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Leaving Solid State Equipment on all the Time

Someone told me that: 
  • Leaving your gear on all the time allows all the components to "come up to temperature."  
  • Transistors, resistors and other devices all have specific operating temps that they work best at. Below these temps, they're not performing at peak capability. 
  • Transformers will generally take 2-3 days to settle down and come up to their operating temps. 
  • Capacitors will take anywhere between 3-4 days to settle down. 
  • If you're continuously turning off the gear, you're basically hearing the system as it's first waking up in the morning. After it's been on for a few days, you'll hear that the tonal balance smooths out, that the top end becomes sweeter and purer and that bass has more control, articulation, and becomes more natural. 
Any truth to any of that? 
128x128oldschool1948
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
My Ayre equipment sends a warming charge through all the components even though they're off.  They take no time to sound great.
mitch2
3,976 posts
 
Almost 40 years into this hobby and I have finally found an all solid-state system that sounds great no matter what is playing. I leave everything turned on all the time, except for the two 300 wpc Class A monoblocks, which I sometimes power up night before when I know I will be listening the next day. I also sometimes leave them powered up all weekend if I know I will be listening a lot. Although the amps do have a “low” bias, it is still 200 wpc in Class A and they still get hot, even in low bias. They sound noticeably better after being powered up for an hour, and then it is diminishing returns.  The front end gear and preamp don’t draw much current and sound better when powered up all the time.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
My old BAT VK600SE definitely took a good couple hours to sound its best.
However leaving it on, in Florida, all the time was just not realistic.

My present Ayre ax7e stays on all the time, mytek Brooklyn on all the time,Bluesound vault2 on all the time,Goldnote phono stage on all the time.
Always ready to rock and roll now!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Question for the OP!
I was considering upgrading my vault to the inuos zenith, how do you find it in practicality and ease of use and sq?
oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948 OP
501 posts
 
Zenith setup is very user friendly. Instead of Roon, I use LMS  because I have several Squeezebox Duets, Raspberry PI Squeezelight players, and AirPlay speakers making up my whole house music system.  

I have the 2 TB model and have started ripping my CD library to it.  There are two modes. In “quick” mode it takes about 8 minutes to rip a CD.  The other mode is slower but you’re suppose to get a better copy.  I use the quick mode and have had no problems.  What I don’t like is sometimes their album art doesn’t match the CD cover.  I don’t think they are using a US based source.  

Zenith’s SQ is much, much better than my McIntosh 7008 CD changer and the Squeezebox Duet that it replaced. Local FLAC and DSD music files sound great, as does Tidal HiDef music.  

I have the MK2, their MK3 version will be out next month.  I got a great deal on a demo MK2 that I couldn’t pass up. When my ship comes in, I’ll upgrade to the Statement model :-)
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