2. amps-preamps
  3. 126770-70267

is it ok to leave a tube amp on without speakers connected

I'm blessed to have two amps but one set of speakers in my listing room - all tubes.  Instead of cutting off one to listen to the other, I would like to listen to the other without powering off the one i'm not listening to.  

Question:  Can tube amps be powered on without speakers connected for hours at a time?
mudbone
joeinid's avatar
joeinid
658 posts
 
No, I don't know the specific reason, but was told that the speakers provide a load on the amps, and especially for tube amps, it's not okay.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,829 posts
 
No. 
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,889 posts
 
You will damage the output transformer with no load on the amp
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,686 posts
 
Octave Audio tube amps can be run without a load but, you really shouldn't be connecting/unconnecting speakers under power any way.
More to discover