2. amps-preamps
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How to break in a tube preamp?

Please excuse me if this is a stupid question.
I want to break in a newer ARC tube preamp (ARC says 400-600 hours needed to run in new Teflon coupling caps, etc.) and am wondering if I can accomplish this without running my tube amp at the same time and avoid spent KT-120 power tube use. Can I only leave a digital source on repeat with the preamp on and actually "burn in" the unit or is that not fully running what needs to be run to accomplish "proper run in".
bavarian05
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,484 posts
 
If it makes you feel better and you think that the "break-in" time is needed then do it as you described. I would listen every night and let it run the rest of the time with the cd player on repeat and the amp off. The main point is that you enjoy your new ARC Pre and the process of listening and upgrading your componets.

Provide a review in a few weeks.
rockadanny
1,226 posts
 
As long as your preamp is on and connected to your amp(s), your amp(s) don't need to be on.
salectric
755 posts
 
Breaking in your preamp does not require that your power amp be on. Just do what you said--connect your digital gear to the preamp, put it on infinite repeat, turn your preamp on and use your regular volume setting. The preamp has a loading resistor on its output (to prevent any DC from building up if there isn't an amp connected), so running the CD player and preamp in this fashion is fully equivalent to listening to music through the entire system.
facten
2,882 posts
 
I recently purchased a Modwright Ls100 which has the same break-in period as your amp and was told by Dan Wright that I needed to play music for the caps etc to properly break-in, versus just leaving the amp on. Unlike Ahendler's experience I have noticed a significant difference in this amp as it continues to get "mileage"
bavarian05 OP
65 posts
 
Thank you everyone for your input. Much appreciated.
I am looking forward to hearing the post burn in period. By all accounts the teflon caps are wonderful once they have considerable time on the clock.
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