[G E]

So, my friend down the street just got some new Utopia speakers, Scala model if memory serves, and he is looking for a new amp. He is a fan of tube mono blocks and is looking at some of the VAC products.

I was very curious how my 28 bsst2 would work with them so we boxed them up and dollied them to his house. Uff those things are heavy!  Those front handles are strongly recommended.

So today he sent a note saying he left the amps on all night they have transformed, no other word for it. Better depth, better presentation. I advised him to keep them on another day and I'd be down to listen.

What have others experienced with powering down versus leaving on all the time?

[CanadianMaestro]

The 14B2 uses about 150-200W in idle, I think.
Best not to leave the 28's on all the time. Shortens lifetime of amp, as well.

[JRace]

When I had some 28BSST2s I left them on for 3 months straight, never even noticed a change in my power bill.

[srb]

When I had some 28BSST2s I left them on for 3 months straight, never even noticed a change in my power bill.

Whether you noticed it or not, if you leave a pair of 28BSST² on say for an extra 16 hours a day above an 8 hour listening period you'll use an additional ~ 7.2 KW per day.

A typical power company like BC Hydro charges ~ $0.08 per kWh (if you use less than 1,350 KW in a two month period) or ~ $0.12 per kWh (if you're over the 1,350 kWh threshold) so it would have cost you an additional ~ $17 to $26 per month.

[JRace]

Whether you noticed it or not, if you leave a pair of 28BSST² on say for an extra 16 hours a day above an 8 hour listening period you'll use an additional ~ 7.2 KW per day.

A typical power company like BC Hydro charges ~ $0.08 per kWh (if you use less than 1,350 KW in a two month period) or ~ $0.12 per kWh (if you're over the 1,350 kWh threshold) so it would have cost you an additional ~ $17 to $26 per month.

I did the math too, and I watch every hydro bill I get.
I can even see my daily usage.
My average monthy bill is less than $70 a month.
There is no way I would have not noticed a $20 a month difference.

As well those 3 months were June/July/Aug which for me is my highest consumption months so the rate should have been at the higher rate....
not sure how, but it did not affect my average bill.

:weird:!

[srb]

As well those 3 months were June/July/Aug which for me is my highest consumption months so the rate should have been at the higher rate.... not sure how, but it did not affect my average bill. :weird:!

You must have had the 28BSST² SE (Super-Enviro) model. 

Or else the power company was able to detect Canadian-made Torus transformers on the line and made a rate adjustment.

Steve

[Big Audio]

Any electronics will last longer if you leave on.
Its the heating and cooling of parts that wears them out as you turn on and off according to my sources.
If you want better sound leave on as well and take a hit on the hydro.
Now tubes are probably different but my dealer left his Mac tube amp on all the time cause it sounded better.

[stereoal]

James Tanner recently addressed this very subject. And I quote:

"Generally leaving a transistor unit on will lengthen its life as the wear and tear comes from constant expansion and contraction of the parts as it is turned on and off.  Also leaving it on maintains a constant thermal temperature across the circuit boards which reduces any opportunity for humidity to affect the circuits.  Also I think gear sounds better after it has been on for a while (please do not report this to our engineers)."

[CanadianMaestro]

James Tanner recently addressed this very subject. And I quote:

"Generally leaving a transistor unit on will lengthen its life as the wear and tear comes from constant expansion and contraction of the parts as it is turned on and off.  Also leaving it on maintains a constant thermal temperature across the circuit boards which reduces any opportunity for humidity to affect the circuits.  Also I think gear sounds better after it has been on for a while (please do not report this to our engineers)."

I think James was responding in context of a DAC power-up query, rather than a big poweramp. Mike Pickett e-mailed me a while back, about this same issue -- he did not recommend leaving a poweramp on 24/7, because of lifetime/wear issues, and power consumption even when idle. So, although these amps are designed to withstand 24/7 power up, it's not necessarily recommended that one does so. Just sayin'. (Also, the poweramps have a soft-start mechanism that should/may lessen the potential wear that on/off may inflict).

[Marius]

Off..


over here its easy: rule of thumb: 1=2
1 watt is 2 euro on a yearly basis.
if a 28b uses 150 watt in idle, 1 costs 300 euro pY, only to be , well, idle. 2 cost 600 euro.
as i sad: easy..


Marius

I did the math too, and I watch every hydro bill I get.
I can even see my daily usage.
My average monthy bill is less than $70 a month.
There is no way I would have not noticed a $20 a month difference.

As well those 3 months were June/July/Aug which for me is my highest consumption months so the rate should have been at the higher rate....
not sure how, but it did not affect my average bill.

:weird:!

[G E]

I loaned my 28's to a friend recently and he heard a definite improvement after leaving them on 24 hours but no improvement after that.

So I got them back and decided to keep them on from Friday afternoon through my listening session Saturday night.

These things are hard to quantify but I swear they seemed even more relaxed yet dynamic than with just a two hour warm up. Smoother with no loss of bite and detail.

Going forward I will turn on the amps two hours prior to Friday sessions and leave the system on through Saturday sessions.  Seems like a smart approach.

[Anonamemouse]

My 4B SST2 is in use about 16 hours a day. The remaining 8 it's just sitting there, waiting for signal. Always on.

[CanadianMaestro]

My 4B SST2 is in use about 16 hours a day. The remaining 8 it's just sitting there, waiting for signal. Always on.

So your point is.....?

As stated, these amps were built to last, even powered on 24/7. Whether a user can absorb the a higher utility bill with higher-powered amps like 28B left on 24/7, well that's for the user to decide.

[Rod_S]

All mine are in standby when not in use, it's quite noticeable on the power bill running these things plus they produce a fair bit of heat which makes the room quite warm so in that regard any time they are off that heat can finally dissipate. The system is on whenever I'm home.

My amps are:

2x28B-SST2
2x7B-SST2
4B-SST C Series

[CanadianMaestro]

I have a 14B2 power amp.  How do I put it into standby?   

It's either on fully or off fully (front panel's button).

[PierreB]

I have a 14B2 power amp.  How do I put it into standby?   

It's either on fully or off fully (front panel's button).

I think the front switch is for the standby mode and the rear power switch is for power on/off.

[Rod_S]

I think the front switch is for the standby mode and the rear power switch is for power on/off.

This is corerct

[Marius]

This is corerct

You're sure you are not taking the breaker switch for a power switch. That's not its intended use I'm afraid..
My 28bs are either on or off 
Cheers Marius

[Rod_S]

Nope not me, it's kind of hard to confuse the two. The front soft start is the standby while the breaker switch on the back kills all power.

[Marius]

Nope not me, it's kind of hard to confuse the two. The front soft start is the standby while the breaker switch on the back kills all power.

Always believed the front soft start to be on/off , and the breaker switch to be there for security reasons , protecting the amp for power failure and spikes, tripping when necessary.

Using the front panel switch gives me direct power so I took it not to be standing by.
Maybe James can clarify and also give numbers of power used, standing by or playing music.
Cheers Marius