Quote Originally Posted by maxg
Ever driven a car Mtry? Notice how different it is when the engine is cold as opposed to when it has reached its operating temperature?

Dont tell me - I'm imagining it!!!

well newflash:

Things warm up and their operating characteristics change accordingly.

How long things take to warm up does vary dramatically. A CD player should be just about ready from the get go most of the time, but if it has been especially cold it may take several minutes to get to its proper operating temperature.

SS amps are the same - but hell - dont take my word for it - read the manufacturers instructions - that is what they are there for. If the instructions dont mention anything then by all means use if from the off.

Several amps I have seen go through a kind of boot process that takes a while anyway and wont play until they have finished. Others rely on the operator to be prudent.

My previous Tube amps needed (according to the manual) 20 minutes. The new ones apparently need 5 minutes. Why would they lie?

For my pre-amp the manual says to leave the unit on all the time unless it is not going to be used for an extended period - guess what - that is exactly what I do.

The only caveat I would add to leaving any electrical item on all the time is that you make sure you have some decent circuit breakers in the house in the event that anything serious does go awry.

That applies to refridgerators as much as to amps.
Too bad your car analogy is totally different from SS amps. Good try, no cigar

Manufacturers instructions are not in concrete but a safety valve for themselves. Believe every such instruction if you like. That is how they sell you on all this audio nonsense.
Why would one tube need 20 minutes and another 5 minutes? Ask them why. They have no clue.