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Why No Power Button on Some Phono Stages?

I am upgrading my phono stage, and several of the ones I have shortlisted do not have a power switch/on-off button.

Why is this? Is the user supposed to keep it powered up all the time, or manually unplug the power each time?

I know certain electronics are supposed to have better sound once they have reached thermal equilibrium, but that doesn't mean I want to keep it powered up 24/7.

Switching the phono stage power off from the power strip is a PIA, as it would switch all of my other components off, and I'd lose by tuner settings.

I want to choose the phono stage by sound quality, but an on/off switch is a major convenience factor for me. Why do some manufacturers leave it off?
kixo

Showing 3 responses by lewm

lewm
12,537 posts
 

Spike, The VP130 is a simple tube phono stage. Most tube units in fact ought to be powered down when not in use. I don’t think there is any argument on that. For some tube units with solid state rectification, it is possible to leave the power supply in "Stand By" mode when not in use. In StandBy, the SS rectifiers and PS capacitors may remain charged up due to voltage drop across them but with no current or voltage flowing through the active circuit. The Bellari apparently has no such separated power supply. Most solid state units probably benefit from being left on all the time, and those don’t need a front panel on/off switch. Though it’s nice if they have a rocker switch in the rear, next to the IEC power cord receptacle.

lewm
12,537 posts
 
What Al said.
I nearly never turn off the solid state components in my audio system. The OP did not say whether the phono stages he is considering are solid state or tube type (or maybe it came out in subsequent discussion which I have not read). The AV receiver in my home theater system has never been shut down since new (about 6 years).

However, most of my gear is tube type, and I do shut down all that stuff between listening sessions, even though I know that turn-on places certain stresses on tubes and the components that feed them.
lewm
12,537 posts
 
Dear Czarivey, I don't want to frighten you, but if you are really concerned about destructive power surges due to lightning, you should not only turn off but unplug as well. (You do not say what is the source of the "devastating surges".) A lightning bolt does not respect a power switch.

Dover, I share Czarivey's dismay. What do you mean by "behavioural memory" of a power supply capacitor, or was that just an attempt at humor? If the latter, it worked.
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