Ok to unplug Squeezebox with linear PS?

stereocilia · « **on:** 6 Jun 2007, 01:06 pm »

Will any harm come to my squeezebox 3 if I unplug the AC cord from a linear power supply while the squeezebox is on? Intuition tells me it would be fine, but then I began to imagine that it would cause the power to fade out slowly rather than switch off instantly.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Jun 2007, 01:25 pm »

No harm will come to the SB.

If you have the SB plugged directly into an amp, I would turn the amp off before you unplug the SB. The sound won't fade away, but there will be a small "pop" from the analog outputs when you remove the power.

The SB does not have large enough storage capacitors for the slow fade.

ctviggen · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Jun 2007, 01:43 pm »

What I want to know is why so much electronic gear no longer has an "off" switch. The SB is evidence of that, as is my external hard drive. When I go away for a weekend or longer, I like to turn stuff off, and it's a pain to crawl behind my systems to unplug everything.

richidoo · « **Reply #3 on:** 6 Jun 2007, 01:59 pm »

It has a virtual off switch, in software. Everybody knows that is much better than a real off switch

, because it secretly stays on and connected to the network for your convenience, and to tell you the time, temperature and your mood.

Besides, a pesky switch would ruin any chances of the SB3 being placed in the Gugenheim for product design. Switches are so "last century."

I have all my low load devices on a power strip that I can yank whenever I want a good old fashioned OFF. Probably not as neat installation as yours though.

stereocilia · « **Reply #4 on:** 6 Jun 2007, 02:05 pm »

There's debate about the sonic advantage to leaving equipment on. My cd player and preamp are designed that way, but I'm not so sure the equipment has to be left on all the time for it to sound best. I'll just have to try it for myself, I guess. Actually, I would love to get a power sequencer if I find no significant advantage to leaving everything on.

Edit -- I didn't mean "everything" I DO shut my amp off when not in use

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #5 on:** 6 Jun 2007, 03:57 pm »

Quote

but I'm not so sure the equipment has to be left on all the time for it to sound best.

I am pretty sure that if you leave all your equipments on all the time (may be over weekends or all times if you can afford the electricity bills) they will sound much much better that you just turn on for two or more hours. I did that experiment to my tube gears several times and have compared times to times.

stereocilia · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 Jun 2007, 08:36 pm »

Thanks, everybody. I think I'll do the constant-on vs. intermittently-on experiment in my system. I mean, it's such an obvious experiment to do even if it is time consuming.

ctviggen · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Jun 2007, 10:19 pm »

Quote from: richidoo on 6 Jun 2007, 01:59 pm

It has a virtual off switch, in software. Everybody knows that is much better than a real off switch , because it secretly stays on and connected to the network for your convenience, and to tell you the time, temperature and your mood. Besides, a pesky switch would ruin any chances of the SB3 being placed in the Gugenheim for product design. Switches are so "last century."

I have all my low load devices on a power strip that I can yank whenever I want a good old fashioned OFF. Probably not as neat installation as yours though.

Well, my "main" system is connected to its own 20 Amp breaker, so I just trip the breaker. My second system, though, is more problematic. I also use a power strip there, but it's hidden behind furniture. Sometimes, it's easier to yank the plug out of the SB than climb behind the furniture!

I leave my stuff "on" primarily. But when I leave for a weekend or longer, I like to turn it completely off. A lot of my main system runs through a Monster Power center, which registers amperage. My system while "off" takes about 1 amp, so around 120 watts continuously. That doesn't include my other amps, which I believe take another 100 watts or so. So, it's about 220 watts for a system that's "off". In terms of 22 cents per kilowatt hour, I'm paying about 5 cents per hour to run this system while it's supposedly "off". That's only a savings of around $4 for a 3 day weekend, but that's only one of several things I'll turn off. Hmm...not much money savings for this! Maybe I should rethink this.