Switched vs. Unswitched. Which to use?

dodog

dodog

Addicted Member
Ok, my undertanding is that if a component (say a TT) is plugged into a receiver (please correct me if I'm wrong):

Switched - Unit is only on/hot if the receiver is on/has power
Unswitched - Unit is always on/hot (assuming the receiver has power/is plugged in)

So, my question is which is the recommended outlet? I assume that Switched is best so that I *only* have power when the receiver is on. I have a 2 and a 6 yr. old and, even though they may play with the equipment while I'm gone, I'd rather the platter NOT spin when junior grabs the tonearm. :nono:

Other than the kid factor, are there arguments as to why to use one over the other?
 
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To me it depends on the load down stream of the switchable unit. A TT is a few watts so it's fine for switched. A second power amp would not be advisable on a switched circuit.

BUT, there's always a but, on many units it's hard to tell the neutral side from the hot side. These older units used female plugs that are not always easily figured out. Stick a meter in there and find out. Put the side of your TT cord that has the stripe, little ribs, or wide spade into the neutral only. Do the same on your receiver or amp, etc. On the wall (if a modern three pronged outlet) the wide vertical spade is the neutral, the narrow spade is hot. Keep it all the same throughout your system for reduced hum and background noise :)
 
Switched mode sends all the power through the switch. That could be an issue with a high-demand piece, like a power amp.

I ran a TT through the switched outlet, on a Kenwood integrated, for 25 years, with no problem.
 
I run my tuner in the switched outlet. That way if I'm listening to the tuner and want to shut the system down I can just shut the amp. My TT turns doesn't power up until you push Start (or one of the other buttons), and it powers down by itself when the disc is done. No need for a switched outlet there (unless I had small kids).
 
A turntable and most other components will do fine in either the "switched" or "unswitched" plug. But I would advise against using any load greater than 50 watts or so in either plug, especially the switched outlet.

In my case, I use the switched outlet to run the external phono preamp and an Esoteric Re-equalizer (78 rpm playback) for my second turntable. That way the equipment will not be powered up while not in use since neither of these components have a power switch.
 
luvvinvinyl said:
Switched mode sends all the power through the switch. That could be an issue with a high-demand piece, like a power amp.

I ran a TT through the switched outlet, on a Kenwood integrated, for 25 years, with no problem.
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+1
Connecting devices to the switched outlet is ok if they are low power like a TT or cassette. Leave the high power gear connected to unswitched or the wall. If not, over time the power switch on your receiver may fail.
 
I run everything off an AR surge protector/power strip, back behind one of the components where I can reach it, and little hands cannot. I don't have anything plugged into the back of another component; just my personal paranoia in dealing with vintage equipment. I've also got the turntable up high enough to prevent any monkeyshines there.
 
It seems to me that "back in the day," it was implied and/or recommended by the manufacturers that the switched outlet was meant to be used for your turntable. I used mine that way back then and still do today. And have never had any kind of issues.
 
SA-708 said:
I run everything off an AR surge protector/power strip, back behind one of the components where I can reach it, and little hands cannot. I don't have anything plugged into the back of another component; just my personal paranoia in dealing with vintage equipment. I've also got the turntable up high enough to prevent any monkeyshines there.
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+1.

One of my friends who turned me on to high end equipment, and critical listening back in the day insisted that powering your other equipment through your preamp was a no no, especially your power amp, but also any piece that has an electric motor. Don't know if it's superstition, but I've stuck with it.
 
In the 'old days', the tuner went into switched and if the TT was auto-shutoff you plugged it into unswitched. That way if the rekkid was still playing when you shut off the amp, the thing could keep playing until it shut itself off.

Of course, who would do that now?
 
interalian said:
In the 'old days', the tuner went into switched and if the TT was auto-shutoff you plugged it into unswitched. That way if the rekkid was still playing when you shut off the amp, the thing could keep playing until it shut itself off.

Of course, who would do that now?
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That is EXACTLY what I do!
 
SA-708 said:
I run everything off an AR surge protector/power strip, back behind one of the components where I can reach it, and little hands cannot. I don't have anything plugged into the back of another component; just my personal paranoia in dealing with vintage equipment. I've also got the turntable up high enough to prevent any monkeyshines there.
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I have a vintage Marantz receiver and I'm looking at picking up a power surge protector just in case. What do you mean by "I don't have anything plugged into the back of another component; just my personal paranoia in dealing with vintage equipment"?
 
My integrated amp has some power outlets on the back. I don't use those. Same thing with the audio timer, which means that it only functions as a clock these days.
 
I plug my power amp into my pre-amp because it has no switch. (Marantz 140) The pre-amp has 6 switched outlets with max 300 watts, and 2 unswitched, max 900 watts, so it's fairly robust. I assumed the Marantz was meant to be used this way, since the only other way to turn it on would be to use a power strip, or just plug and unplug it. I also plug a turntable and an equalizer into the switched plugs.
Should I be doing it differently?
 
The Marantz was designed to be used that way.

I use switched outlets for tuners or tape decks. Turntables with auto features certainly don't need them but they are good for preamps.
 
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