SummerTime and Amp Heat

Well the topic IS about heat AND not leaving things on 24/7 - BUT i did have CD player serviced not too long ago for a new laser, and the repair guy commented that the power supply was showing signs of getting old and some of the caps were starting to deform from overuse. He advise that I unplug when not in use. I guess a sharp repair person can tell these things.

I own ARC tube gear. Obviously, the component that runs the hottest is the power amp. The other gear, source and line stage, while also tube driven doesn't run anywhere as hot. I hear what Elizabeth is saying, but my sense of the matter is that heat "ain't" gonna help the gear last longer and can only hurt, especially the power amp. That sucker throws off a ton of BTUs.

There's a couple of ARC authorized techs out there. I'd be interested in their views since they fix the stuff.

I think it's a matter of degree.

I agree with Elizabeth, run it hot. If the manufacturer thought the equipment is running too hot they would have installed a fan. I believe stereo equipment sounds its best when it is running at its normal operating temperature. It is also important for the temperature to be equal for all transistors in the output stage so they can operate the same.

It depends on the design too. I run a fan on some amps that run hot, and can shorten the caps lives. I don't like hot transformers either, power or output. If it runs real warm, I use a muffin fan, summer or winter.