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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
larryi
4,098 posts
 

I don’t have any reliable way to determine how long it takes for the system’ to sound its best.  It sounds good enough to enjoy within 20 seconds or so, and pretty much like it always sounds within s couple of minutes.

gs5556
1,237 posts
 

From my experience, it doesn't matter how long you let the tubes warm up. The amp won't sound its best until after 15 minutes of signal has passed through it. Ten minutes of idle is all it takes for a KT150 (the highest power dissipating tube out there) to reach operating temps, so I assume all other tubes require less. You're just killing tubes by letting them idle for hours before playing.

mbmi's avatar
mbmi
587 posts
 

30 minutes...and 30 minutes to warm up and expand the voice coils in your speakers...... after 30 minutes of Playing, you should have the optimum sound that your system will produce.

lak's avatar
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lak
4,681 posts
 

+1 gs5556

aewarren
673 posts
 

By the time I have my first drink, my amp and I are both warmed sufficiently.

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