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Amp — Leave on or turn off

I always turned my Benchmark AHB2 amp off after use every night. After all, why is there an on off switch on the front panel if not to do that? Last night I accidentally left it on. This morning, when I played my first record, I couldn’t believe my ears. The same record I played last night sounded infinitely better. I tried a second record and that, too, was much better.
I know there’s a debate on the question of leaving an amp on all the time.
I now know where I stand!

128x128rvpiano

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,772 posts
 

I think what the manufacturer recommends is irrelevant.  What matters  is your own ears, and your willingness to pay the electric bills. :D

If you can't hear a difference, leave your gear off.  If you can, leave it on.  It's that simple.  No measurement is going to tell you any better.

erik_squires
15,772 posts
 

It’s not a debate. It’s very much amplifier specific.

I have ICEpower amps and they absoultely need at least 72 hours to sound musical.

My Luxman warms up well in half an hour.

I have no real explanation for why some amps warm up faster than others. I do not believe this has anything to do with the amplifier class (A, A/B or D) either. I do think it probably has something to do with the capacitor types, and maybe how much power they draw at idle. Perhaps the Class D amps, being low power, take a lot longer to warm up because they literally don’t warm up?

I’ve also heard say certain megabuck amps simply don’t sound good until after 48 hours at least.

I think it’s very much specific to the amp.

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