2. amps-preamps
  3. 187190-150037

How long does it take your tube amp to warm up?

My tube amplifier has about 12 tubes and takes a couple hours for it to open up and sound really good and comfortable to listen to. Always wondered why it takes so long for a tube amplifier to warm up and what’s happening during this phase.

If I left it on for six or seven hours would it sound even better? I normally don’t leave it on for more than four or five hours.

How long does it take your amplifiers to warm up?

emergingsoul
carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,623 posts
 

60 to 90.......................seconds.

 

willywonka
253 posts
 

5 minutes at most. 7 tubes in mine.

daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,875 posts
 

If you are talking warm up vs. how long it takes to sound its best, I think these can be two very different things. My tube amps are ready to play, so they are warmed up, in about 15 minutes. However, to sound their best, about an hour or so of playing time.

whart's avatar
whart
3,047 posts
 

In my main system, 45 minutes to warm up a pair of Lamm ML2s with a fresh tube complement. I usually do that with a digital source. It takes about 3 sides to warm up the tube phono stage and cartridge. I can make the time coincide, but that's the reality.

A different tube system, running a restored pair of Quad '57s and Quad II amps using GEC KT 66s (real ones) takes at least 20 minutes to come on song, more time is better. The speakers are on constant charge. 

 

 

More to discover