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What Benefits Do You Really Get?

I'm always wondering and like to hear it from you guys. What benefits do you actually get by having your equipments ON 24/7? I do admit that my Power Amp sounded so MUCH better after 30 minutes or so, but other than that I'm hard pressed to find any other reasons. You will definitely shorten your Amp's lifeline (although some manufactures recommended that you always leave the power ON, why? because they do not want you to get stuck with just one Amp, the faster your Amp burned out, the quicker you're in the market for new one). Why not just turn on the Power for 30-40 minutes before listening? Have you guys heard of Manhole Explosions? if your car parked above one and if the explosion happened, your car is toasted. To be continue
nguyen357
nguyen357 OP
51 posts
 
As I was saying, what if that Manhole is right outside your house/apartment, then you might ended up with a toasted car and a well toasted Stereo System. Hey, you left your equipments on anything can happen right? who to blame now?
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I have found that a long time on IS better. After 24 hours or so, the sound is more open, greater detail, more 'air' around instuments in soundstage.
The downside is that if one is not home and a failure occurs, one could have a fire (smoke detectors help) However, no power amp tube equipment should be left on unattended.. It is way more likely to possibly blow and start a fire than non-tube stuff. (but even tube amps are pretty safe. Though tales of tube pyrotechnics and fires are out there)
I do dispute that equipment left on has a shorter lifespan. The usual solid state product will not have any problem being left on 24/7/365. I even leave on a tube preamp I use as a digital buffer, 24/7 though it definitely will have a shorter tube life doing so. (it is in a sealed case,and if a fire started inside, would die out in a short time for lack of oxygen)
Another downside, if an electrical problem from A/C or lightning happens, more likely to toast the products, (but if items plugged in and turned off will STILL be toast, I use power conditioners with lightning protectors. The Furman REF 20i I own had a $100,000. guarantee to protect equipment for the first 5 years!!)
I used to leave all on, and now only turn off the amplifier for the powersavings, and NOT for any other reason. (And I leave the amp on some of the time anyway, for days at a time.)
So benefit: better air, better HF sound in general.
Downside: A/C power wasted. (My system uses about $25. of electricity a month, whole thing being left on 24/7, if it was all turned off when not in use, i would be spending $15 a month less. The $15 a month I would be spending a LOT more for some diddley tweak that did something as good as leaving it all on.
Lastly, the idea that equipment left on (at least all solid state stuff) wears out faster if left on is not true
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Added: after reading a bunch of papers via Google on: "electronics mean time to failure vs temperature" and the like.....
The most interesting comment is:
"The stressor that has THE MOST PROFOUND EFFECT on product life is thermal cycling". So turning it OFF AND ON repeatedly is way harder on stuff than just leaving it on.
HAH.(I was sure I was right...LOL)
Then also do not have your electronics stuff next to a hot steam radiator seems like a good idea too.
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