Do cold temperatures damage audio equipment?

Electronic components such as transistors and integrated circuits, even in their cheapest commercial grade form, are usually rated for storage (non-operating) temperatures down to -55 degC or -65 degC or thereabouts. Brrr!

I think that the biggest concern would be the quality of the solder joints, and the connections within printed circuit boards. If well constructed, those kinds of temperatures should be no problem. If poorly made, it's anyone's guess.

Of course, as you probably realize, any electronic or electromechanical device that has been exposed to extreme cold should be brought up to room temperature slowly, to avoid both condensation and thermal shock. I make it a practice to not unpack anything that has been so exposed for at least a couple of hours after bringing it inside.

Regards,
-- Al

Also, how do you think the stuff gets from the manufacturer? If its coming from overseas, there is a good chance that it might be air freighted in an unheated cargo hold in the stratosphere at -30 or in a container on the deck of a cargo ship passing through the Panama Canal; 95 degrees, 98% relative humidity outside; 125 degrees inside. I wouldn't worry about it, beyond Al's right on the mark advice about letting it aclimate before starting it up.

I've found both of the above comments to be correct. Last year I moved from Alaska in the dead of winter. The temperature was -15 F when everything was packed into a steel box which went by barge to Seattle, then trucked to up-state New York.

All of the components were given a day in their new home to thaw, I checked closely for condensation, plugged them in, and had no problems.

Dave

Cryo treatment should cost extra. Don't mention to Fedex ;-)

Good one S......how those Merlins treatin ya..