Do You Have to Play a Component to Warm it Up?


Is it necessary to play music on a CD transport to warm it up? I have a Jay's Audio CDT2 MKIII and they recommend one hour of warm up. Is that just turning it on or playing a CD? I have read that Hegel recommends 10 minutes of warm up for my H390. Again, is that playing or just switched on?

baclagg

Apart from properly running in components - be that electronics, cables and speakers with moving, mechanical parts - and in addition to the warm-up period of electronics after being turned off (I always leave my DAC/preamp and Xilica digital XO on 24/7), I find there’s sonic gain to be had from playing the speakers fairly loud over a period of time, at least an hour. Lower levels won’t do - one has to crank up the volume for the effect to properly set in. I’ve found that watching movies over my setup with "muscular" soundtracks and at reference levels (i.e.: ~80dB average, 105dB occasional peaks) has the desired effect here when listening to music afterwards, as well as demo’s or sessions with audio mates with elevated SPL’s over longer stretches of time. Usually I don’t listen that loud, but when I want my setup to sound the very best I’ll leave the listening room with the system playing fairly loud, and come back later after an hour and so. With this "treatment" I find there’s an even more effortless flow or liquidity to the sound, as well as a fuller, more organic and open imprinting.

Whether it’s really the speakers (or amps?) that account for this, I couldn’t say for sure, but I suspect it is. I’ve also heard from some audio friends with overall different setups sharing the same findings, and so I deduce it’s not exclusive to my setup context and its particularities.

@backlagg I also have Jay’s Audio CDT2 MKIII and put it on standby after each listening session and leave it this way.

It’s hard to understand how any component requires more than 30 minutes to an hour to reach operating temps. My h390 seems fine pretty quickly. 

Back to the original question/post at hand.

My old 70's Sansui 8080 would get hot when cranked for quite a while so I put a muffin fan on it.  It certainly helped and everyone noticed the sound didn't flatten out any longer.  Sounded good cold though.

My Krell FPB amp does like to be played a bit to get the components warmed up, or so I figure.  Like I said years ago, I feed the fish, cook dinner and clean up a bit whilst it plays.  After that all is well.   And yes, this is the same amp stuck at Krell in CT while they re-organize after the owners passing.  The KCT pre-amp is always on, or so it seems, as it stays very warm to the touch.  I feel the on/off switch is there for decoration.  

asvjerry:  I am getting up there myself.  One of the prime things that keep me moving forward and smiling is to remember I have a lot of living to do yet so I better keep going.  Even with CIDP I enjoy & relish the day.  I hope it helps you get a better outlook.  Maybe a Happy Birthday from someone you don't know will help a bit..  All the best, John