• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Warm up time...tube vs solid state

Even my cool running Class D Audio SDS-120C takes about 30 minutes to really get in the groove. But my very iron rich tube preamp (output transformer coupled) takes near an hour for it to fully warm up and start cruisin'. I don't think it has anything to do with the tubes themselves, rather components getting to nominal operating temperatures and all that good stuff.

So, while the music doesn't sound BAD before the warm up it definitely does lack a bit of the magic. Once everything starts moving it's almost instantaneous. The soundstage seems to grow a bit and a sense of ease comes over the sound.

-Z
 
30 minutes seems to be the sweet spot with tubes. That's right about when my EL84 SEP starts sounding nice. I've never noticed any difference with SS.
 
Any comments in speaker warmup? I notice my fostex fe103 alnicos needsa good 10-15 mins for their voice coils to warm up before they sound their best.
 
No to the voice coils theory.. Seriously unlikely imo unless oddly damaged in some way
Far more believable that your electronics are stabilizing for.. Whatever reason.
 
If the manufacturer says you need warm up time to properly/accurately set the bias on the outputs why wouldn't you need a warm up for the best listening?
 
JoeESP9 said:
If the manufacturer says you need warm up time to properly/accurately set the bias on the outputs why wouldn't you need a warm up for the best listening?
Click to expand...

Yes. My CJ amp takes about an hour to warm up to steady temp and sounds best thereafter. The Jolida takes about 30 minutes. Both of these what I notice is the soundstage gets bigger and images more solid. The Preamp by itself I don't really know how to judge how it changes as it warms up.
 
Warm up. Not noticed much but I do it on a regular basis. If folks are coming over, the gear is on early that day, ss or tube. I have a few pieces that tune much better when warm. Not sure exactly how long this takes.

My idea of warm up is when the unit does not change in temperature anymore unless the signal changes. This means a preamp needs to warm up all its innards using the power dissipated by the few heat producing components in a sand preamp. Well except for my Shadow® Yamaha C-4 which gets warm to the touch by design.

The usual power amp doesn't get hot running hard all day so it probably comes up to temp in a couple hours.

Anything less than this and I don't think everything is a good as it could be but it sounds just fine most of the time. I'll be learning about the tube power amps this winter.
 
It all depends on the piece. Most tube gear sounds as good as it is going to after 10 minutes.

With SS it works differently. With most gear there is no noticeable difference in performance during warmup. But, with some of the very high-end stuff, warmups can be absolutely crucial. Sometimes it can take several hours before some of the better SS gear will sound its best. But it is totally dependent upon the particular design.
 
goldear said:
It all depends on the piece. Most tube gear sounds as good as it is going to after 10 minutes.

With SS it works differently. With most gear there is no noticeable difference in performance during warmup. But, with some of the very high-end stuff, warmups can be absolutely crucial. Sometimes it can take several hours before some of the better SS gear will sound its best. But it is totally dependent upon the particular design.
Click to expand...

That would be unusable for me since I don't like to leave my gear on all the time. What are some examples of SS gear that requires several hours to warm up before it sounds it's best?
 
IMO, anything that doesn't sound it's best with 30-60 mins is of a poor design that I wouldn't consider using it. Multiple hours for warm up ………. I see (or hear) no reason for it.

FWIW, I employ SS and tube gear. Plinius SA-102 Class A SS amp and Rogue M-180 monoblocks.
 
Rob41 said:
That would be unusable for me since I don't like to leave my gear on all the time. What are some examples of SS gear that requires several hours to warm up before it sounds it's best?
Click to expand...

My Threshold s/300's are about 85% "there" after about an hour. If I switch one on before I leave for the day it's as sweet as its gonna get by the time I get home. Forget to turn it on in the morning and do so when I get home and it may never reach its sweet spot before time for bed. Keep in mind I usually don't get home until after 9.
 
Rackmount Professoinal Analog crossover sounds better when warm.
US$99 + tax shipped to your door new

Bose QC15 noise cancelling headphones will improve after 1 hour break in.
Turn it on 1 hour before the flight for best quality sound reproduction.
Also turn it to Hi so it will not stress the Airplane's amplifier.
Heavier load for amplifier, higher distortion.

The noise cancelling ability improve(s) after break in period of 3 months.
The background is darker than ever after three months.
The highs are smoother too after three months.

:banana::banana::banana:
This is NOT a troll.
 
Last edited:
cubdog said:
My IcePower gear stays on 24/7. I generally give my tubes anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. Does it make a difference? Not that I can tell.

*My tubes can't heat a room either. Must be something wrong with them

cubdog
Click to expand...

Room size is too big? or Time to reach "warm" temperature is too big?
Source: Thermodynamics (Physics)
 
tomlinmgt said:
My Threshold s/300's are about 85% "there" after about an hour. If I switch one on before I leave for the day it's as sweet as its gonna get by the time I get home. Forget to turn it on in the morning and do so when I get home and it may never reach its sweet spot before time for bed. Keep in mind I usually don't get home until after 9.
Click to expand...

I'd end up having to use a timer to make sure it was warmed up before I got home. Either that or tie a string on my finger so I wouldn't forget. :D
 
I just put an Onkyo TX-6000 into rotation in my office, running a pair of little Goodmans EE-12s and a pair of DBplus 880s (nice efficient Canadian speakers) together. Both sets of speakers sound angelic with low powered amps (like my Marantz 1030 and Sherwood S-7100) and I was curious to see how the higher powered Onkyo would sound through them. At first it sounded a little off and I was about to pull it... but after about three or four songs into the first CD I noticed it sounded much better and it's sounding really superb right now. I never really noticed a warm-up period before with any SS receiver but maybe it's more apparent with sensitive speakers.

Damn. I just switched in a second set of Goodmans (now running four Goodmans) and the Onkyo is amazing. Listening to Kraftwerk and it couldn't be better. Liquid electronic perfection.
 
Last edited:
strat10 said:
I run my gear 12 hours a day no warm up time for tubes or SS but I do notice after about 5 hours both starts to sound really good.
Click to expand...

Maybe but it also could mean your Ears are getting use to their sound?:scratch2:
 
To my ears, once the class A here has been on 10 minutes or so, the sound is as is until it's shut down. Anything electrical will perform differently at various temperatures. Anyone who's ever played with a dimmer switch should be able to grasp that ^^
 
Alright guys...here ya go. I have two Threshold S/300's and both have been restored and modified with identical upgrades, so we're talking practically identical amplifiers. Both were set up side by side on the floor, one powered up and allowed to sit idle for twelve hours, the other kept shut down. I started a cd, listened to the first track, listened to the second track, played the second track again half way through and paused the cd. Jumped up and did a little switcheroo of cables and interconnects and fired up the cold amp. Pressed play on the cdp and resumed the tune. Noticeably less bass, slightly leaner mid range and not quite so smooth on top. Played the rest of the second track, started the third track, played it half way through and paused the tune. Jumped up and did a little switcheroo of cables and interconnects to the hot amp, fired her back up and started the tune again. Bass came back, mid range fattened up and top end smoothed out. Turned the cold amp on and let it warm up for thirty minutes then did the same thing all over again and got the same results as before. So I know for sure that thirty minutes is not enough time for warm up for this amp. I'll do this again and push the warm up to one hour and see what happens. Based on prior experience it should be a lot harder to tell a difference after an hour of warm up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom