Should the power be off every time changing cables?

If muting is available does this mitigate risk?

I’m not arguing with the safer practice being to power down gear first but agree with the OP, it’s inconvenient, especially if tubes are involved.  

I’m guilty of doing IC and speaker cable changes while gear is powered up (though not speaker cables on a powered up tube amp).

My practice has been to switch preamp selector to an unused input (if changing an IC), turn volume to zero, and activate muting on both preamp and amp. Less risky?

My practice has been to switch preamp selector to an unused input (if changing an IC), turn volume to zero, and activate muting on both preamp and amp. Less risky?

Certainly! The only remaining risk that occurs to me is the one I described in the second paragraph of my preceding post, which IMO might in some circumstances create at least a slight risk of degrading the long-term reliability of the output stage of the source component.

Best regards,
-- Al

Thanks, Al.  

Wish I had read this thread a few months back. A couple of weeks ago, I was having a problem with my left mono block tube amp...no sound. So, I switched in my ss tube stereo amp ( which I run off my second output from my preamp). I had switched off my tube amps and had made the speaker cable change and the ic cable change while all amps were off. Nonetheless, I figured why not take a look at the ic's to the tube mono block amps ( which were off)...this while the ss amp was playing. NOT a good idea at all! 
The crackle through the speakers was pretty scary! Luckily, no damage done, but a lesson learned. Best to have ALL gear off when changing cables.

Playing with electrical components -always best to play it safe. Power off.

Real world-I've never been to a demo/show, where gear was turned off, with the exception of power cables.
This has been with the presence of the amp/gear designer standing next to their creation.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=byVrloNIcKQ

Volume down, source not playing, obvious precautions.
Also experienced hot swaps with side by side speaker comparison- music playing, quick swap of speaker cables to hear differences. 

Living on the edge!