Quick question: What's the correct order for starting up and shutting down equipment?

J

jchouston

Well-Known Member
I know this has been posted multiple times, but I couldn't find a thread.

When powering on and off, what is the proper order?

I have a Adcom 710 pre amp, Adcom GFA 535 amp and two sources (cd and TT).


I'm trying to eliminate any loud pops or noises and not fry anything.

Or should I just buy a ACE 515 power conditioner?

Thanks!
 
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ON: sources on 1st, pre amp 2nd, poweramp on 3rd

OFF: poweramp off 1st, preamp off 2nd, sources off last
 
I have all mine running off my pre amp turn that on and it all comes on. I always make sure the volume is off
 
I just keep it all on a light switch, that way I can turn it all on and off at once.















Just joking. Ok, I know. It was a stupid joke.
 
You want to do everything you can to protect your equipment.

To start things up, start with your source, and work your way down the chain to the amp. To shut things down, reverse the process. If something goes wrong, or pops. This process allows you to reduce your potential damages.
 
MAIN SYSTEM:
POWER ON;
1. Switch on reciever, push the button for whatever component I wanna use, turn the volume up a bit
2. Switch on EQ
3. If it's CD or Cassette, I switch the component, insert a tape or CD and push play. if it's 8 track or LP, I either just push in the 8 track and select programme, or put the LP on the platter and set the tonearm on the record.
4. Adjust volume. if the bass and treble needs adjusting, I adjust those, and sometimes the EQ if it needs it.

POWER OFF;
1. Take CD/LP/Cassette/8 track and put it back (It bugs me when there's a record left on the platter, tape in the deck, etc)
2. Switch the component off, or close the dust cover
3. Switch the EQ off
4. Turn the volume all the way down and switch off the reciever.

SECONDARY SYSTEM:
POWER ON;
1. Switch the unit on
2. Turn the volume up a little bit
3. Switch it to either 8 track, Phono, AM or FM
4. Insert an 8 track, put on an LP, or tune the radio
5. Adjust the volume, and if I'm playing a 78, I turn the treble all the way down to cut back on hiss.

POWER OFF;
1. Take the LP or 8 track and put it back
2. Turn volume all the way down
3. Switch the unit off.

I've really gotten into the habit of always turning the volume all the way down before I shut the stereo off, and that goes back to my first real stereo; my old Lloyd's all in one, which would sound like a lightning strike if you had the volume up when you turned it on and off.
 
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I don't want to hijack the thread, but if the amplifier itself is the source of the pop, what can be done to fix the cause? Could it be the speaker relay rebounding? Could a small cap be placed in parallel with it to supress the rebound?

az
 
To jchouston:
Power conditioners cannot suppress turn on or turn off transients. That is not their purpose or function. Such transients are generated within the audio equipment itself.
To axcel: "volume off" will not suppress turn on or turn off transients in most power amplifiers that have them.
To audiozaz: A properly designed speaker disconnect relay set up will not "rebound". If it does, it is not functioning as it should.
 
Can you explain why it's important to turn on a source (cd player) before the preamp? What would be wrong with turning on a cd player and preamp at the same time? Thanks.
 
2chanman said:
To jchouston:
Power conditioners cannot suppress turn on or turn off transients. That is not their purpose or function. Such transients are generated within the audio equipment itself.
To axcel: "volume off" will not suppress turn on or turn off transients in most power amplifiers that have them.
To audiozaz: A properly designed speaker disconnect relay set up will not "rebound". If it does, it is not functioning as it should.
Click to expand...


Thanks, 2chanman. Interestingly, my mother and grandfather grew up in Stamford (actually, Darien). The home that my great grandfather still stands there, but unfortunately, I don't know the address.
 
To ruanddu:
If the power amplifier is not yet "on" (It should be the last in the turn on sequence), the turn on sequence of the preamp and any sources is irrelevant, as any transients they might generate will not be amplified and therefore are rendered harmless.
 
To jchouston;
You're welcome. Though I live in Stamford, I am a product of the Darien school system myself, as I used to live there as a youth. You would barely recognize either place if you haven't been back here in a while.
 
To whoaru99:
True, but the only part of either sequence that really matters is the power amplifier's position in the sequence. Of course, if the power amplifier generates transients, you're screwed, unless it has "speakers off" switching.
 
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