Leave Class A amps on / off

[Swisstrips]

I would typically leave my class AB stereo amp on a good portion of the week, say Wed-Sun (I leave DAC and Pre on all the time).

I just recently purchased a pair of XA100.5 mono's (yeah!) and am wondering what my regimen with these types of amps should be. I'm guessing others with similar amps don't leave them on all the time due to class A current being full "on" all the time/electric bill? Thoughts, suggestions?

I have only had these a week and have been powering them on 1hr before I listen and then powering off at night. Is the constant on/off not recommended or should they be ran similar to AB, dunno?

[dlb2]

I would agree with your turning the amps on an hour before listening and then turn them off when you're done. I don't see the need to have them on any more than that unless you're using them to heat your house or you own stock in the local power company.

[joeinid]

I had XA100.5 amps (as well as other class A Pass amps) and my listening habits were/are a little different. They get turned on when I come home from work and off the next mid-morning if I was done listening. I work second shift so I'd listen into the wee hours of the morning and part of the next day, then certainly off before I leave the house. Weekends were different. Typically on from Friday night and off by Monday morning barring any time away from the house. Never on when not home and always in a well ventilated room/system.

[Joseph R.]

I own a Pass class AB amp which runs at 126 degrees. It heats up my small sound room nicely. I used to turn it on when I got up in the morning and off at bedtime. While the amp was heating up the room, the air conditioner was working to cool it down. My electric bill was costing me an additional $30 per month. Since there were some days I never got in the stereo room, and the amp needs no more than 2 hours of warm-up to sound good, I decided to save $ and turn the amp on two hours before any serious listening. I just wish my tubed preamp performed at it’s best after only two hours of warm-up.

Other concerns are lightening storms, power brown outs and spikes. There were times I was out of the house when a storm would occur. I would rush home to turn my system off.

[Swisstrips]

I would agree with your turning the amps on an hour before listening and then turn them off when you're done. I don't see the need to have them on any more than that unless you're using them to heat your house or you own stock in the local power company.

Yea, the warm up portion I'm sure varies from amp to amp and have personally always found leaving my rig on pretty much all the time sounds better than not. Being new to using class A I'm curious to hear thoughts/experience on this and if prolonged heat is "bad" or maybe the thermal element is part of the design and are meant to stay "on" as well as the wear and tear due to the in-rush of current when turning on etc.. Again just curious

These don't give off anymore noticeable heat in so far as the room heating up, at least I cannot tell. I have a large space and yes the heatsinks are warm but not at all to some stories I have read on some class A amps

[Swisstrips]

I had XA100.5 amps (as well as other class A Pass amps) and my listening habits were/are a little different. They get turned on when I come home from work and off the next mid-morning if I was done listening. I work second shift so I'd listen into the wee hours of the morning and part of the next day, then certainly off before I leave the house. Weekends were different. Typically on from Friday night and off by Monday morning barring any time away from the house. Never on when not home and always in a well ventilated room/system.

That makes sense and is kind of the routine I'll probably use for now at least - turn on when I get home if I know I have some time to listen and prob do the Fri-Sun thing.

I should take a vid of the power meter as they are being turned on just for fun. Wouldn't indicate/tell much I'm sure, unless its something like Clark Grizwald Christmas lights

[joeinid]

Ha!

If I thought there was a chance that I could not have a serious listen, I didn’t turn them on. I do admit that even now, I have music playing if the amps were/are on. I’d even have the television on with the sound off just to be able to hear my music.

[Swisstrips]

I own a Pass class AB amp which runs at 126 degrees. It heats up my small sound room nicely. I used to turn it on when I got up in the morning and off at bedtime. While the amp was heating up the room, the air conditioner was working to cool it down. My electric bill was costing me an additional $30 per month. Since there were some days I never got in the stereo room, and the amp needs no more than 2 hours of warm-up to sound good, I decided to save $ and turn the amp on two hours before any serious listening. I just wish my tubed preamp performed at it’s best after only two hours of warm-up.

Other concerns are lightening storms, power brown outs and spikes. There were times I was out of the house when a storm would occur. I would rush home to turn my system off.

Thanks for sharing. I, as I'm sure most do, track weather conditions and unplug everything when storms are imminent. In MN where I'm located, its really only portions of summer that are "extreme" to where I have to keep a close eye.

