System Warm Up

jaxwired
jaxwired Posts: 201
edited March 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
Many people think that 2 channel audio electronics sound better warmed up. Could be my imagination, but I have always thought this also. I've considered just leaving my system on all the time. I'm curious if any of you guys leave your systems on all the time. Obviously it's not a very green thing to do, but....
2 Channel
NAD C545 -> Benchmark DAC1 -> Bryston BP6 -> Bryston 4B SST2 -> Dynaudio Contour S1.4
Post edited by jaxwired on
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited February 2010
    When I ran all SS gear? Absolutely. With all tubed gear? No.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited February 2010
    I leave my amp on 24/7. Seems to be easier on the amp from what i've read, and that way i don't have to endure the 30 minutes to an hour of it sounding like dog ****.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • mjcmt
    mjcmt Posts: 44
    edited February 2010
    treitz3 wrote: »
    When I ran all SS gear? Absolutely. With all tubed gear? No.

    My experience is different w/ my Audio Electronics (Cary) tube power amp. After 1/2 hour is sound pretty good, but after 1-3 hours it is all together a better and more refined sound. The tube preamp I owned in the past w/ kept on 24/7, by recommendation from the manufacturer, so I don't have any comparison other than the manufacturers recommendation.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,151
    edited February 2010
    There's two sides to this..

    Do what you want after this little research. Cost is about the only issue and electronics don't use very much.Turn on does shock the components so if your always turning on and off, that might harm them down the road.

    Here was some good advice not long ago. If it really warms to the touch in standby, turn it off. Your just cooking the component for no reason.Just give it a 1/2 hr. warm up for optimum performance after turning on.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • jm1
    jm1 Posts: 618
    edited February 2010
    Pre and amp are left on 24/7 as recommended by the manufacturer. DAC is on 24/7 as it does not have a power switch. Active crossover is on as its between the pre and amp.
    All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed and third, it is accepted as self evident.
    Arthur Schopenhauer
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2010
    Solid state components are on all the time. If you turn them off for some reason, then I use as a rule of thumb 45 minutes of warm up time to get the internals to stabilize. I've had (still have one) two pieces of high end gear that came with no power switch because the manufacturer recommends leaving them on 24 X 7. For solid state gear this will electronicall extend the life of the internals. Like Tony said above, power up shocks the components.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2010
    SS yes, Tube no.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • mopar paul
    mopar paul Posts: 277
    edited February 2010
    Agreed, the manufacturer of my CD player puts a master power switch on the back panel and says to keep it on which keeps it warm all the time, then it has a standby switch on the front panel. Plus I think all my stuff sounds better when they get warmed up, so they stay on.
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  • Montoya
    Montoya Posts: 506
    edited February 2010
    All the amplifiers I have owned have had a master switch which I left on all the time my current two channel amp had a standby swith only it stays on unless you unplug it.
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited February 2010
    Every time you are ready for a tune session just think about foreplay for a few minutes or so.
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  • jm1
    jm1 Posts: 618
    edited February 2010
    mopar paul wrote: »
    Agreed, the manufacturer of my CD player puts a master power switch on the back panel and says to keep it on which keeps it warm all the time, then it has a standby switch on the front panel. Plus I think all my stuff sounds better when they get warmed up, so they stay on.

    My Simaudio power amp has BOTH the master power and standby switches on the back! That’s fine when the unit sits on a table while it’s being developed but a real PITA to reach when placed in a rack. I borrowed some Tinker Toy pieces to create a wand to reach the standby switch. Need to remember to make something more permanent before they notice.
    All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed and third, it is accepted as self evident.
    Arthur Schopenhauer
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  • adam2434
    adam2434 Posts: 995
    edited February 2010
    I generally leave my DAC, preamp, and amps on 100% of the time Friday through Sunday, when they’re being used the most.

    I turn the preamp volume down and disengage the speaker output switches when the stuff is on but not in use – really to avoid any potential mishaps.

    Durring the work week, I’ll turn them on/off as needed.

