[embryas]

Hello,

I have two questions:

1. The green lights on my Bryston 3 B THX (an NRB version) still glow softly after turning off the amp. Only if I pull the power cord they go off completely. Is this normal? I take care of this since my last electricity bill was quite high.

2. I leave my BP 25 always powered on, but in Mute mode since a dealer told me this is better for product life and sound. Power consumption is low, so this should be no problem. What do you think about?

Greetings from Germany

Stefan Adler

[James Tanner]

HI,

1. Yes it is normal for the LED to glow slightly - there is always a small trickle charge going through the amp as long as it is plugged in.

2.I agree with the dealer that things improve sonically if the preamp is continuously power up.

james

[embryas]

Thank you James for fast response. So I can keep the image of a sleeping lion...
 
I suppose power consumption will be very low and my high electricity bill was due to a Class A amp (self made by a high end tinkerer) I tried for months and sold after Bryston showed me what a good amplifier can do!

[James Tanner]

Yes power consumption is very low on the preamps.

james

[eelekim]

James,

What about the effect of powering a pre-amp all the time to its product life? With enough ventilation space around the pre-amp as advised by its manual, would the lives of the electronic parts be shortened much faster?

mike

[James Tanner]

Actually what wears components is the constant expansion and shrinkage when the components are continually turned on and off - not to mention the wear and tear on the switch . Also leaving them on maintains a constant thermal temperature on the circuit boards and components which resists moisture/corrosion etc.

I'll tell you a short story. About 5 years ago I was in a recording studio in Toronto - Manta Sound - doing a recording with Oscar Peterson when the owner of the studio asked if he could see me. He took me into one of their other studios and behind a glass wall were 8 Bryston 4Bs with there lights glowing green in the darkened room. He says to me "james see those Bryston amps there - they've been on for 23 years".

james

[eelekim]

James,

What a story! I suppose all those amps are fully working without any problems. 

And I'm wondering if they're in a 24-hour-a-day air-conditined environment. In my case, I seldom turn on the air-conditioner in my living room, where my 14B ST and BP25 sit. I now try to leave the pre-amp on all the time and see if the sonic improvement is profound and any problems. I'm afraid the amp should only be powered up if needed. 

mike

[James Tanner]

James,

What a story! I suppose all those amps are fully working without any problems. 

And I'm wondering if they're in a 24-hour-a-day air-conditined environment. In my case, I seldom turn on the air-conditioner in my living room, where my 14B ST and BP25 sit. I now try to leave the pre-amp on all the time and see if the sonic improvement is profound and any problems. I'm afraid the amp should only be powered up if needed. 

mike

Yes the amps have been on for 23 years - no issues - in fact I think they must still be on because I have not heard from them since.

james

[eelekim]

Stefan & James,

Thanks for your messages. I've been leaving my BP25 on days and nights for the last few days. My conclusion is that the sound is much better. The sound is more stable with good image, deeper soundstage and clearer transparency. 

mike

[bgewaudio]

Hi,

I too leave my BP26 powered up at all times.  The sound when the unit is left on seems to be more open and coherent when it is warmed up rather than cool upon initial start-up.

 

[georgev]

James,

Should I leave my SP1.7 on all the time as well?  Does the unit consume more energy the the BP 26?  Thanks.

George.