[Morph201]

Do solid state amps benefit from warming up? In other words, does SQ improve after leaving it on for x minutes from a cold start?

 

[daltonlanny]

Absolutely!
All my solid-state headphone amps, receiver, and my main Parasound Halo JC-1 monoblock amps, sound quite a bit better after at least 30 minutes of warm-up time.

 

[krmathis]

I don't know any audio equipment which don't benefit from warming up.
Regardless if its tube or transistor based...

 

[majkel]

Yes, SQ improves after x minutes from the cold start.

 

[Morph201]

Ok, so it's not just me... I was wondering if this is due to my ears adjusting or an actual change (improvement) in SQ.

 

[Nattydraddy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't know any audio equipment which don't benefit from warming up. Regardless if its tube or transistor based...

I get a lot more sound improvements from my tube amp compared to my solid state amp.

Is it because my solid state amp is much cheaper and therefore can´t improve much?

Or improve solid state amps less with warm up compared to tube amps?

 

[krmathis]

Nattydraddy. Tubes (I mean the tubes themselves) most probably benefit more from warm up than transistors.

 

[nelamvr6]

I'd agree that SS amps sound better after x number of minutes, but then the debate has to start as to exactly what quantity x represents.

IMHO, my SS RSA HR-2 stabilizes after no more than 5 minutes. It's entirely possible (probable even) that this number will change depending on the amp in question.

 

[bowraboy]

My amp doesn't have an off switch, Talisman seem to think so.

 

[nelamvr6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowraboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif My amp doesn't have an off switch, Talisman seem to think so.

Wait a minute, now that you mention it, neither does my Hr-2!

But I still stand by my 5 minute rule!

 

[d-cee]

it might also depend on the topology

the heed canamp has a class A output stage, whose temperature stabilises after about 30 minutes, as in it stops getting warmer whether or not that has an appreciable difference in SQ is hard to say, as 1. my canamp is not stock 2. i leave iton all the time

depends on the amp, i say trust your ears

 

[Duggeh]

I don't think that the sound of any solid state amp I've owned has changed on warm up unless its been a class-A amp, in which case there's maybe a small change, certainly smaller than comparison with a tube amp. What I am wary to do though, it not tax any solid state amp in asking it for a large power draw until its warmed up.

 

[mrarroyo]

Oh my God! 12 posts (13 with mine) and we are all in agreement. I say close this thread while we are ahead!

 

[johnsonad]

My Pass Labs Aleph 30 needs an30 min to an hour or so of warm up to sound really good. It sounds better hot but sounds great cold too

 

[infinitesymphony]

After going through a few of Burr-Brown's DAC specification sheets, I've found that the DACs themselves actually perform better at higher temperatures. There are graphs showing that as the temperature increases, the signal-to-noise ratio improves.