Quote:
Originally Posted by tfarney /img/forum/go_quote.gif
First of all, the amount of electricity our amps consume is not the only place we can have an effect. We are directly responsible for the amount of energy consumed in the manufacture of the second or third or fourth amp as well, because they're not just going to build them anyway. It doesn't work that way.
It's not easy being green.
Tim
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What I had said was this:
"Trying to equate the manufacturing processes into a personal "carbon (green) footprint" doesn't pan out to be much of a "personal" incentive. They are going to crank up those robots and make them anyway, because they are still selling. Buying older receivers/dedicated amps for headphone purposes doesn't equate well either. The damage has already been done, years ago. What they draw now, is the only true carbon footprint consideration in these nice old units.
The only place where you and I are empowered to make a difference, is in how much we "draw" from the grid. The choices we make may have only smaller returns associated with them, but multiply that by a large number of people making similiar choices, and the returns get big fast."
I never considered this to be an argument from the beginning and I'd really like for it not to be. It is a question for everyone to consider. As you can see from what I posted, as long as they are "selling", they will make them, which is what you were driving at as well.
On a personal level (which was what I was talking about) we have very few things we can DO on a daily basis. Making choices that reduce our draw on the grid is the biggest impacting thing we can do. Sure, our voice along with other voices may change how things are manufactured and how much they draw, but these are not "personal" choices, they are social based choices.
On the first, second, third and fourth item/amp thought, it is true the energy was expended to create them, whether they went to one, two, three or four people. The only variable that falls into the "personal" level, is how many can you listen too at one time. Even the best of us, can only listen to one at a time.
So, we are really back to the original question and thoughts on it. I haven't got a reply on the separate headphone amps yet, but I will post it when it arrives.
I realize the position "using an old receiver or integrated amp just for headphone use isn't green", is not a friendly position on the surface. However, I think it needs exploring and at minimum, should be considered by the buyer/owner on a personal level.
I have an even larger problem with power draw, so I thought I'd share what I decided to do about it. I have two complete analog systems that draw a tremendous amount of power. I have already decided to run them on "off peak" hours, due to the heavier draw, and mostly on the weekends.
Knowing this to be my new reality, I have put together a small digital mini-system, for daily use. All I had to buy, was a T-amp. If I use my Zune80 (lossless) as a source, I'm using very little power whether I'm listening to speakers via the T-amp, or plugging my headphones into the Yamaha pre-amp, I'm using as a controller. The max this mini-system can draw is less than one average light bulb worth of power. It is clean and dynamic and is a pleasure to listen too, so it really doesn't represent a sacrifice on the audio front. Perhaps, this kind of compromise is worth consideration and the expenditure(s)?