Since "audio-season" is wrapping up (winter, no yard work, winter hibernation = more listening time), it will be interesting to see if these amp pose any temp issues during the summer (I suspect not)

[GSOphile]

Do you consider 'standby' the same as 'off'..... or 'on'?

[joeinid]

Standby is still off for me. Breaker in the back always on and switch/button on front for on/off.

[kzhtoo]

Ha!

If I thought there was a chance that I could not have a serious listen, I didn’t turn them on. I do admit that even now, I have music playing if the amps were/are on. I’d even have the television on with the sound off just to be able to hear my music.

I do do that too and my wife finds it weird, esp. if I’m also reading at the same time. lol

[Swisstrips]

Well FWIW I'm really loving these! Wowza. System + room dependent for sure as most things are, but seriously killer amps. Now being a sorta of newbie (compared to many) I have been baby stepping my rig.

New Ultima's in the fall and over a course of wknd listening to Larry's X250 in my system a couple months ago, I really liked what I was hearing. I almost pulled the trigger on a int60, but wanted the flexibility of a Pre etc... so now a pair of friggin mono's lighting up my rig, pretty cool. Budget blown, um yeah. These will stay at least for a while.

However, now I need cables as I had to move my components to side wall. So i need pair of ~15ft or so of XLR's (currently using mic cables from my recording rig). I can't/won't do $1k cables, no way. I know cables are a can 'O worms, and 15-20ft isn't long for XLR's but are there any things to consider and or recommendations?

[joeinid]

https://btpa.com/IC8402XLR-XX.html?category_id=182


https://www.takefiveaudio.com/produc...-cryo-treated/

[Jack]

Cost effective solutions for cable at that length, especially if you are comfortable making them or know someone who is, are Dueland or Belden 8402. There is a guy on Ebay making balanced IC's out of Dueland 16 or 29 ga. but so far only 1 meter lengths. You can contact him and see if he will do 5 meter pairs. I have been using two pair for several months.

[Jack]

Joe

What's the make and quality on those XLR connectors?

[joeinid]

Jack,

I have the ones from BTPA and really like them. I don't remember the connectors but they seem great. I can take a look when I get home. Take 5 Audio cables look interesting but never tried them.

Joe

What's the make and quality on those XLR connectors?

[Jack]

Any sound differences you hear from the Dueland's?

[joeinid]

I've been using the Dueland between the Luxman and the Dags. I'll need to swap them out for the 8402 and listen.

Any sound differences you hear from the Dueland's?

[Swisstrips]

Thanks guys. I'm actually using a pair of 8402 RCA's that I got from BTA. I was thinking of getting those, Neotech NEI-3004 (Takefive) or Belden 1800F for the XLR's. Ooy.

I know of the cable co lending program and that might be option, but at this length everything is crazy expensive.

[joeinid]

I also have Neotech speaker cable and think it's great too. I was thinking about trying the Neotech interconnects too.

I have both XLR and RCA Belden 8402 and was using the RCA 8402 with the LTA MZ2 with wonderful sounds coming out.

[Jack]

Thanks Joe. I may just order a pair from BTA and try them. The shipping from Take 5 is a bit out of line in my opinion. Especially when compared to Parts Connexion who are not that far away from them.

[joeinid]

For the RCA, I ordered the better connector. It's secure and holds great. I think they only offer one XLR connector but it's more than adequate.

Thanks Joe. I may just order a pair from BTA and try them. The shipping from Take 5 is a bit out of line in my opinion. Especially when compared to Parts Connexion who are not that far away from them.

[Jack]

I've got a pair coming from BTA so will find out.

[a.wayne]

I would typically leave my class AB stereo amp on a good portion of the week, say Wed-Sun (I leave DAC and Pre on all the time).

I just recently purchased a pair of XA100.5 mono's (yeah!) and am wondering what my regimen with these types of amps should be. I'm guessing others with similar amps don't leave them on all the time due to class A current being full "on" all the time/electric bill? Thoughts, suggestions?

I have only had these a week and have been powering them on 1hr before I listen and then powering off at night. Is the constant on/off not recommended or should they be ran similar to AB, dunno?

Unless you like recapping your amplifiers often i would not keep any hot running highly biased
amp on all the time.


Regards

[MtnHam]

As to speaker cables, Teo Liquid cables must be auditioned! Pricey, but IMHO, worth it.

The original question (warm-up)- leave them on 24/7 if your budget and eco conscience allow, otherwise on in the morning, off at bedtime.

