Leaving Amps ON...

jakelm

How many of you leave your amps on all the time? Or do you turn them on and off everytime you turn you HT on? Or do you just leave everything on and turn the Source off, like I do.

I was told years ago, that even if the room is climate controled, that keeping your equipment on is better than turning it on and off everyday.

Except for my Tv, sources (DVD, Xbox, CD, cable), everything else stays on.


Jake

heiney9

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51351

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27013

jakelm

Thanks H9, I didnt see it.

Serendipity

jakelm wrote: »

How many of you leave your amps on all the time? Or do you turn them on and off everytime you turn you HT on? Or do you just leave everything on and turn the Source off, like I do.

I was told years ago, that even if the room is climate controled, that keeping your equipment on is better than turning it on and off everyday.

Except for my Tv, sources (DVD, Xbox, CD, cable), everything else stays on.


Jake

I don't leave amps on because they get too hot, and also waste electricity. Just my opinion...

XJRGUY

I leave my three Sony TA-N9000ES's on 24/7


The receiver controlling them gets turned off though when not in use.

These amps have a WARM UP mode, but I just leave them set as is.

No issues here.

XJRGUY

jakelm

Its mainly the power switches, I'm trying to conserve. On/Off 2-3 times a day would kill them quickly.

My Hafler just stays warm, all the time.

danger boy

i turn off my lamps when i want to watch a movie.. i like it dark like a movie theater.

as for the gear.. it goes off whenever i'm not watching it.

i've never, I mean NEVER had gear die prematurely because of turning them off and on a couple times a day. NEVER. NEVVVERRRRRRRR!

jakelm

danger boy wrote: »

i turn off my lamps when i want to watch a movie.. i like it dark like a movie theater.

as for the gear.. it goes off whenever i'm not watching it.

i've never, I mean NEVER had gear die prematurely because of turning them off and on a couple times a day. NEVER. NEVVVERRRRRRRR!

Not gear but I had to replace the power switch on thhe Hafler, because of on and off switching every single day of its life.

Besides, leaving them on leaves a warm cosey feeling in my home on a cold winter day.

jakelm

It only cost me $84 a month in electricity to leave it on.

I'm just looking out for Mother Earth.

jakelm

Besides, if I turn that off then I'll have to turn my frig off and my AC off and my HK off......



.....seee how things can get out of hand...:eek:





...at least I still have my wife doll..:D

XJRGUY

My concern is the inrush of current each time the equipment is turned back on and off.

My amps are out of warranty and I would hate to blow electronics or hasten their demise by on/off's

XJRGUY

jakelm

XJRGUY wrote: »

My concern is the inrush of current each time the equipment is turned back on and off.

My amps are out of warranty and I would hate to blow electronics or hasten their demise by on/off's

XJRGUY

You should have a cap at the power switch to take care of that.


I was trying to get a consensus on on/off beliefs.

jakelm

danger boy wrote: »

as for the gear.. it goes off whenever i'm not watching it.

It just goes off?...Thats the type of amp I want, one that just goes off.:p

Sit back and say "hey...you amp...turn the hell off!!!" and poof, off.

I'm too lazy to get up..

AndyGwis

I leave my B&K amp and MF A3.2 integrated on 24/7, unless I'm going out of town or have some other reason to not use them for more than a few days.

jakelm

AndyGwis wrote: »

I leave my B&K amp and MF A3.2 integrated on 24/7, unless I'm going out of town or have some other reason to not use them for more than a few days.

Same here.. A few days away..yes. Over night or during the day while I'm at work, no.

jakelm

Andy, not to change the subject, but while I have you here. Have you ever hooked your speakers directly to your HK and ran the automatic calibration?

If so, what was the difference in gain (level) settings between the speakers hooked to the HK and the ext. amps? Speaking about the main L/R.

Systems

I leave mine on, they go into power save mode after 10 mins or so. From what I read they only soak like 3 watts in that mode. I always turn off my avr.

engtaz

I leave my Adcom 555II on.

AndyGwis

jakelm wrote: »

Andy, not to change the subject, but while I have you here. Have you ever hooked your speakers directly to your HK and ran the automatic calibration?

If so, what was the difference in gain (level) settings between the speakers hooked to the HK and the ext. amps? Speaking about the main L/R.

At first, I didn't have separate amps so was running 5.1 direct from HK. I think it set the center +1, mains 0, left surround +4, right surround +2.

When I put in Carver Monos, I had to trim the gain back because it set the mains to 0 and just about everything else to +10. I moved the gain down until everything was +5 or less.

Now, with my 125 wpc 1430, it's back to pretty much the way it was. Mains 0, Center +2 (may have been zero, but I run a bit hot), surrounds both +3/+5 or something in that range. Similar to how it was set off just the HK.

I won't worry if the separate amp and HK have similar settings. If the amp is rated at 120 wpc and is a reputable brand, I believe it delivers 120wpc. . . when/if needed.

avguytx

I turn them off. If I have to replace a power switch somewhere in the next 10 years, that will be cheaper than the electricity I've (potentially) saved. I guess some amps like it better to be left on but...oh well.

Dave38

I turn OFF my Adcom GFA-7700 as I don't use them everyday. No need to leave them powered on.

jakelm

AndyGwis wrote: »

At first, I didn't have separate amps so was running 5.1 direct from HK. I think it set the center +1, mains 0, left surround +4, right surround +2.

When I put in Carver Monos, I had to trim the gain back because it set the mains to 0 and just about everything else to +10. I moved the gain down until everything was +5 or less.

Now, with my 125 wpc 1430, it's back to pretty much the way it was. Mains 0, Center +2 (may have been zero, but I run a bit hot), surrounds both +3/+5 or something in that range. Similar to how it was set off just the HK.

I won't worry if the separate amp and HK have similar settings. If the amp is rated at 120 wpc and is a reputable brand, I believe it delivers 120wpc. . . when/if needed.

I take it you read my other thread. Thanks for the info.

So the Carver really had a sensitive gain. I guess thats what it boils down to, how sensitive the gain on the amp is.

McLoki

XJRGUY wrote: »

My concern is the inrush of current each time the equipment is turned back on and off.

My amps are out of warranty and I would hate to blow electronics or hasten their demise by on/off's

XJRGUY

I called the service dept. of my amps maker - (when I purchased my amp it was about 8 years old) I was asking about any maint. that may have to be performed on my amp. (I had to send it in anyway) They said if it was left on all the time, they would recommend changing out the caps in the amp. If it was turned off when not in use - it should not be a problem.

I do not know the past history of the amp, but I aways turn it off when not in use. The current inrush will blow a 20 amp circut if the amp is turned on and off about 4 times in a row. (found out while experimenting with triggers to turn on the amp)

Michael

sophie

i turn mine off but the power switch died a few weeks after i started using it, got it used so who knows how many times the switch was used. but the switch was $40 by the time it was shipped here.

Shizelbs

I leave my Rotel amp on all the time. My Shanling off, with always at least 30 minutes to warm up.

Everything in the HT setup gets turned off.

MADGSF

Off since my amp is turned off/on by a remote trigger. Too much heat to leave it on al the time, at least in the summer.

Monster Jam

I used to turn my HK off at the power strip it was plugged into. Save on electricity.

Now I leave it on.

Why you ask?

Well, the internal battery in the HK died about a year ago. That means when the unit loses power (even momentarily), I have to reProgram the whole damn machine. It isn't that it takes a whole lotta time (10 minutes) - its just a hassle to do it everyday...thats all.