Amp — Leave on or turn off

If its not a tube power amp then NEVER turn it off. My SMC Audio  Power amp doesn't even have an on/off switch Leave your gear on, even tube pre-amps and DACS etc. They will sound better and last longer! 

Don’t unwittingly make a fire hazard or an insurance claim hazard. Once you know folks who’ve gone through this, you develop caution by virtue of proximity.

@benanders  Exactly how many people do you know who’ve had a fire hazard from audio equipment?  It’s probably at about the same percentage as getting hit by lightning.  Using your logic, you should probably never drive a car because you could get into an accident.  Gimme a break with your fear mongering. 

@soix +1

Mike

soix

8,261 posts

02-17-2024 at 09:32am 

“Don’t unwittingly make a fire hazard or an insurance claim hazard. Once you know folks who’ve gone through this, you develop caution by virtue of proximity.”

@benanders  Exactly how many people do you know who’ve had a fire hazard from audio equipment?  It’s probably at about the same percentage as getting hit by lightning.  Using your logic, you should probably never drive a car because you could get into an accident.  Gimme a break with your fear mongering.

@soix  re: your cavalier wording - fear mongering is a phrase best used when there’s a specific divisive purpose; I’m not in the biz of selling turn-‘em-off amps or insurance policies. I’ve no interest in pot-stirring.
Please realize I’m advising against disregarding the common sense that any firefighter or insurance adjuster would be inclined to share. Neither of those professions will likely consider a niche, high-power and high-heat device made for rather esoteric purposes in life to be worth such risk. What I advised was for everyone to know what their insurance policy(ies) stipulates - if it’s not under hifi kit/AV kit (likely) perhaps it’s addressed by a general electronic appliances clause. Like with the on/off-which-is-better-amp argument itself, an insurance policy will depend on many variables. Expecting it to work as a plug-and-play solution to policy holder ignorance is a poor strategy, no matter how unlikely an electrical/appliance overheating disaster may be.

Perhaps I could’ve worded my first reply more explicitly: (1) know what your specific amp manufacturers recommend, and (2) take rec’ that as second-tier in importance to what your insurance policy stipulates. And (3?) do not trust you invariably know what’s best for both (1 and 2) factors for the next person while typing online. 😅 Forgoing knowledge of either (1) or (2)  and leaving an amp on unattended amounts to abandonment of common sense that firefighters and claim adjusters will prefer you to practice, but maybe also know some folks disregard.

Now @soix as to your conjecture above, it may be to your behest to realize one Audiogon poster lost his entire music room when a lightening strike took out the roof of the house a few weeks back, posted about it. Improbable vs. impossible is a relevant discrepancy on the topic of unattended high power amps being on. And for the past decade I’ve lived in a city where public transit is [in most cases] far more convenient than driving a private vehicle. My point being it is best to avoid straw man arguments if you’re unfamiliar with the underpinnings you choose.