[a.wayne]

As to speaker cables, Teo Liquid cables must be auditioned! Pricey, bit IMHO, worth it.

The original question (warm-up)- leave them on 24/7 if your budget and eco conscience allow, otherwise on in the morning, off at bedtime.

I would say the same if i sold amplifiers ...

[Swisstrips]

As to speaker cables, Teo Liquid cables must be auditioned! Pricey, but IMHO, worth it.

The original question (warm-up)- leave them on 24/7 if your budget and eco conscience allow, otherwise on in the morning, off at bedtime.

It must be a state of mind or something - knowing these are just constantly “on” (class A) vs AB.

Kinda like my earlier reference to Clark Grizwald and watching the meter spin around lol. Maybe just have to get used that concept.


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[Swisstrips]

Unless you like recapping your amplifiers often i would not keep any hot running highly biased
amp on all the time.


Regards

Yea that was sort of the reason for my question. And no I’m not in the market to recap

Certainly not a new question and surely this has been debated for a long time. From my experience/research, most end users as well as EE’s would say leave “it” on 24/7.

U won’t wander into many rec studio and find any components powered off ever. Power/util bill is irrelevant in those circumstances and more so, they want to be ready at any given point to record etc..even still the main point is wear and tear on electronics is lessened being on all the time. But I digress

However being class A is different, that was the crux of my quandary


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[GSOphile]

As noted above, some Class AB amps are heavily biased into Class A and hence stay quite warm/hot at idle. I'm less concerned about the electric bill than the wear and tear on the amp, an hour or so to warm up to achieve best performance not being a big deal.

[a.wayne]

Yea that was sort of the reason for my question. And no I’m not in the market to recap

Certainly not a new question and surely this has been debated for a long time. From my experience/research, most end users as well as EE’s would say leave “it” on 24/7.

U won’t wander into many rec studio and find any components powered off ever. Power/util bill is irrelevant in those circumstances and more so, they want to be ready at any given point to record etc..even still the main point is wear and tear on electronics is lessened being on all the time. But I digress

However being class A is different, that was the crux of my quandary


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Studios recap and refurbish their stuff fairly often , so yes some do leave stuff on all the time but only the solid booked ones, most dont ...


Regards

[Mechnutt]

Jack,

I have the ones from BTPA and really like them. I don't remember the connectors but they seem great. I can take a look when I get home. Take 5 Audio cables look interesting but never tried them.

I have a pair of the BTPA's and like them. A friend of mine uses the Take 5's and loves them. These Belden 8402 cables add nothing and take away almost nothing. They do tame a bit of sibilants and sound better than my Cardas Parsecs and way better than a cheap pair of Bluejean XLR's. The BTPA XLR connectors are copper.


I don't leave my X250 on. I turn it on about 15 to 30 min before listening. It certainly sounds the best after 45-60 minutes but at 15min I am getting 90% of its best sound. The difference is not dramatic though. Besides, leaving it on without music playing, it uses 225 watts. I can only imagine what those monos are using at standby.

[a.wayne]

The KSA200 pulled 1100 watts at idle ,

[joeinid]

I would equate the treatment of Class A solid state amps to vacuum tube amps. On when home and listening, off when out, and judicious on/off cycles to minimize thermal stress. Otherwise just enjoy the music.

[BlueFox]

Even off, my amps stay in some type of idle power state. I do turn them on Thursday night so they will be ready to rock Friday/Saturday. They get turned off Sunday until the next Thursday.

[Alectiong]

My Vitus has AB and A settings. If necessary I leave it in AB and then switch to A for serious listenings. In AB, it is hardly warm. I like this feature.


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[Sharp 2160]

I leave my Progression monos on normally. If I know I won't listen for a day or two then I put them into standby. They are barely warm to the touch when operating. I have left other SS amps on for extended periods of time with no serious detriment to it or the capacitors. When I had tubes, they were shut off when the listening session was over. If I owned class A I would monitor them after long periods of running as they do run hot. If hot to the touch that is too hot! I remember when working at my old fire station, I chuckle as the radio dispatch and PA equipment there are on 24/7 and 365 days a year!

[hifinutt]

if i left my class a amp on 24/7 our house might not need much heating !! it would send my leccie bill into overdrive and its already high

[Audioseduction]

I have my XA160.5s on for 3-4 hours before I listen to them.