There are several issues with using a single power strip to turn on or off the complete system.
The first issue is on or off transients getting to your speakers. There is time delay protection built into AVA preamps and DACs built over the past several years. This provides a time delay at turn on so the internal circuits can stabilize before the outputs are connected. At turn off, the outputs are opened before the audio circuits can decay. This eliminates the possibility of speaker damaging transients being sent to a power amplifier at turn on or turn off. However, much other equipment does not have this protection, so the "all on and off at once" scheme with an outlet strip might cause unhappy unexpected results.
The second issue is the power rating of the power strip's AC switch. Recent AVA power amplifiers use an eighty amp inrush current power switch, protected by a surge current limiter. This is necessary for the switch to stand up long term from the momentarily surge currents the amplifier generates at turn on. A normal 15 amp power switch as used in most power strips will not have this ruggedness built in. The result will be that the power switch in the AC strip likely will not last very long.
The third issue is putting all the equipment on one power strip can generate an unintended audio feedback loop through the common power line connections. The power amp draws lots of current, and will actually put a tiny version of the audio signal back on its power line. In a common AC source, this signal will appear at the preamp and other small signal devices too. Although power line rejection is very good in almost all equipment, it is not perfect. Thus a unanticipated and unwanted feedback loop may be affecting the music. Whether this is audible or not we cannot say for sure. But an easy way to eliminate or reduce the effect is to plug the power amp into a separate wall outlet for further isolation from this possible effect.
Thus we are not very enthused with the turn it all on and off at once AC outlet strip use. It might not hurt things, be we are not sure about that. If possible don't do it.
And remember even with the best of circuit protection built in, it is always best to turn your power amplifier on last and off first, so that it is always off when other equipment ahead of it is switched on or off. This completely eliminates the possibility of annoying transients getting to your speakers from the small signal equipment.
Regards,
Frank Van Alstine
