2. amps-preamps
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When do you turn off the tubes?

Having had recent surgery and spending a lot of time at home, I was wondering how long a break from music do you feel you need to be taking before turning off your tube amplifier.I could leave it on all day even when not listening but that would be 12+hours/day.While my PrimaLuna Dialogue HP is gentle on tubes, the thought of retubing 8 KT150s is an expensive prospect.I usually turn the amplifier off if I am not going to listen for around 3 hours.What do other people do?

crwindy
jerroot
97 posts
 
Everything gets shut down if I take a break of more than an hour or so, or if I leave the house.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
IMO a tube amplifier should never be left unattended. So an hour left on... and no one home. bad. A tube preamp I would say depends on the tubes. (exposed, encased) and how hot the tube preamp gets when on.       
I used to leave a 12AX7 12AU7 with 4 tubes, fully enclosed and got only a little warm on 24/7/365. A current Conrad Johnson ACT2 gets really hot when on. plus the tubes are exposed in a plexiglass cage... and I turn that off even if I am going out to the store... half an hour.               
I leave all my solid state on 24/7/365
pkvintage's avatar
pkvintage
57 posts
 
Mine are on most of the time. I was told it was start up that caused most issues and a larger percentage of tube wear? 
I have a tube DAC and Pre with SS amp. 
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
211 posts
 
Everything gets shut down if I take a break of more than an hour or so, or if I leave the house.

I’m in same camp
mickeyb
173 posts
 
Shut down when not listening. Never leave on when not home. Simple. 
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