Do you keep your amp powered on ?

2

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  • slack56
    slack56 Posts: 68
    edited August 2009
    Anything a remote control will power up is in stand-by but I don't consider that a nuisance or powered on, well not powered up anyway.


    G
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    slack56 wrote: »
    Throw in a couple of million more amps and what do you have? No ozone layer. Better wear more sunscreen.

    G
    I wear an aluminum suit to prevent any of that nonsense when listening to the 2ch.
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  • dekuda
    dekuda Posts: 756
    edited August 2009
    This is a post from somone I have followed and knows a little about this subject because he works as a Electrical Engineer for a defense company, Here is his statement from him and his fellow EE"s:.
    My gig amp is 100% SS. Even if it wasn't, I would still leave it on.My experience, and the words from design EEs tells me that the less cycling a piece of electronic equipment experiences, the longer, on average, it will last. Most of the electrical/mechanical stress that takes place happens during turn-on/warm-up and shut-down cycles.The vast majority of the equipment that we had back in the Air Force then was tube powered with point to point circuitry. The tubes in the equipment that was on 24/7 lasted a lot longer than the tubes in the equipment that was fired up once in a while and then shut off. The heating/cooling cycles create mechnical and electrical stress on the tubes. Each individual tube will react differently to the process. Some will last, some won't. But overall, the 24/7 ones lasted much longer in terms of hours of operation. just a thought:;)
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2009
    w_coyote wrote: »
    ok i've got to ask cuz i really hate being stupid. why leave it on all the time? doesn't it just use power for no apparent reason which would shorten the life of the componets and increase your power bill. i have a adcom 5503 and i've been turning it off at night. from what i've been reading this is something i shouldn't be doing. thanks

    You're not stupid. I know because I turn off my SS amp at nights.

    Some people will say that their amps will sound better after 3 months of being on. I'm ok with that. It's their power bill.
    lightman1 wrote: »
    ^^ Caps are somewhat like incadescent light bulbs. If you leave them on, they will burn for a very long time. But if you turn them on and turn them off daily, their life is shortened. The expansion and subsequent contraction of the filament creates a weak point.
    Just keep your Adcom warmed up. The capacitors will thank you for it.

    Probably true? I don't know. Maybe it will shorten the life from 25 years to only 20 years.
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  • dekuda
    dekuda Posts: 756
    edited August 2009
    Not to confuse the issue more but here is a guy I have been reading post from for awhile(not on here)who is a electrical engineer that works for the Air Force and here is what he and his buddy EE's say:
    My gig amp is 100% SS. Even if it wasn't, I would still leave it on.The vast majority of the equipment that we had back then was tube powered with point to point circuitry. The tubes in the equipment that was on 24/7 lasted a lot longer than the tubes in the equipment that was fired up once in a while and then shut off. The heating/cooling cycles create mechnical and electrical stress on the tubes. Each individual tube will react differently to the process. Some will last, some won't. But overall, the 24/7 ones lasted much longer in terms of hours of operation. . My experience, and the words from design EEs tells me that the less cycling a piece of electronic equipment experiences, the longer, on average, it will last. Most of the electrical/mechanical stress that takes place happens during turn-on/warm-up and shut-down cycles. :confused:
    HT System
    Parasound Halo A51 Amp, Marantz AV 8003 Pre, Arcam FMJ CD36 cd player, Marantz 7007 BD/SACD player,Acoustic Zen Matrix IC's, Analysis Plus Crystal Copper Oval IC's, Acoustic Zen Satori speaker cables, B&W 703's Fronts, Center Martin Logan Motif hybrid, Surrounds DefTech BPX, 2 X DefTech Supercube Reference Subs, DSpeaker Antimode 8033 EQ.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    You're not stupid. I know because I turn off my SS amp at nights.

    Some people will say that their amps will sound better after 3 months of being on. I'm ok with that. It's their power bill.



    Probably true? I don't know. Maybe it will shorten the life from 25 years to only 20 years.
    True Ron, true. It will take a long time to booger up the PSU for most amps.
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited August 2009
    dekuda wrote: »
    Some will last, some won't. But overall, the 24/7 ones lasted much longer in terms of hours of operation. just a thought:;)

    There is no exact equation what will last longer. But I know one thing - the air force or any organization has enough money not to care what will break or or not. The Military (and Medical) Standard / Grade for electronics and electrical components has very strict QC and very tight tolerances value within SPEC. In their operating environment, if the tube is given for 300 hours life, they are sure to replace it at 300 hours even if it's still working.

    It's all different opinion to leave it on or off when it's not used. Just exercise a good judgement whether to leave things on or off on your own. Even a bunch of EEs will not agree this statement in general. Too many variables to generalize the idea and it is to be considered on based on the equipment under the question.
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    dekuda wrote: »
    Not to confuse the issue more but here is a guy I have been reading post from for awhile(not on here)who is a electrical engineer that works for the Air Force and here is what he and his buddy EE's say:
    My gig amp is 100% SS. Even if it wasn't, I would still leave it on.The vast majority of the equipment that we had back then was tube powered with point to point circuitry. The tubes in the equipment that was on 24/7 lasted a lot longer than the tubes in the equipment that was fired up once in a while and then shut off. The heating/cooling cycles create mechnical and electrical stress on the tubes. Each individual tube will react differently to the process. Some will last, some won't. But overall, the 24/7 ones lasted much longer in terms of hours of operation. . My experience, and the words from design EEs tells me that the less cycling a piece of electronic equipment experiences, the longer, on average, it will last. Most of the electrical/mechanical stress that takes place happens during turn-on/warm-up and shut-down cycles. :confused:
    I said that without all the EE horse ****.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2009
    Forgot to add that with a few exceptions, people around here don't keep amps for more than a few years, sometimes a few months. So no biggie if the caps will only last 20 years or so (assuming all this EE stuff is right).
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
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    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited August 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    I said that without all the EE horse ****.

