2. amps-preamps
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Turning off tube preamp first sends solid state amp into protection?

I have been experimenting with using a vintage Luxman CL40 valve preamp as a separate preamp stage for my L-509X integrated. Because I leave the solid state amp on 24/7, I accidentally turned off the preamp while the 509X was still in Separate mode. The integrated immediately went into protection mode with the power light blinking. I powered it down into standby mode, then brought it back up and it remained in protection mode. It wasn't until I unplugged the 509X and plugged it back in that everything was cool. 

Did I do any potential damage here? What it it happens again? It's pretty easy to accidentally turn off the preamp when I'm leaving the 509X on all the time.
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imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,210 posts
 
It’s pretty easy to accidentally turn off the preamp when I’m leaving the 509X on all the time.
My suggestion is use a IR remote controlled plug/outlet for the CL40 valve preamp and a remote control with macro, program a set of command sequence to turn off the CL40 valve preamp:
Mute the L-509X, change the input out of HT bypass, power OFF the remote controlled plug/outlet for the CL40 valve preamp.
To turn on the CL40 valve preamp:
Mute the L-509X, change the input out of HT bypass, power ON the remote controlled plug/outlet for the CL40 valve preamp, change the input to HT bypass, un-mute.
jeenam
131 posts
 
smh @ wolf_garcia. Do not listen to his awful advice.

ALWAYS power the amp on last!
ALWAYS power the amp off first!
harrylavo's avatar
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harrylavo
346 posts
 
n80 - That gear should give you good sound, and your sequence is correct.  But you should not have to turn off the amp once you've put it in standby.  Standby cuts power consumption to only a few watts, but keeps the capacitors formed.  It may lengthen the problem-free life of the amp.
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,210 posts
 
wolf_garcia4,373 posts11-18-2018 11:12am
Always turn the preamp on first and off last, although with many modern systems it might not matter much...but that's been the conventional wisdom for a while.
jeenam50 posts11-19-2018 10:06pm
smh @ wolf_garcia. Do not listen to his awful advice.

ALWAYS power the amp on last!
ALWAYS power the amp off first!
@jeenam, Your advice absolutely correct, btw, wolf_garcia is right too.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,861 posts
 
The turn on/off order has nothing to do with tube vs. solid state. You turn on the pre-amp and sources before the power amp because the amp can’t send any of their on/off noise to the speakers until it is on. And you turn off the amp first for the same reason.
This. +1
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