Does cold audio equipment sound different

Resistors & transistors/tubes are affected by temp changes. The larger the resistor value, the bigger change in ohms with temp change (40 deg F change will change a 100 ohm resistor by 2 ohms, change a 10k ohm resistor by 200 ohms, a 10M ohm resistor by 200k ohms). Currents & required voltages for transistors change with temp changes. I would need to do some digging to find out if cap or inductor values are affected.
 
Hyperion said:
...I thought you should let audio equipment 'warm up' for about ½ hour before any serious listening - I also said that I thought this was a 'rule-of-thumb' ...


John
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As per the instructions in the owner's manual of my Atoll IN80 integrated, you should turn the amp on AT LEAST a 1/2 hour before starting to listen to music.

Alternately, there is a standby position on the input selector so that you don't have to reach for the main switch on the rear panel of the amp.

So, I'd say you are correct Sir! :D
 
Yes, to my ears. All of my amps are Class A or SE, and they take a while to warm up to speed or get the iron hot. They take a little longer when it's cold. About 30 min. in the summer compared to an hour or longer during the winter. I keep my thermostat at 65° in the winter and 78° in the summer.
 
Set the bias in a couple of Yamaha amps a short while ago. The numbers were pretty well stabilized after 10 or 15 minutes.
 
Warm it up!

It appears that most would agree a good hi-fi tweek would be to have your audio gear set-up away from all AC or cold air return vents.
And perhaps the ideal location would be on a fire place mantle?
except turntables... *L*
 
Well, it's absolutely the case with my tube system that warming up tightens up the sound. But it's not that it's not enjoyable when I first turn it on. It sound great when it gets turned on, and even better after about 20 minutes. I notice it mostly in the, I don't know, "Blackness" of the system. Everything just seems to have more space around it, feels more real. It's very subtle and most people casually listening probably wouldn't notice it.

I'm really happy to be running two tube amps (passive biamp) and a tube preamp now that it's so freakin' cold, by the way. I look forward to walking over to the system to change LPs as it's significantly warmer on that side of the room.
 
I usually allow my Rotel amp and pre-amp to "warm up" for a few minutes before I start listening. At least to my ear, the presence and soundstage opens up a bit verses a cold-start.

On stay-at-home weekends, especially in the winter, I leave the system on through Sunday night.

Goldwing
 
Warm it up!

My daily routine is.. Get up and open the curtains, switch on the preamp (ar SP-3). Then make coffee and then switch on the power amp. At the end of the night, turn off the power amp and then the preamp. Everyday.

After thinking about this subject I remembered tossing my GAS Son of Ampzilla into the fire place for several minutes for it's "warm up" *L*

I still think it's the CD (digital crap) that needs the warm up the most.
Some of the old tube tuners tended to "drift" through their warm up process.
 
For the record the is no doubt that my Adcom GFA-5802 power amplifier sounds better once it is warm. As for the rest of my gear, I am not as convinced.
 
Somone told me a long time ago that cables (speaker and interconnect) need some playing time to start sounding good again after they've been dormant for a few weeks.:dunno:

I can only say I've noticed this once.
 
My gear needs to be on for a while before it starts to sound the way I like it to...Audio Research...Krell...Crown...Counterpoint the tube gear especially needs to be warm before it smooths out.
 
i've been sort of paying attention and trying different things regarding this thread. Now it might be my ears that need warming up but i have found that even when i leave the amp on just turn the volume all the way down it still takes a second for it to really kick in. Also I notice that the temp of the machine while it never really gets hot it is definitely warmer at times with no rhyme or reason under no load and i even hear a litlle relay clicking from time to time.:scratch2:
 
my old $350 Yamaha receiver would noticably open up and smooth out after warm up after about 20 minutes or so, when it was stone cold it would sound hard.

Mcintosh amps however, I don't notice a difference; I leave it on 24/7 anyway though.
 
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