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Can temperature fluctuations affect audio gear?

Don't know about this...some owner's manuals say that you should allow equipment and tubes to warm to room temperature before using them, but this is different. My audio room is upstairs, isolated from the thermostat. Have to keep the door closed so the dogs don't venture in there and create havoc. Hence, in summer, the temperature in the room regularly goes to 85 degrees or so. In winter (like now), it will easily drop below 60 degrees. No need to worry about equilibration, since the gear is always in there, but should I worry about the temp fluctuations? Could get a baby gate to keep the dogs out, then it would stay 70-72, but otherwise, in winter a space heater is the only option.
afc
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almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
I agree with Elizabeth. I wouldn't worry about the possibility of damage, if that was the point to your question.

I would add, though, that from a technical standpoint it does seem conceivable to me that a 25 or 30 degreeF difference in ambient temperature could result in sonic differences, at least to a subtle degree. But I would expect those differences, if any, to be equipment-dependent and unpredictable.

Also, it wouldn't surprise me if a temperature difference of that magnitude caused differences in your own hearing mechanisms as well. :-)

Regards,
-- Al
hifihvn
943 posts
 
If you plan on using the system,I would open the door,and blow a fan on it(system),while it warms up.Maybe a hour,or so first.The warm humid air from downstairs,plus your humidity might cause condensation in them,if it gets fairly cool.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
The amount of heat your gear will 'give up' to the environment is related to the difference in temp. If your amp runs at 100f in a 100f room, very little heat will be transferred. In a 65f room, you've got no problems.

During the hot part of the year, at least make sure you are well ventilated or perhaps even install a fan near any hot gear.....But be careful not to just blow at hot stuff, if you restrict the natural convection, you could possibly even make something run warmer...while trying to cool it. Any fan I place is above the hot piece and blowing AWAY to suck air thru the piece and allow 'nature' to do its work.

And from our FWIW department, those nutty radio astronomers run their amplifiers and much electronics in a liquid nitrogen bath at colder than -320f.
This is to reduce the 'thermal' noise of atoms bumping into one another. In the very highest resolution systems this may make a difference. Or not. LOL.

Other temp effects may be on the speakers where characteristics of some synthetics....perhaps woof cones, may change from the coldest to warmest temps encountered. I'd also suspect greater power handling capacity in the coldest weather. The voice coils will cool much better.
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