    Enough of **** and farting for today, Lightman! :eek::eek: :D
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    megasat16 wrote: »
    Enough of **** and farting for today, Lightman! :eek::eek: :D
    Where do you live?
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited August 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Where do you live?

    It's the 2nd time I remember you keep asking about my location. :p
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    To many people, to many yards... All you have to do is flinch...just once.....
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited August 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    To many people, to many yards... All you have to do is flinch...just once.....
    I'm glad we have border guards .:D
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    GV#27 wrote: »
    I'm glad we have border guards .:D
    I have border privelage. In and out and nobody is the wiser......I prefer boxwoods in the shrub department.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,114
    edited August 2009
    Off when I'm done listening. I just don't see the need to leave the gear on.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • slack56
    slack56 Posts: 68
    edited August 2009
    Leaving your gear on is a choice you can make. It has always been my understanding the on off cycling reduces the life of electronics. For the cost of the wasted electricity of leaving your equipment on for the remainder of it's life you could put that money towared upgrading your equipment and help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. I can't remember the last time anything electronic broke before I was ready to replace it. Stereos, computers, TV's, whatever. Electronics are designed to be turned on and off. So what if I get 2 more years out of my 8086 computer. It's a door stop anyway.

    I have a NAD 3150 I bought with my 10A's back in the late seventies, early eighties with a NAD 4020 analog receiver. I have turned them on virtually every day for the last 30 years and they both work fine. If you are worried about your equipment breaking, buy better equipment.

    Just my 2 cents

    G
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,125
    edited August 2009
    my Rotel is on all the time and I have not noticed an increase in our bill.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,502
    edited August 2009
    I leave my computers on 24/7 as they are all on clean (battery backup) power, but my stereo gear is not yet on battery. The batteries and associated electronics act as a buffer for damaging power spikes and troughs.

    If your stereo equipment is not on clean power, is there a downside to leaving it on?

    Here's a zinger; What about the caps in your speakers? Does it follow that a music signal should always be flowing to the crossover network to keep those caps energized?
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    wrote:

    Here's a zinger; What about the caps in your speakers? Does it follow that a music signal should always be flowing to the crossover network to keep those caps energized?
    Nope, just a litlle current will do.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,502
    edited August 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Nope, just a little current will do.

    So does the amp simply left on, with no musical source playing, provide enough current to the speaker crossover network to get the job done?
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    inspiredsports wrote: »
    So does the amp simply left on, with no musical source playing, provide enough current to the speaker crossover network to get the job done?
    Pretty much. The speaker X-over could care less what music is being played. It's just there to reproduce what is presented to it. Keep the caps warm.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited August 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    ...Nope, just a litlle current will do.
    lightman1 wrote: »
    ...Keep the caps warm.
    Hummm, spending abit too much time in the shrubs are we?:D
    Testing
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,502
    edited August 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Pretty much. The speaker X-over could care less what music is being played. It's just there to reproduce what is presented to it. Keep the caps warm.

    Thanks. I'm going to pursue a power conditioner for my audio. I want to start leaving my gear on, but don't trust my power company to deliver clean power.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • POIDOG
    POIDOG Posts: 391
    edited August 2009
    slack56 wrote: »
    Your carbon footprint is greater if you leave your equipment on. By the time you wear out that SS equipment you will be ready to buy new stuff anyway. How much more pollution would we create if we all left our amps on? What a waste. Go solar or wind power and light up your whole house if you like. But if that coal fired plant is what you rely on turn it off when not in use.

    G

    KOOL AID KOOL AID... GET YOUR KOOL AID... RIGHT HERE FOLKS :p
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    ^^^^ Too true. Thanks, pollywog.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,795
    edited August 2009
    inspiredsports wrote: »
    Thanks. I'm going to pursue a power conditioner for my audio. I want to start leaving my gear on, but don't trust my power company to deliver clean power.
    Fair enough. But your amps will accept a variance of +/- 10 volts.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,796
    edited August 2009
    I think it depends on how much you use the equipment. Due to work, other hobbies, and responsibilities, I only get to listen 3 or 4 times a week, and maybe a movie on the weekend. I'd say about 8 hours a week average. That's 416 hours of use per year, compared to 8760 hours a year leaving it on all the time.

    My main amp turned 20 last May. If I left it on all the time, it would have over 175,000 hours on it! Because I turn it off when not in use, it only has maybe 10,000 hours on it. Still works perfectly.

    There is some truth to thermal cycling, but in my case, I doubt it would offset an extra 165,000 hours of use.
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  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited August 2009
    I turn everything off except for my computers. Can't be bothered with start up all the time lol.
    But as for my gear it all goes off when not in use. I only use the stuff at most 5 hours a week and this is normally a one day all in one shot like watching some movies. I just don't use my gear enough to justify leaving it on all the time imo.
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,195
    edited August 2009
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    I think it depends on how much you use the equipment. Due to work, other hobbies, and responsibilities, I only get to listen 3 or 4 times a week, and maybe a movie on the weekend. I'd say about 8 hours a week average. That's 416 hours of use per year, compared to 8760 hours a year leaving it on all the time.

    My main amp turned 20 last May. If I left it on all the time, it would have over 175,000 hours on it! Because I turn it off when not in use, it only has maybe 10,000 hours on it. Still works perfectly.

    There is some truth to thermal cycling, but in my case, I doubt it would offset an extra 165,000 hours of use.

    Perfect answer and my situation is about the same. To each his own, but I am turning mine off. The best thing to do is enjoy what you got and do what you please.
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