2. amps-preamps
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How do I break in a tube amplifier?

I should be taking delivery of my Yaqin MC-30L tube amplifier this weekend. I believe the dealer is going to set it up and bias it and may even let it run for a few hours before I pick it up. It's going to be a 2nd system sharing speakers with my primary home theater system so I will have few opportunities to leave it running for extended periods of time.

Does it do any good to just leave the amplifier turned on or does it actually need to by playing music?
mceljo
mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 
I have pre-amp outputs available, the concern that I had was having two points of volume control. My EE buddy reminded me that I just needed to the the receiver volume at 0db and the input signal should effectly pass through without attenuation.
mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 
Well, I managed to get the on and off sequence backwards, but it seems to survive. I did get right at 3 hours of listening (not all 100% supervised) and plan to sleep for at least 3 hours so should be able to comply with that rule at least this time. An enjoyable evening of Christmas music.
mceljo OP
1,357 posts
 
Listening round 2 ended with the power going out. We will be gone most of the day so I just shut the power conditioner down until we get back.
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
Just play the damn amp!!!

It will brake in on it's own. Are you an idiot or what?
wolf_garcia
6,734 posts
 
No...do not play the amp until you've rested your ears for at least 112 minutes, you've cleaned up around the amp to avoid the dreaded "dust particle comb filtering", and you're made sure all the neighbors have shut down any major appliances. Then you're all set.
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