Leaving the amp on for ten hours a day without using it is an insane waste of energy and money. The filaments wear when they're on. But they're also stressed at start-up. With one start-up per day I bet the regular filament wear during normal operation of the amp is the dominant factor in filament, hence, tube life. I say turn the amp off when you don't need it.
~Tom
~Tom
I'm using a tube amp in my Stereo/HT system. Between music and TV, the amp is on 14 hours a day. Would it be easier on the amp to just leave it on all the time?
Bobby Dipole
That's 14 hours of actual listening. I'm a real couch potato!
Bobby Dipole
I often leave them on but it switches up. Balance between being warm and ready to rock, and saving tube life.... though start up cycles are stressful too... so it's a mix. Unless I have big tube gear in the rig, then it gets shut down. Like when I had a tube linestage into a tube crossover, running 2 stereo tubeamps....
That got almost always shut down)
That got almost always shut down)
You only consider tube life. The other components will deteriorate with higher temperatures, capacitors and insulation and of course the pilot lamps. And corrosion action accelerates. Not to speak of the energy wasted. Well, you aren't wasting it if it's winter but in the summer it's not a good thing.
I suggest that if you don't listen for at least a half hour, shut it off.
I suggest that if you don't listen for at least a half hour, shut it off.
I'm using a tube amp in my Stereo/HT system. Between music and TV, the amp is on 14 hours a day. Would it be easier on the amp to just leave it on all the time?
Bobby Dipole
There ain't 14 hours a week of TV worth watching and most of what is worth watching does not need anything special for the audio. I would rethink your whole plan. Only use tubes for the best of the best!
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