2. speakers
  3. 124069-79887

Quicken the burn in time for new speakers by using a cheaper SS amp?

I'm in the process of buying a new pair of speakers and I would like to burn them in quickly without using my main tube amp (I'm new to the tube amp scene, but it's my understanding that you should not run a tube amps for very long periods) and by running them for longer periods using a much cheaper SS amp.  I'm thinking about using a cheap $125 Integrated Yamaha Amp http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S201BL-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00F0H88SY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electroni....  The new speakers are going to run me about $3K.  I'm willing to buy the cheaper amp just to burn in the new speakers.  Any advice or comments would be appreciated.  
nycjlee
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,769 posts
 
You can run your tube amp for as long as you need to run it.  There is no hard and fast rule.  For myself, I turn it on when I wish to listen and I turn it off when I am done listening for the day.

Just make sure that your tube amp has plenty of clearance, so the heat has a place to dissipate.

As for your burn-in question.  Why not just burn in the speakers in while you are listening to them and get to know your new speakers.  If you must perform the burn in ahead of critical listening, run your amp several hours at time for X number of days.  

I accept the need to burn in, I just never bought into having to burn in equipment for a large number of hours.

Rich 
rcprince
3,070 posts
 
Agree with Rich.  Also, the Yamaha might not be up to handling the load presented by your new speakers, depending on what they are.  What are the speakers?  If they have an impedance of 4 ohms or less, can the Yamaha handle that without breaking down?
xti16
1,525 posts
 
IMO I would use a SS amp to burn in. When I had my Octave and needed to break in new speakers I borrowed a SS amp to run them 7/24 for 450 hrs (approx 19 days). When I went to work I didn't want any output tube failures even though Octave has a fantastic protection circuit. I had several SED 6550 and EL34 failures but I did get my Octave just before the shut down the plant in Russia for quality problems. SED were the stock tubes. Not all tube amps have have protection circuits like Octave but use a resistor that will burn when a tube arcs over.
More to discover