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Can you leave class D amps on and not ever turn them off?

Can you leave class D amps on and not ever turn them off?

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georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I don’t trust SMP power supplies, they are finicky to component (caps etc) aging

Most Class D’s use smp (switch mode) power supplies, they do go up in smoke a bit more frequently than linear ones, and can be a fire hazzard if not at home.

Cheers George
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
I always leave it on unless I am out of town for a week. At least with my amp there is a night and day difference. One hour did not do it. I have had the same experience with other SS amps.
+ 1
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,601 posts
 
Mine is a dinky and has been left on 24/7 for the most part, only shut down if out of town for long periods.  No noticeable 'start-up' issues, but it's as simple as a pet rock...*G*
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 

I have had the following class D amps in my system over the years: Bel Canto REF500 and REF1000 Mk.2. Rowland M312 and M925. In all cases, I have left them on 24/7 while monitoring the local wheather like a hawk. Whenever thunderstorms are in the forecast for the day, I always turn off the entire system and unplug each component from the AC outlets.


BTW, with all amps that I used in my system, class D and A/B alike, I have experience that the audible behavior is maximized if left on for about 24 hours while generating some kind of low volume sound... I usually connect an old FM tuner set to interstation hash.


Class A/B amps have included Aragon 4004, Rowland M7, Rowland M625, Rowland M725. All benefited from being at full power 24/7... Invariably took 24 hours for any amp to run at its sweetest. It was possible to run M625 and 725 24/7.... Tried that on the old M7: costed me $150 of AC over a two weeks stretch *Grins!*

 


BTW, I have never experienced an SMPS giving up on me.... All have been rock solid.

     

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
BTW, I have never experienced an SMPS giving up on me.... All have been rock solid.
But if/when they go, it’s with far more fireworks that linear ones, and they’re not as tolerant to being out of spec as linear ones either. When/if just the caps leak in linear ones they just smell and sound crap, but smp ones can go up big time if the caps go out of spec.
I repaired too many to trust them being left on and home alone, and it’s usually the whole smp board that has to be replaced as the boards/tracks get fried/burnt beyond being fixable.

Cheers George
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