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Posted

There may be a thread on this already but couldn't see it. 

 

I keep my HiFi powered on at all times. (Sorry planet). Streamer/DAC/Amp etc. Always on. These are all solid state units, I understand that one wouldn't keep a tube unit running or maybe Class A. My premise is that clocks, caps and resistors all work best when thermally stable and this can take some time. 30-40 mins maybe...or more. My theory extends to avoiding voltage or current spikes when switching gear on and off, although all units have voltage regulators and, of course, fuses. I had a BHSE, which was notorious for blowing fuses on startup. Some streamers like Antipdoes, Innous and Aurender need careful power down.

A recent conversation with a DAC manufacturer led to me rethinking this method as they were concerned about wear on sensitive items like caps. Although, ceramic caps should last 10-20 years. Let's avoid the power bill, green discussion and hear your thoughts.

Thanks.

Posted

yep i leave my dac and reclocker powered on amp goes on an hour or so before listening as it is class A same with the cd player.

  • Like 2
Posted

I adopt a very simple approach. If the power switch is not on the front, then it stays on. If a Stand-by switch is available on front, then I might consider using it, but generally not. Has served me well for about 30+ years, without any obvious issues.  

Posted

Yep..makes a difference and i keep my active speakers on, same with the usb-spdif reclocker, 10M clock (must), and streamer.  Only components i keep off are the dac and preamp (which are tubed units).  

  • Like 1
Posted

Purely solid state here. Only power system off, (bar streamer) if I'm away for 2 days or more, that normally happens every 9 days or so. Streamer in general is always kept on.

  • Like 2

Posted

Off gridder, home on batteries/inverter supply.

Pre amp/DSP left on, the Head of the system switched off daily (PC and Disk Spinner)

I have the ability to switch off the power amplifiers separately to their power supplies, so the power amps go off, supplies left on as they draw almost no power at idle. the power amp modules suck the power overnight, over 2 Kwhours in 8 hours.

Leave home for a few days there is a single power point powering the whole system and that goes off. Takes the system an hour from a cold start to sound, whole and on song.

 

Posted

If there is a standby function it gets used otherwise everything gets switched off. I personally would never leave tube gear on permanently. Years ago Wadia CD players in their manuals recommended that their players be left on.Years later and a change of staff at Wadia in a email exchange I was advised to keep it switched off when not in use.

 

Posted

Switching off gear especially tubed gear makes sense, as tubes are consumable and damn hard to get good reliable ones these days..

On another note re: solid state amps, preamps, dacs, streamers etc...to be honest, if i had SS gear that are high end..then - No.  Recapping can be a pain to service and i'd rather power down, and save those caps!

  • Like 4

Posted

There are 8760 hours in a year. That could mean having a unit on for two years continuously might “use up” the life of a capacitor. 

  • Like 3
Posted

I really don't get it why people think audio components should be powered up all the time.

Capacitors, lasers  and other internal components are simply not designed to always be on and it ages equipment pre maturely.

 

I would genuinely like to know why people think it is better for their gear.

  • Like 2
Posted

I turn off amp when not in use for sure .

 

However, Stereo Coffee LDR based preamp, Wiim Pro Streamer and DAC are always on since they take very little powers. 

 

Are DAC and streamers are meant to be turned off too when not in use when going to bed?

 

I guess that Music Server and NAS is better turned off not in use?

Posted (edited)

DAC and Antipodes K50 streamer left on .

Pass Labs SS phono has no switch and l believe they recommend it be powered on like l do.

Lot of powering on and off, puts pressure on parts too like Caps.

When l ran a NAS, it was permanently on too..

Edited by evil c
  • Like 2

Posted
2 minutes ago, Spider27 said:

 

Are DAC and streamers are meant to be turned off too when not in use when going to bed?

 

Yes.

5 minutes ago, Spider27 said:

 

I guess that Music Server and NAS is better turned off not in use?

Yes.

 

Power usage is certainly one aspect of why gear should be off when not in use, but also, it absolutely cannot be a benefit, or promote longevity or performance.

A "warm up " is an entirely different story and almost every item of gear I have ever owned does benefit ( to varying degrees ) by powering up before use.

  • Like 4
Posted
21 minutes ago, rantan said:

I would genuinely like to know why people think it is better for their gear.

My feeling has been echoed in some forums, in that the unit achieves and keeps thermal equilibrium. Switching units on/off causes voltage spikes that may be more harmful to sensitive electronics than leaving them on and ageing them. No proof other than most of the time that I’ve had units fail in some way or blow fuses is when I switch them on from cold. 

  • Like 1
Posted

My streamer, Wiim Pro does not have power on or off switch but I guess that I can just unplug from power source before going to bed and plug back on in the morning.

 

For NAS, Music Server... Aren't they meant to be left on? I guess that web servers are never turned off so websites are always live and NAS/Music Server are similar to web server I guess?

  • Like 1
Posted

Powered off at the wall when not in use (and unplugged during thunderstorm threats).

 

I go for long periods without using the system, so no point in having it on.

 

I do turn it on early for a "warm up".

 

If you turn stuff on and off in the correct order there is no chance of bangs and thumps.

  • Like 3
Posted

NAS, Roon Core and Bluesound Node are always left ON, DAC is kept on stand by mode.

 

IoT devices, like most streamers, are meant to be left ON all the time I think, but in saying that I do have a WiiM Pro on a second system which gets switched off and on often without any issues. 

 

I switch off all integrated/pre/power amplifiers when not in use.

  • Like 1

Posted

I think another aspect of this discussion is.... how long will it be before I am intending to use the system again?

My rule of thumb is that I am quite happy to leave the system powered up, if I am going to be using it again the same day, but definitely off when sleep time comes around.

At the end of the day this discussion will come down to personal beliefs and opinions and nobody is likely to change those as a result, even though this is a very good discussion and thread.

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

No, I don't keep mine on and i interchange between several CD' TT and reel to reel anyway which means they are stored disconnected. 

 

Also i have have plasma tweeters that generate heat, electric fields, high voltages and ozone, plus several 60 year old valve amplifiers which are best preserved off and from a safety perspective not on unsupervised.

Edited by ENIGMA
Posted
15 hours ago, rantan said:

I think another aspect of this discussion is.... how long will it be before I am intending to use the system again?

My rule of thumb is that I am quite happy to leave the system powered up, if I am going to be using it again the same day, but definitely off when sleep time comes around.

At the end of the day this discussion will come down to personal beliefs and opinions and nobody is likely to change those as a result, even though this is a very good discussion and thread.

Yep agreed.  If one believes that having it powered 24/7 and has the time to listen to the system each day for several hours...then yeah..point taken.  Me - not so lucky, so off it goes!

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