do not go into standby... i should figure out how to wire them so they do.. they build up quite a bit of heat too.

    I could never leave them on continuesly... to much heat build up that way.

    I guess I won't worry about it that much if I turn them on for use... then turn them off while finished...
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited September 2004
    I turn off all equipment.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited September 2004
    Although it doesn't address a lot of amplifiers, if you have something with a fan in it (like a computer) the temp rise when you shut it off is significant. All the IC's are at operating temp, fan shuts off, temp shoots way up then cools quickly.
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,793
    edited September 2004
    I turn mine off when I go to my dads and sometimes before I go to sleep. I also have to turn it off when I plug up my different preamp...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • jrlouie
    jrlouie Posts: 462
    edited September 2004
    I fit in the category that madmax mentioned in which my amp has a fan. I usually leave it always on. The only problem is that occasionally when I turn on my AVR (that i'm using for a preamp), I get that dreaded POP!
    Is this a problem with my AVR? Or is this something which commonly occurs?
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited September 2004
    Originally posted by danger boy those of you that use external amps..... do you leave them on all the time.. or do you turn them off after use?

    The manufacturer of most of my amps, Adcom, recommended that they be left on all the time because most of the stress on solid state components is caused during the warmup and cool down periods when the amp is either turned on or off.

    There are always exceptions to every general rule. You may want to contact the manufacturer of your amps for their recommendation.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • nemos2
    nemos2 Posts: 111
    edited September 2004
    I just use the built in standby mode, which I wonder if it keeps the amp "warm"...
    Polk LSi 15 Fronts
    Polk LSi C center
    Polk LSiFX Surrounds
    Outlaw Audio 990 Pre/Pro
    Outlaw Audio 755 amp
    Paradigm PDR-12 Sub
    Outlaw Audio Cables
    BetterCables Cables
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  • izafar
    izafar Posts: 819
    edited September 2004
    There is no standby on my Carver so I leave it on all times.
    -izafar

    Goldenear Technology Triton 1 - Benchmark AHB2 - Benchmark LA4 - Auralic Vega - Auralic Aries Mini - Marantz TT-15S1 - Clearaudio Nano
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited September 2004
    The Sunfires are triggered, so they go into standby/ idle mode a few mintues after the AVP is "idled".

    nemos2, idling doesn't keep amps (or AVP's for that matter) warm in a thermal sense, but does keep the front stage charged (which is a good thing IMO).

    Otherwise, amps like my Carvers stay on excepting vacations and thunderstorms... Ditto for most sources...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,092
    edited September 2004
    Welcome back amigo!!!!!!!!!!

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited September 2004
    I second that..

    Welcome back Tour!
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited September 2004
    Stop you guys.... you're making me blush... :p
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • brody05
    brody05 Posts: 329
    edited September 2004
    I was once told that when they cool down after turning them off, the warm air becomes moist (ie like condensation on a window, just sith metal and amp components), this can have a detrimental effect on internal components, of which some are sensitive.

    Anyway, just something I was told once.
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited September 2004
    TOUR IS BACK! TOUR IS BACK! TOUR IS BACK! ;)
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited September 2004
    The only time my HT gets shut down is when the wife turns it off. She just starts hitting buttons until the desired effect is realised;)

    I am a firm believer that leaving the equipment on is the best thing 1 can do.

    Wecome back Tour.

    HBomb
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited September 2004
    Thanks again, guys... Good to be back.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter