2. amps-preamps
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Leave preamp on all day, off at night

Finally had the funds purchased my first tube hifi component, an arc ref 3. Very happy with purchase so far but has raised a concern. System is in main living room - wife and kids listen casually through day - non critical listening. I listen (more critically) for 1-2h at night when they are asleep.
Im used to solid state components that stay on all day long.
Question- is it a problem leaving the valve pre on most of the day, on most days of the week? Is it really just a matter of burning through the tubes faster,  or are there other expensive delicate components in there that don't like being left on all day? Thanks in advance 
divesh
divesh OP
9 posts
 
i would really like to preserve the life of the ref3, and not waste it on background music and TV etc.
My other pre amp is a quad 99, but it doesn't have any HT bypass.
In regards to using a HT bypass, im assuming the connections would be:
source > DAC > HT bybass Pre amp > RCA out to power amp (ARC ds450) and also XLR to ref3 then out to power amp. does this mean i will have two inputs connected into power amp, one from each pre?
 
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,145 posts
 
I would really like to preserve the life of the ref3, and not waste it on background music and TV etc.
My suggestion is use the quad 99 with another power amp or use a AVR/integrated amp, connect to a speaker switcher like the Niles SPK-1.
For background music and TV, you can turn off both ARC ref3 and gs450.
For critical listening, turn on the ARCs, the ref3 12v trigger will switchthe speakers from quad 99 system or AVR/integrated amp to gs450.
One thing to bear in mind, you need to get an amp or AVR has enough power to feed your speakers.
soix
8,993 posts
 
Are the tubes powered when ARC is used in bypass mode?

tomcarr
1,473 posts
 
Ideally you would have a dedicated room with your good gear for critical listening, and another system in the living room for your wife and kids to listen to background noise.

Option B would be as others have said. Add another system in the living room for background listening. 

 Save your good system by leaving it off and untouched except for your critical listening sessions.
audiosens
235 posts
 
Hi devesh.  An audio tech told me not to power off my LS26 for a short period, it is better to let it ON.  What shortens the life of Tubes is mostly the on and off ; Cool and warm.  Usually I made ~7000 hours with my 6H30.  It plays ~ 8hours a day
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