2. amps-preamps
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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
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,211 posts
 

+1 @jacobsdad2000 

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ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,901 posts
 

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

Forty days and forty nights! lol

Mike

emergingsoul OP
1,211 posts
 

Is the benefit from an extended warm-up more so due to tubes warming up or the transformers?

Seems the tubes would be getting warm pretty quickly. Since the transformers are larger maybe they take longer.

My amplifier which has around 14 tubes is much better to listen to after an hour. A bit constrained during the first hour.

jazzguy43
40 posts
 

output transformers need more time to reach steady state than the tubes! ref150se takes about 80 minutes for me. ref5se bass is more better 
(mo better!!) after 40 minutes. Very apparent w/a sub in the system.

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