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From: chowkwan@priam.usc.edu (Raymond Chowkwanyun)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Leaving components turned on.
Message-ID: <8756@uwm.edu>
Date: 8 Jan 91 14:50:51 GMT
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In article <8634@uwm.edu> ph@ama-1.ama.caltech.edu (Paul Hardy) writes:
>With tubes, you can use a Variac to keep them at, say, 25 VAC and turn
>this up to 120 VAC for listening.  This gets around the power-on spikes,
>and keeps the other components (e.g., caps) warmed up to some degree.
>
>Anyone know of a good commercial source for Variacs?
>

I have a Tice Variac.  Tice warns against trying to use the variac
to run tubed equipment at less than 100% of line voltage.
It has this big dial on the front that you turn manually to
bring the voltage up from 0 to 100% of line.  Then you 
have to quickly flip a switch to bypass the variac altogether.
$700 for about 10 seconds of use each day.  I wonder if it
wouldn't be more cost-effective to just replace the tubes 
as they wear out.

If you're really interested, Audio Advisor sells them.
(800) 942-0220.

-- ray