2. amps-preamps
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Solid state warm up?

I recently Put in a BAT vk-250SE with bat pack into my system to power Dynaudio Contour S 3.4 speakers. I was using a B&K reference amp with pretty good results, but I wanted more detail and subtlety. I got both, but I also got a darker, almost mushy sound. Some material is worse than others. I have pulled the speakers a few more inches from the back wall which helped a bit. The sound may actually get better the longer the amP is on...hours. Could the amp just need to warm-up and maybe be left on 24/7? It does get quite warm. I use the 12v trigger to put it in standby. Any ideas?
phoenix469
daverz
487 posts
 
"It's not the best model of VK and more than certainly it can't do 300/4Ohms"

Says some random anonymous dude on the internet. Unless you can back this up I see no reason not to trust BAT's specs, especially given the massive power supply of the 250SE.

I owned a 250SE for about 8 months. The description is not out of line with the character of the amp as I heard it, but I was never willing to leave it on 24/7.

I would suggest the OP audition some different amps.
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
I leave all my solid state gear on 24/7/52 .
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Daverz,
leaving the amp on or off 24/7 is absolutely irrelevant to this issue.

you can trust BAT specs but only for very short duration and for quiet music such as small jazz band, chamber(where OP describes sweetness of sound). in all other cases you need much more continuous power with OP speakers.

mentioning 'not the best model' implies that there are better ones for the same price range and value. BAT is superb gear but there are certainly a number of better ones for the money spent than VK250SE.
daverz
487 posts
 
I only meant to qualify my subjective impression of the VK-250SE by saying that I never left mine on 24/7.

Again, you've offered no justification for your claim that the 250SE can't adequately drive these speakers.

I've no doubt that the OP is hearing what he is hearing, and like him I didn't particularly care for the overall sound of this amp. But I don't think that any technical shortcoming of the amp can be blamed.
singleendedsingle
664 posts
 
Not needed to leave it 24/7, a 30-40 min warm up is fine.
SS amps get better over days though.
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