Signal or load required for break-in?

Tv you need to have a music signal applied to the amps for breakin to occur; might as well leave them boxed up otherwise. You should load them with 4 ohm or 8 ohm dummy load resistor networks (if not using speakers) apply power via the AC cords you'll be using, drive them with a variable output source component via the interconnects you'll be using, & even possibly add in the speaker cables. Everything can be burned in simultaneously via that approach, but yes, music signal must be present

Without a signal, you will do little more than warm up the units. Bob_bundus has the right idea... maybe use an FM signal or a CATV music channel as a continous source. Hope your move goes well!

While i basically agree with Bob's comments / approach, i will add that internal components / circuitry WILL settle "somewhat" simply due to bias voltage and heat being present. While i would always prefer to break something in under load, just letting SS components "idle" can "ease" some of the break in time.

My suggestion is to connect some 16 ohm resistors across the speaker jacks and turn the unit on and leave it on. After you've had the unit on for 36 - 48 hours, turn the unit off and leave it off for a few hours. Then fire it back up, run for several hours or a day, etc.. then turn it off and let it heat down again. Do this as often as you think about it. This will thermally cycle the unit and subject all of the circuitry to what is called "in-rush current" every time you cycle the unit off and on. It should help to speed up the process once you really do begin to use it. Sean
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Bob and Sean- How exactly do I set up the resistors and what would I buy? All Rat Shack available? I could us an old Kenwood receiver as a source. Would the use of resistors equal or approximate the load created by the speakers? If it's approx equal, this might be a good way to break-in amps without creating a noise source. Thanks again. (I silently thank Al Gore daily for creating this instant source of information for all of us.) -Tom.

First of all, you need to play ALL David Bowie tunes when breaking something in.... : )

If you're going to feed a signal into the amp, you will need WAY higher power resistors than what i was thinking. My suggestions were based on letting the unit idle with no signal applied. I specified 16 ohm resistors as this would decrease the current delivery from the amp if a stray RF based signal "wandered" into the amp and was amplified. I should have also stated that inserting "shunts" into the amplifier inputs might be a good idea also.

If you are going to feed the signal from a receiver into the amp, the receiver would have to have preamp level outputs on it. DO NOT hook up the "tape out" to the input of the amp as it would smoke the load resistors that you install.

Secondly, you would need to hook up several low power resistors in parallel to handle a reasonable amount of power or just pick up two high power resistors. Contrary to popular belief, wire wound or "inductive" resistors are FINE for an audio dummy load. After all, the amplifier would be driving BIG inductors in a normal speaker system ( voice coils, crossover coils, etc...). Look for something that is rated for at least 10 watts apiece or rig up some 5 watters in parallel or series ( depending on what value you get ).

If you want specifics on part numbers, etc.. let me know. I'll do what i can to give you a list. Just make sure that the receiver does have the proper jacks before doing anything else. Sean
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