    I do think the amps sound better after they warm up a bit – seems like the sound is one dimensional and uninvolving prior to warm up.
    5.1 and 2.0 ch Basement Media Room: Outlaw 975/Emotiva DC-1/Rotel RB-1582 MKII/Rotel RB-1552/Audiosource Amp 3/Polk LS90, CS400i, FX500i/Outlaw X-12, LFM-1/JVD DLA-HD250/Da-Lite 100" HCCV/Sony ES BDP/Sonos Connect. DC-1/RB-1582 MKII/Sonos Connect also feed Polk 7C in garage or Dayton IO655 on patio.
    2.1 ch Basement Gym: Denon AVR-2807/Klipsch Forte I or NHT SB2/JBL SUB 550P x 2/Chromecast Audio.
    2.0 ch Living Room: Rotel RX-1052/Emotiva DC-1/Klipsch RF-7 III/Sony ES BDP/LG 65" LED.
    2.0 ch Semi-portable: Klipsch Powergate/NHT SB3/Chromecast Audio.
    Kitchen: Sonos Play5.
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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited February 2010
    Amps stay on in standby all the time, I'm too impatient to wait for them to warm-up.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2010
    Both of my class A SS amps I turn off when I'm not using them as they create a ton of heat and use too much electricity.
    Jake
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2010
    My preamp stays in standby mode, but my amp runs too hot to leave on 24/7. The system generally comes into its own after about 40 minutes.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • doctor r
    doctor r Posts: 837
    edited February 2010
    When I had SS it was powered on almost all the time and if turned off would require at least 45 minutes plus to start sounding its best. I now have tubes in all my components and I have them off when I am not going to be listening for more than two hours. The tubes do have a set life and some are getting expensive to replace. (Never should have tried those damn NOS tubes:eek:). I do find my system sounds good after one hour on but better after two.
    integrated w/DAC module Gryphon Diablo 300
    server Wolf Alpha 3SX
    phono pre Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono II
    turntable/tonearms Origin Live Sovereign Mk3 dual arm, Origin Live Enterprise Mk4, Origin Live Illustrious Mk3c
    cartridges Miyajima Madake, Ortofon Windfeld Ti, Ortofon
    speakers Rockport Mira II
    cables Synergistic Research Cables, Gryphon VPI XLR, Sablon 2020 USB
    rack Adona Eris 6dw
    ultrasonic cleaner Degritter
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited February 2010
    Electrons are happier when they are moving.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2010
    Doctor R wrote: »
    I do find my system sounds good after one hour on but better after two.

    I've found it sounds even better after two days.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited February 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I've found it sounds even better after two days.

    One day for each ear??? :D:)
    "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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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2010
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    One day for each ear??? :D:)

    Going on that forumula it would be more accurate to say 1 1/2 days.:p
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited February 2010
    I turn my stuff off after use. It takes a good hour or so for them to warm up. My tube gear have very crappy bass for the first 15 mins.

    I just turn them on as soon as I get home from work, take some ganja, and by the time I'm ready to listen, everything's warmed up:).
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  • Zitro
    Zitro Posts: 864
    edited February 2010
    I was wondering about this, too...I always shut my NAD completely off because I figured standby would shorten the life of components since there is always current running through the amp. I always found it odd that the NAD remote could not turn the unit off, only standby, and the power button on the actual unit only puts the unit in standby when you press it; you need to push a source button to fully turn it on. Maybe this is because they expect you to leave it in standby?
    - Jeremy

    Amps: Jolida FX-10, NAD 3045, NAD C320BEE, Sansui G-9700
    Speakers: Polk Monitor 7A's, KEF Reference 104aB
    Sources: ProJect Debut Carbon, Sonos streaming FLAC
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2010
    I prefer all my gear warmed up, SS or tube and myself lubed up.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Cpyder
    Cpyder Posts: 514
    edited February 2010
    tony millard wrote: »
    There's two sides to this..

    Do what you want after this little research. Cost is about the only issue and electronics don't use very much.Turn on does shock the components so if your always turning on and off, that might harm them down the road.

    Here was some good advice not long ago. If it really warms to the touch in standby, turn it off. Your just cooking the component for no reason.Just give it a 1/2 hr. warm up for optimum performance after turning on.

    What do you mean by "shocks the components"?
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2010
    Cpyder wrote: »
    What do you mean by "shocks the components"?

    I think he means the surge, no matter how controlled, when powered up.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2010
    Cpyder wrote: »
    What do you mean by "shocks the components"?

    Large current inrush when powered up.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • jz0h4d
    jz0h4d Posts: 33
    edited February 2010
    Tubes are like light bulbs, the shock of heating up and cooling off cause the most wear and tear. So tube equipment can be left on if you want to extend tube life.
    I can think of no reason to leave solid state gear on constantly.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2010
    jz0h4d wrote: »
    Tubes are like light bulbs, the shock of heating up and cooling off cause the most wear and tear. So tube equipment can be left on if you want to extend tube life.
    I can think of no reason to leave solid state gear on constantly.

    Manufacturers of solid state equipment do. That's why they have either standby mode to keep the current flowing or no power switch at all so as to keep the current flowing. Surges of current does reduce the life of solid state components. Going by your apparent train of thought a solid state component should never burn or wear out.
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  • Zitro
    Zitro Posts: 864
    edited February 2010
    I guess I'll be keeping my NAD on standby from now on. Hopefully it doesn't use much power.
    - Jeremy

    Amps: Jolida FX-10, NAD 3045, NAD C320BEE, Sansui G-9700
    Speakers: Polk Monitor 7A's, KEF Reference 104aB
    Sources: ProJect Debut Carbon, Sonos streaming FLAC
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited February 2010
    My Mono-Blocs and Dac on 24/7..........Pre-Amp and Transport in standby mode.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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