2. amps-preamps
  3. 1182098774

Leaving DAC on all the time OK?

I have a Museteax IDAT that I leave on all the time. The power button is on the back of it and the DAC sits in my cabinet so it is difficult to turn it off. When the transport is off the dac is trying to lock onto a signal. Since their isn't any signal the blue led light on the dac blinks. Am I wearing out the dac prematurely? How long before the unit needs to be serviced? Thanks in advance. Phil Brady.
philbrady
warnerwh
537 posts
 
My Bel Canto dac doesn't even have an on/off switch. It's been going about 7 years now. It may be that your dac will last longer leaving it on all the time.

Tubes are the only issue here.
raquel
841 posts
 
Larryi: It is precisely because most modern tube preamps use solid state rectification that powering them up and down kills tubes. I agree that a soft-start circuit (CAT preamps come to mind) or using a thermistor will do a lot to ameliorate the problem, but absent such a device, I stand by my statement that small-signal tubes last much longer if left powered up in most circuits. If a person is running a big Jadis or Aesthetix preamp with tube rectification, that's one thing, but most tube pre's (or anything else that uses small-signal tubes) do not, and 24/7 will yield better tube life (and to a point, better sonics -- as I have noted in other threads on this topic, they do degrade slowly over time).

The "TIPS & ADVICE" section of the owner's manual to my VAC Renaisance 140/140 Mk. III tube amps states:

"How long should tubes last? It has long been known in professional circles (and probably now forgotten) that a tube such as the 12AX7 will display BETTER performance characteristics after TWO YEARS of CONTINUAL operation than when it was new. In normal use it is not unusual for a low level tube to last 5 years or longer. Output tubes [i.e., power tubes used in tube power amps] are another story, as they are continuously providing significant amounts of current." (Emphasis original).
larryi
1,972 posts
 
Raquel,

Good points, as far as general advice. All my tube gear has tube rectification so I don't worry as much about turn on issues.

I suppose the best thing to do is consult the manufacturer. Some linestages are quite hard on their tubes (old Counterpoints come to mind) and so turning them off might make sense, regardless of whether or not they use solid state rectification. Also, some gear run pretty hot (enclosed case, lots of tubes) so damage from heat could be an issue. Some caps and resistors don't stand up to constant exposure to heat.
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