[sunseeker888]

First off, let me say that I am a believer in warming up gear before doing serious listening. I do not want people responding if they say it is not necessary. Head-fi is full of people who believe in warming up cd players, DACs, amps, etc and I would like to hear input from them.

On both my speaker amps and headphone amps, I see a significant jump in SQ after its been running for about an hour. It seems as though the circuits hit a peak in performance when all is at a certain temperature. I don't think its a question of capacitors charging, since this takes a mere second or so. (I do not have multiple Farads of capacitance in any of my amplifiers' supplies)

My question is this: For most can-amps, what do you feel is the optimum warm-up time before listening to your favorite album?

 

[nor_spoon]

I power on my equipment, wait 30 seconds for the tubes, put the headphones of choice on my head, and press play

 

[Tridacnid]

Once I can't keep licking the tubes, then I know they are warmed up

I usually just flick the amp on, then wait a minute.

 

[NiceCans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunseeker888 /img/forum/go_quote.gif My question is this: For most can-amps, what do you feel is the optimum warm-up time before listening to your favorite album?

I have a simple formula:
1- turn on amp
2- get appropriate liquid refreshment
3- go use the bathroom
4- return, sit down, and begin to listen
5- enjoy

 

[Sherwood]

I only wait long enough that the DC offset voltage is no longer making sounds in my ears, but I think it takes about 45 minutes for an amp to reach thermal stability, i.e. full performance.

That's why I leave 'em on all the time.

 

[sunseeker888]

Thanks Sherwood. You realize that it takes some time. I used to leave my gear on 24/7 but never tubes. Only the DAC and CD players stay on now. Interesting thoughts, guys. Keep em comin!

 

[Happy Camper]

Tubes are meant to be used. Military and industrial use run 24/7. And the atmosphere they are used in is often much worse than our listening rooms. Audio folk tend to be too protective of their gear.

An example is the TV. People pull tubes from 40-50 year old sets and the dust is major thick. Tubes work fine and we pay crazy prices for rare vintage ones. Aircraft tubes take landings, field radios take the rigors of being tossed around.

I turn my amp on when I get home and let it run with hps through dinner and listen til bed. On weekends, it comes on Friday after work and stays on til Sunday night. If you do run your amp, always have a pr of hps plugged in or a resistor plug. Something to load the circuit.

 

[n_maher]

It really depends on the amp really and the tubes that it uses. The little Millett I use at work takes a minute or so, if I'm running big tubes in the Menace at home (like 6528s) it can take a half hour or more for the tube to reach its operating temp and stop making *ping* noises as the metal inside continues to expand.

 

[sunseeker888]

I'm a certifed old-TV tube puller. Some are dusty but test new.

I let my tubes run, just not 24/7 always. Like my digital stuff. I have no problem leaving the tube amps on for days at a time, but only if I'll be around.

 

[wavoman]

Happy Camper's advice is time-tested. All old-timers follow the same drill with tube gear: turn it on Friday after work, and keep it on until you go to bed Sunday.

(This assumes of course that you do most of your listening on the weekend).

You will find this advice all over the web.

 

[Sherwood]

I frequently run tubes for months. If they burn out, they burn out.

I've little problem replacing tubes. My most expensive Ax7 cost $30. If I sink a few hundred dollars into one I might preserve it, but as it stands now I like them warmed up and waiting for me.








like my women.

 

[Planar_head]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherwood /img/forum/go_quote.gif ...like my women.

How'd I know you'd put that?

 

[Sherwood]

Because planar heads think alike (he says as he listens to his Maggie MG12s

)

 

[Uncle Erik]

I turn amps on 10-15 minutes before I listen and turn them off when I'm done.

Tubes are easily replaced. Caps, resistors and transformers are not so easily replaced. They don't last forever.

When you open up old radios, the tubes are frequently still good. Open caps are what usually puts a set in the garage. The resistors are never within tolerance, either. It's the heat that does that. Heat also melts the enamel on transformer windings.

That's why I let my gear cool off between listens.

 

[Uncle Erik]

The mysterious double post!