Burn-in and Biasing


I just got a new VTL integrated (IT85) tube amp yesterday. Two questions:

BURNIN:
--Is it OK to leave it on, on a low level, overnight and during the day, running constantly? (Hope so! that's what I'm currently doing, but I can turn it off when I get home if I have to)

BIASING:
--The manual says that only a recommended VTL tech should bias the machine. It seems kind of complicated. The person who does the biasing needs to use some kind of digital multimeter equipped with autoranging feature. I guess I wouldn't mind trying it myself, but I have never done this.

The manual recommends that the amp is biased when it first is setup. What are people's opinion on this? Is biasing something I could do myself, with that meter?

TIA....
dennis_the_menace

Showing 1 response by sean

I agree with "two wheelin' Bob" up above. This is something that you should learn to do if you intend to own / operate a tube based system for any length of time. Keeping track of the bias will also let you know what state the tubes are in, as noticeable shifts in bias are also typically related to shifts in tube performance. If you notice that you have to adjust bias every time you check it, it's time to get some new tubes. This is not to say that the ones in use are "bad", only that they are not as stable as they used to be. They could make for great spares "just in case". Sean
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