2. amps-preamps
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Leave preamp on all day, off at night

Finally had the funds purchased my first tube hifi component, an arc ref 3. Very happy with purchase so far but has raised a concern. System is in main living room - wife and kids listen casually through day - non critical listening. I listen (more critically) for 1-2h at night when they are asleep.
Im used to solid state components that stay on all day long.
Question- is it a problem leaving the valve pre on most of the day, on most days of the week? Is it really just a matter of burning through the tubes faster,  or are there other expensive delicate components in there that don't like being left on all day? Thanks in advance 
divesh

Showing 2 responses by lilmsmaggie

lilmsmaggie
273 posts
 
The question of whether to leave preamp on/off reminds me of a question years ago about whether you should turn off your home computer or just leave it on all of the time.  I think it depends.

I will say this with respect to computers having worked in IT for 25+ years.  Computers: Application, Web and Database Servers or any hardware that constitutes a network run 24/7.  They may occasionally get rebooted but otherwise, they're always on.

Computers in an office area sometimes get powered down, sometimes they don't.  The problem with those that get powered down is that they don't receive updates or security patches until they're booted up again.

As far as audio gear (tube gear in particular), I have mixed feelings.

Having said that, I own an Audio Note OTO SE Phone Integrated.  I will sometimes allow it to be powered up for 2-3 days at a time.  I think the longest time was for a 7 day period when it was initially burning-in.

My Nottingham Interspace Jr. TT on the other hand has no on/off switch.

Peter Qvortrup was once asked (and most likely has been asked several times), why does he put the power switch on the back of Audio Note components.

Peter's answer:  So people won't turn them off.
lilmsmaggie
273 posts
 
@divesh and others, this may help shed some light on the subject.

May I present Exhibit "A"

"Getting the most out of Vacuum Tubes," by Robert B. Tomer

http://www.nutshellhifi.com/library/MostVacuumTubes.pdf

The topic begins at the bottom of p. 96 and the answer can be found on p. 99

You can download an read the book at your leisure.

I believe the key factors are the design and mfg’s estimated life expectancy of the tube.

If a manufacture states that a tube has a life expectancy of say 10,000 hrs., then a tube that is on 24/7
will obviously not last very long. There is approximately 8,760 hrs in one year.

Using the above as an example:

Given a life expectancy of 10,000 hrs. - 8,760 (1 year) = 1,240 hrs. of useful use remaining.

There are other factors obviously that will contribute to the useful life of a given vacuum tube.

So, there is probably no definitive answer. It will depend on the tube, usage, etc.

It’s a damned if you do and damned if you don’t kind of scenario.
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