Leave tube amps always on?

If you really want to know how to treat Berning designed gear you should talk to the man himself. Turn off when not in use I say.

I use a tube preamp in my main system,and I don’t feel comfortable leaving it on if I have to run to the store. I’m a no vote on that one.

@audition_audio

Yes I thought I made that clear. Thats the suggestion from the designers themselves given the power surge in turning on and off multiple times. My healthy skepticism is questioning that. 

I just can't get myself to leave my tubed integrated on all the time, even though a tech suggested I do it.  It just doesn't sit right for this virtuous, right-thinking guy.  To be honest, if it does indeed shorten tube life, so be it.  It'll give me an opportunity to try out a different brand or model of tubes.

There are ways to gently turn on tube gear, such as a soft-start circuit, relays that apply full power to the B+ rail after the heater/cathode has been warmed up and emitting, etc.  If a particular design is hard on startup, it really should be the designer's responsibility to use such measures instead of recommending that the owner waste electricity, prematurely burn up tubes, or increase the risk of damage to equipment and the home if something goes wrong with an unattended piece of gear.  

Tubes, generally speaking, are NOT like light bulbs, so they do not suffer nearly as much from the thermal shock of being turned on.  While tube gear might take a few minutes to sound its best after being turned on, that time is typically shorter than the warm-up time for solid state.  It really shouldn't be the case that it is better to leave the gear on all the time.